ofgrenvde

Nazli let herself laugh, the kind that started soft but lingered in her chest, easing something heavy she hadn’t even noticed she’d been carrying. “If there’s one thing I’ll never apologize for, it’s wanting to spend time with you. So, no—‘difficult’ doesn’t apply here.” She squeezed Sahana’s hand again, almost absently, because she needed the reassurance as much as she was offering it. The truth was, she had been afraid of taking up space, of asking too much from people ever since her parents died, as though grief had made her more of a burden than a person. But with Sahana, that fear softened.

"Sarcasm and spa days sounds like a perfect trade actually," Sahana said, something warm unfurling in her chest at Nazli's words. Christ, she'd missed this—having someone who just got it without needing some bullshit detailed explanation of why everything felt like navigating a minefield lately. Her friend always knew exactly what to say, didn't she? The way she talked about not apologizing for wanting time together made something tight in Sahana's shoulders finally release. Maybe she'd been overthinking everything, including this friendship, when really it was just life being messy and exhausting for both of them. "And yes, absolutely, we're tipping whoever gets stuck with us ridiculously well because they'll definitely earn it." She squeezed back when their hands connected again, already feeling lighter just being here with someone who understood her chaos without judgment.

giovanna nodded her head, "you've got that right." and a part of her knew where she was coming from. while grant wasn't technically nitpicking over her love life, he was still upset with her over a decision she'd made - just like dante had done to sahana. "you've got that right. it definitely makes a difference when you don't have to face it alone. i'm sorry you're going through all of that. hopefully, he ends up coming around though."

"Thanks," Sahana said, her voice softening as she met Giovanna's eyes across the table. Maybe Dante would come around eventually, but honestly she wasn't holding her breath—the man could hold a grudge longer than anyone she knew, and this felt different somehow, deeper than his usual protective nonsense. Still, having someone who actually understood what she was going through made everything feel less impossible. "You're right though, we do have each other, and that's not nothing."

jasmine nodded her head as she spoke to the woman. this conversation was so much more pleasant than a lot of the other conversations she'd had around devil's junction and she wished she met more people like the woman in front of her. "i have patience, lots of it," she laughed, "i had to after being with my ex husband for so long but i have a feeling i'm going to be even more patient with a dog though. i wouldn't even know what kind i would want. there are so many options."

"That's smart. Patience is definitely key with dogs," Izel said, impressed by how thoughtful Jasmine was being about the whole thing. "Honestly, once you meet them at the shelter, you'll know which one feels right. Tank here basically chose me more than I chose him." She watched as Dash suddenly perked up, his ears twitching at something in the distance, probably another dog or maybe just a squirrel he wanted to chase. Of course he'd pick now to get distracted when they were having such a nice conversation. "Well, looks like someone's ready to move on. I should probably get these two home before Dash decides he wants to investigate every sound in the neighborhood. It was really nice meeting you, Jasmine. I hope you find your perfect match soon!" She gave a small wave as she let her dogs lead her back toward her car, already knowing Tank would probably sulk about leaving his new favorite person behind.

This was really happening. No more delays or excuses. "Saturday it is, and yes, I'll absolutely back you up when they start their interrogation," she said, already mentally preparing herself for the storm they were about to walk into. Her parents would definitely focus their initial fury on her marriage bombshell, which might actually work in Min-Sung's favor since Hannah would seem like the reasonable choice by comparison. She could picture their mother's face when she heard the word 'married'—the sharp intake of breath, the rapid-fire Korean that would follow. At least Hannah was someone Min-Sung genuinely loved and wanted to build a future with, not just a courthouse decision made out of spite. "You can count on me completely. I'm not leaving you hanging when things get ugly, and trust me, they will get very ugly very fast."

Mahira matched his pace as they moved through the crowd, and honestly she was relieved to be doing something instead of just standing around having another one of those conversations that left her feeling like her brain had been put through a blender. "You're not wrong, we've been treating this place like our personal counseling session when there's literally people flying through the air and juggling fire right next to us." She could hear the music getting louder as they got closer to the main ring, and part of her was curious to see what all the fuss was about while another part of her wasn't quite ready to let go of whatever had just happened between them back there.

Nox couldn't help but grin as he watched Emiliano turning tiger education into what would probably become a profitable venture within the week—brilliant little entrepreneur, that one. "Right, Em's definitely cornering the market on tiger facts, and honestly good on him," he said, glancing over at Nicolas who was now practically conducting a surveillance mission on that fence. The determination in the boy's eyes suggested he was either planning something genius or completely mental, and with Nicolas it could honestly go either way. "Fence patrol duty accepted, though I reckon it might be easier than whatever full-scale production Nadia's organizing over there." Her audience was growing by the second, which meant they had maybe fifteen seconds before this became a proper spectacle that would definitely attract security attention, and he wasn't particularly keen on explaining why three kids had turned a tiger exhibit into their personal stage.

“It might take a few days for me to even believe it…It just feels so surreal!” she admitted with a laugh before showering him with kisses. Once she pulled away, she took a look at their official marriage certificate and could practically feel her heart beating straight out of her chest from the excitement and happiness that she felt overall. “Tatiana Valois.” she said out loud. “I love this and I love you.” When he agreed to their date idea, she nodded and took his hand as they began to walk out of the courthouse. “At first I wanted to text her, but now that I think about it, I prefer to let her know in person. It’s meaningful and big news that I want her to hear me out about what happened.” Her gaze softened as she squeezed his hand gently, “I want this day to just start and end with us. Besides, we might as well revisit the topic of our actual wedding ceremony and decide on a couple of things. What do you think?"

Cedric felt this ridiculous grin spread across his face as she said his name—their name now—out loud, and damn if that didn't make everything feel completely real for the first time since they'd walked into this place. "Tatiana Valois," he repeated back to her, testing how it sounded coming from him, and yeah, it was perfect, like everything about this whole crazy day. "I love you too, Mrs. Valois." The way she was talking about telling Rhea in person instead of texting made complete sense because this was huge news, the kind that deserved a face-to-face conversation. Her suggestion about revisiting their actual wedding ceremony made him realize they had so much to figure out still, but honestly he was looking forward to planning all of that with her because now they had time, now they had forever to get it right. 

Ezra didn't need to think twice about her question because honestly, he'd probably find a way to mess up boiling water even with the best teacher in the world. "Real, definitely real," he said, his hands tightening on her waist as she pressed closer, and God, this felt right in a way that made his chest ache with how much he'd missed it. Her fingers against his neck were doing things to his focus that should probably be illegal, and when she said she knew what she wanted, he felt like every wall he'd been building for the past month just crumbled. "I know what I want too," he said, his voice coming out rougher than he'd intended as he pulled her even closer, close enough that he could feel her heartbeat against his chest. The month apart had been torture, and having her back here, having her choose this, choose them, felt like he could finally breathe again without constantly checking over his shoulder.

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly as a blush rose to her cheeks. “I know, it feels… almost unreal, honestly,” she admitted, tracing the rim of her glass with a finger. “I’ve spent so long bracing myself for disappointment, or expecting that any moment I’d have to prove I deserved someone’s time, their attention… their trust. And then he just… shows up. Consistently. Quietly. Without making me feel like I owe him something for existing.” She paused, taking a slow breath, letting the thought settle. “It’s not that I haven’t wanted it before—hell, I’ve wanted it my whole life—but I didn’t think it was possible for someone to make space for me without me constantly questioning it.” Her smile softened, almost wistful. “And the fact that a few months in, I’m not terrified of what this could be… that’s a lot for me to process. But it also feels like maybe, finally, I’m allowed to let myself feel safe. And happy.” Looking at Hayat, she shrugged with a sheepish grin. “So yes, I’ll spill everything. It’s not just news—it’s like finding a part of myself I didn’t realize was missing, and I swear, I’ve never felt more… understood.”

Hearing Nazli made Hayat feel so relieved. She leaned forward, watching how her cousin's entire face changed when she spoke about this—like she'd finally stopped bracing for impact. "Understanding has always been your superpower, and I'm so glad you found someone who gets that," she said, meaning every word because fuck, after everything Nazli had been through, she deserved someone who didn't just tolerate the complicated parts but actually made space for them. The smile spreading across her face felt genuine for the first time in weeks as she watched her cousin glow with this new kind of confidence.

Amara’s smile softened, but there was a thoughtful weight behind it as she squeezed Izel’s hand. “You know, it’s not about him being perfect—or even about him fitting into some idea of what you expected. It’s about you realizing that, even in all this chaos, you can still breathe, still exist on your own terms. That you can take up space and trust your instincts, even when everything around you tries to box you in.” She glanced at Izel’s hand in hers, letting a quiet moment stretch between them. “Tank’s approval isn’t trivial—it’s proof of the patience and care you’ve shown, of how you set boundaries and still let people in. And whenever you need that escape, Izel… I’ll be ready. Not just for the theatrics, but for the quiet parts too.” Her teasing grin returned faintly, but her eyes lingered on her friend with the kind of seriousness that only comes from knowing someone’s worth fighting for.

"You're right, you know. I've been so focused on surviving this whole arrangement that I almost forgot I could still be me through it all." Processing what Amara had just offered, not just the dramatic escapes but the quiet parts too, she realized those smaller gestures meant more than any grand rebellion ever could. "Tank's approval really does mean something, doesn't it? That dog has literally growled at delivery drivers just for existing near our front door, so the fact that he actually likes Kyro…" She trailed off. The realization hit her that she was starting to sound almost optimistic, and that scared her more than the arrangement itself. "I think I might take you up on that escape offer sooner rather than later though, not because things are going badly, but because I need to remember who I am when I'm not constantly thinking about family expectations and arrangements. Oooh... if you have nothing going on this weekend, we should hit the stores. It's time I drop some real money." it wasn't like she was going to go broke anytime soon.

Zayaan nodded slowly, letting Ezra’s words settle. “You’re not wrong,” he admitted, voice low, almost to himself. “Everything changes when there’s a kid involved. Suddenly, every mistake, every misstep—it doesn’t just affect you. It affects someone who’s counting on you to show up, even when you’re not sure you can.” He paused, eyes distant for a moment, thinking of the little person who had completely shifted his priorities. “You keep yourself busy, you run, you fight, you plan… but none of that means anything if you don’t actually show up. And sometimes, showing up is the hardest part. Even when everything else feels like chaos, even when you’re not sure you’re enough… you show up. That’s what matters.” He let out a slow exhale, a mixture of weariness and resolve. “It’s the only way to start making it right. Step by step. Messy, imperfect, but present. And somehow, that’s enough—for now. At least I hope it is...Sorry man. I didn't mean to get all heavy on you like this.”

The honesty of admitting that showing up was the hardest part of the whole fucking mess. Other guys in his job would've made a joke or avoided the question, but this dude was honest enough to say mission planning was easier than being a good father. "Sorry? Man, you don't need to apologize for being real about the hardest part of this whole mess." The words came out rougher than he'd intended, but Zayaan had earned that level of straight talk. Every choice carried different weight when a kid was watching, when someone small and trusting was counting on you to be better than your worst impulses, and that kind of pressure could either break a man or forge him into something worth becoming. "You know what though? The fact that you're even thinking about showing up, about being present instead of just going through the motions, that already puts you ahead of most people in this business. Question is, when you do show up, are you ready for her to see the real version of you, not just the one you think she needs?"

Zayaan let out a quiet laugh, more wry than amused, as he ran a hand through his hair. “You hit it on the head, Lucian. People act like vulnerability is some kind of contagion, but the real danger’s in the corruption they ignore every damn day. Feeling things doesn’t make you unstable—it makes you human, which apparently scares a lot of folks.” He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing in thought. “And yeah… playing the polished version gets exhausting. You start to wonder which mask is the real you and which one’s just surviving the room. It’s a relief when someone else says it out loud, because suddenly you’re not crazy for noticing the cracks.” A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips. “Censoring yourself… that’s hard to shake. Took me longer than I’d like to admit. But you’re right—if they can’t handle it, that’s on them, not us. The real problem isn’t what we show. It’s what they refuse to see.”

"Yeah, corruption you can rationalize, but God forbid you admit your childhood sucked," he said, because wasn't that exactly how it worked? People could stomach the worst crimes but acted like having feelings about neglect made you weak somehow. The masks thing hit deep because he'd been wearing different versions of himself for so long he sometimes forgot which one felt real, and hearing Zayaan name it so clearly made him realize how fucking exhausting it all was. This conversation was heading somewhere important, somewhere he'd been avoiding for months, and maybe it was time to stop censoring himself completely and just say what he'd been thinking about Thomas, about the inheritance, about everything that had been eating at him. "You know what? I'm done pretending this whole family situation doesn't bother me," he said, years of resentment finally breaking free. "Thomas got handed everything while I got scraps, and I'm tired of acting like that's just how things are supposed to be."

Zelie's words cut. Not because she was right, but because the other was grouping her with women in general and Ishika didn't entirely appreciate that. She was emotional right now, of course she was--finding out the man she loved had been taken by someone who'd threatened his life before had her a bit on edge. Still she worked on levelling her voice before she spoke. "If I acted like most women, without thinking like you said...I'd have shot your boyfriend dead when he abandoned his post and ran off to save you during the explosion." But she hadn't. She'd let Ace explain himself and had given him another chance because she knew better than that. Still she knew Zelie was right in this instant--going in blind would only harm her and probably Gavin as well if he was still breathing. "I can give you a few days but Zelie...I can't sit back and just, pretend to do nothing. I won't be able to." Ishika was close to pleading with the other, her pride taking a step back as she looked at the other. "You want him to pay for what he did to Ace, and I want the same...he'd never think we'd be smart enough to work together."

Zelie’s heart went out to Ishika. The desperation with something that felt almost like understanding—because yeah, she'd been there too when Ace got taken. "This will work, but not the way you're thinking." The thing about Dante was that he was paranoid as hell, always watching for threats, but paranoid people had blind spots too. "We need to create a distraction, something big enough that his attention goes somewhere else entirely." She could already see it forming in her head, the pieces clicking together in a way that actually made sense. "If he's busy dealing with a crisis somewhere else, he won't be checking on Gavin, that's when we grab him." It wasn't about charging in guns blazing like some action movie, it was about being smarter than the old bastard. "I'm talking about making him think one families is moving against him. I'm thinking the Solises. We gotta make it legit. This has to be something that forces him to pull his people away from wherever he's keeping Gavin." The beauty of it was that Dante would never suspect two women working together, especially not her and Ishika—everyone knew they barely tolerated each other. He honestly won't see it."

"Hmmmm I mean I do love movies where people die," she teased with a grin before nodding as the other mention her favourite ones and so then she felt comfortable enough to share her own favourites. "One of them is definitely 'How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days,' there's just something about Kate Hudson being incredible," she chuckled before nodding at Hayat's comments. "Oh but definitely 'The Princess Diaries' as well, oh and 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Honestly that one reminds me a lot of the life I left behind but..." Sienna trailed off, realizing she was sharing something about her life that she tried to never bring up. "Yes oh my god--I love that idea. Those Netflix rom-coms can be just what the soul needs. Done, we're doing this for sure." A part of her hoped the other wouldn't pick up on her little tidbit about her old life but Hayat was a lawyer--of course she would've heard it.

Sienna was already diving into her list, mentioning The Devil Wears Prada and something about the life she left behind. Hayat caught that slip instantly, the way lawyers always did when someone revealed more than they meant to. "Kate Hudson is incredible in that one, and Princess Diaries never gets old," she said The life she left behind. That was a loaded phrase, Hayat wasn't sure if she should ask, since there was a lot going on. Not yet, anyway. Better to let it breathe and see if Sienna opened up naturally. "You know what though, we should definitely add some of those ridiculous Christmas movies to our list too. The ones where the successful city woman inherits a bakery or whatever and falls for the local carpenter who's secretly amazing at decorating trees." She grabbed her phone from the coffee table, excitement building as she pulled up Netflix. "Actually, let's make a proper list right now. I'm thinking we need at least six movies for our breakdown weekend. Three guaranteed sob-fests and three that'll make us believe in love again afterward."