The girls were still gathered in the conservatory, now dimly lit by golden sconces as night draped its velvet shawl over the estate. Teacups had been replaced by wine glasses, and lullabies softly played from Aurora's phone to calm the babies drifting off in their bassinets. But the conversations hadn't lost their edge especially now that the topic of Nicole Miller had surfaced.
"Nicole really tried it, didn't she?" Angel said, twirling the stem of her wine glass. "The lengths she went to just to ruin your relationship with Jeff… insane."
"She once sent fake photos to gossip blogs of Jeff and some model in Paris," Daisy said, shaking her head. "All just to make me doubt him.
Aurora gasped. "What?!"
Crazy girl behavior," Kira muttered. "But you still talk to her now?" Alice asked cautiously.
Daisy gave a slight nod. "Yeah. It's not like we're braiding each other's hair, but… we're civil. I mean, she's Elle's daughter. And now that I know the truth, I just… don't carry the bitterness anymore. It's not worth it."
"You're better than me," Aurora said, her voice soft. "I'd have slapped her with a DNA result envelope." They all burst into laughter.
"She was just insecure," Daisy continued. "She always felt like Jeff liked me more, even before we knew anything. Turns out she was right but for the wrong reasons." Just then, a sharp wail echoed through the hallway.
"Martin, stop it!"
It was Jaiden Maxwell and Angel's four-year-old crying.
The mothers jumped up instantly and rushed toward the sound. In the living room, Martin was gripping a toy helicopter, while Jaiden stood a few feet away in tears, his cheek red with what looked like a tiny slap mark.
"What's going on here?" Alicia asked sharply, hurrying to her son.
"He hit me!" Jaiden pointed accusingly.
Martin crossed his arms. "He tried to take my toy! He didn't even ask! "You snatched it first!" Jaiden shouted. The voices got louder as both boys began yelling over each other.
Within seconds, the men appeared Mark, Leo, Maxwell, and Jeff all drawn by the ruckus.
Mark knelt between the boys. "Hey, hey! This is not how we treat family." You're brother's ," Maxwell said, moving beside his son. "And brother's share." Leo added gently, "Martin, if you want to lead one day, you've got to learn to handle conflicts calmly."
Jeff cleared his throat. "Or your future employees might throw toy helicopters at you." Everyone chuckled, easing the tension. Mark looked at both boys seriously. "You're best friends. Apologize." Martin looked down. "Sorry, Jaiden."Me too," Jaiden sniffled. "Sorry I screamed." They hugged awkwardly, and the tension melted into childish giggles.
Just as everyone began to relax, Mark's phone rang. His brows furrowed when he saw the caller ID. "It's Zayn." He walked toward the foyer to answer it, pacing slowly.
Minutes passed.
When he returned, his face was pale, eyes darkened with tension. Aurora immediately noticed. What is it?"
"I have to leave tonight," he said, his voice grim. "There's been a breach at the Seoul office. Someone leaked proprietary designs to our competitor. Zayn traced it to one of our senior engineers."
Gasps filled the room. You're flying out?" Leo asked. Yes. My jet's fueling now. I have to fix this before the press gets wind."Aurora stood, a million emotions flickering through her eyes. "Do you need me to come?"
"No," Mark said, stepping close and holding her hands. "Stay with Arlie. I'll call when I land."She nodded, trying not to let her worry show.
That night, the estate was quieter. The laughter had faded, replaced by the sound of hurried packing and goodbyes. By morning, everyone began to head back to their homes. Leo and Alicia left with Martin, Jeff and Daisy bundled Mia into her car seat, Maxwell and Angel promised a brunch soon. Kira and Alice rode off with Japheth, who was already late for a client meeting.
Aurora stood at the front door with Arlie in her arms, watching the line of cars disappear.
The weekend had started with a celebration.
It ended with secrets uncovered, childish fights resolved, and a storm looming over Mark's empire.
But even in the chaos, something had shifted.
Daisy had found closure. The kids were growing. The families were bonded. And Aurora?She stood taller now not just a wife or a mother but a woman bracing for whatever came next.