Third-person narration
Mornings in the group's house tend to follow an almost unbreakable routine. Zane and Shawn are always the first to wake up, taking charge of breakfast for everyone. Zane handles the coffee and prepares eggs to everyone's liking. Shawn enters the kitchen with a clear mission: to make a special breakfast for his future wife.
He gathers the ingredients with his head full of ideas and the hope of drawing a smile from Wenn—even if it's just through a simple gesture. He chooses to make golden French toast, drizzles them with honey, and serves them with fresh fruit cut into small pieces, making sure everything looks appetizing and full of color. While cooking, he sets aside portions for the others, thinking of their preferences: unsweetened fruit for Maeson, extra fruit for Konnor, and extra bread for Zane, who's always hungry in the mornings. He doesn't yet know Vanessa and Melissa's tastes, but he prepares a version almost identical to Wenn's for them.
When everything is ready, he smiles. Not out of obligation, but because it comes naturally. Because in his generous heart, he finds satisfaction in those everyday gestures that seem invisible—but hold the day together.
Zane sets the table with care, placing each plate in its spot as if trying to gift them a bit of peace amid the whirlwind everyone's been living lately—and which he may have stirred up himself the night before. Konnor and Maeson aren't early risers unless their schedules demand it. They love their sleep, which is why they're in charge of cleaning up afterward.
As the scent of French toast blends with the soft morning light, Shawn approaches Zane with that mischievous smile only lifelong friends share.
"Did you sleep well last night? After the little scene you caused, I bet insomnia was your reward," he says playfully.
Zane sighs, remembering the moment: the night before, without filter or tact, he blurted out in front of everyone that Melissa's trip had been idiotic. He didn't think much—he just said it. Direct, as always, but this time more blunt than usual.
"Diplomacy isn't always my strong suit, huh?" Zane replies, trying to lighten the mood with a sheepish grin.
Shawn gives him a friendly tap on the shoulder.
"Well, at least today you didn't start another scandal. Do me a favor and let us eat in peace."
Zane laughs, accepting the scolding with ease. Between jokes, Shawn reminds him that sometimes words hurt more than actions, and that Melissa, even though she tried to appear strong, was clearly affected.
"It's not that you can't say what you think," Shawn adds, "just think for a second before you drop it like that, okay?"
They share that comfortable silence only true friendship allows, knowing that despite clumsiness and impulse, they can count on each other to keep life moving—through laughter and reconciliation. And as the house begins to wake up, they linger a moment longer, letting sincerity rebuild what recklessness unraveled the night before.
Moments later, the first person to enter the kitchen is Melissa—as if fate wanted to tease Zane a little more. But she, always cordial and perfectly composed, greets the two guys as if nothing had happened the night before. They exchange glances and greet her just as naturally. Shawn hands her a plate, and she accepts it with a smile, thanks him, and begins to eat. So natural, as if she hadn't been trained for years to wear that façade.
Soon after, Wenn comes in, gives Shawn a warm kiss, greets Zane, and starts chatting cheerfully with Melissa while eating beside her. The guys sit down and decide to act like nothing happened, mirroring the girls' attitude.
But while in Australia everything seems to fall back into normalcy—a calm almost borrowed—in Colombia, a powerful man—who runs one of the country's largest criminal networks but has lived his life disguised as a benevolent philanthropist—is giving orders to his men with little patience.
He's searching under every stone for his niece, who was supposed to meet her future fiancé the day before but vanished, abusing the trust he gave her for just one day. He's also looking for her best friend, daughter of his closest associate and right-hand man, who disappeared by deceiving his men like a seasoned expert.
He's truly furious. Never before had those two defied him so boldly.
And things cannot be left like this.