Melissa sat lazily on the couch, scrolling through her phone when the front door opened.
"Where've you been?" Melissa asked, glancing up.
"With Ariana," Sunny replied as she collapsed onto the couch beside her.
Melissa studied her face. "How's she holding up?"
Sunny sighed heavily. "She's barely holding on… It's difficult. My heart broke the moment I saw how miserable she looked."
"When's the court scheduled for?"
"Tomorrow." Sunny's voice dropped. "I'm scared… What if they take her? What if Ariana can't protect her?"
Melissa pulled her into a brief hug.
"I know Roberto will do everything he can to keep her," Melissa said.
"That's the problem," Sunny muttered. "His family is mafia. That's his weakness. Trisha might use that to her advantage."
Melissa leaned back and looked at her seriously.
"We need to be strong for Ariana. If you break down like this, how is she supposed to stay strong?"
Sunny rubbed her face tiredly.
"But that aside," Melissa suddenly said, "I met the fridge filled to the brim. And then I began to wonder… what kind of sorcery is this? Who is using black magic?"
Sunny shoved her lightly.
"That isn't funny. It hasn't even been two weeks and the entire groceries disappeared."
"All hail the mother who takes care of her children," Melissa said dramatically, bowing her head.
Sunny narrowed her eyes. "I ought to whack you right now… but I swear, if these groceries disappear like the last ones, you're getting the next groceries for a month."
"Yes, ma'am," Melissa replied obediently.
Sunny stood up and stretched. "Alright… I have to get ready."
Melissa frowned. "Where the hell are you going?"
"To a birthday dinner."
"Birthday dinner? Since when? Whose birthday?"
"Oh, Mariana's. Funny story—I met Alejandra at the store today. She told me tonight is Mariana's birthday."
"And you're going?" Melissa asked cautiously.
"Yeah… I mean, it's Mariana we're talking about."
Melissa sat up straighter. "After everything you've been through? Do you have any fucking idea—"
"I know, I know, Melissa," Sunny interrupted. "It's just a dinner. I'm not running away with my lover."
Melissa sighed. "I know… but Alejandra and Xavier… why do you think this is a good idea?"
"Because I was invited," Sunny replied.
"Besides, Alejandra paid for all our groceries. It's only appropriate that I attend."
Melissa raised an eyebrow.
"Touché," she admitted.
Sunny smirked. "That's what I thought."
She left the room soon after. Once ready, Sunny headed out for the dinner.
Melissa lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
The issue with Roberto and Ariana filled her chest with unease.
"I guess Roberto has a plan B if plan A doesn't work," she murmured.
A sudden thought made her sit up.
"What if he doesn't have a plan B?"
Melissa jumped to her feet.
"Well… I guess I'll have to give them one."
She grabbed her phone and dialed Dean's number.
"Yo, sup?" Dean answered.
Melissa exhaled. "As you know, Ariana is having issues with her stepkid's mom. Turns out she has a court summons."
"Oh snap… where do I come in?"
"Find out everything you can on Aaron Jones," Melissa said firmly.
"He's the judge."
There was a short pause.
"Aaron Jones," Dean repeated. "Got it. I'll start tomorrow."
The restaurant was small and warmly lit, tucked away from the busy streets.
Soft music drifted through the air as guests laughed over wine and dinner.
Sunny paused outside the entrance.
For a moment, she wondered if coming here had been a mistake but it was Marina's birthday.
Taking a quiet breath, she stepped inside.
Almost immediately, several heads turned.
The kitchen crew spotted her first.
"Sunny!"
A few of them waved excitedly, clearly happy to see her. One of the cooks even clapped.
Sunny smiled politely, giving them a small wave.
Then her eyes shifted toward the center table and her smile faltered.
Alejandra sat beside Marina, elegant as always, dressed in black. Next to her sat Xavier.
His arm rested casually behind Alejandra's chair.
The moment Xavier noticed Sunny, a smirk played on his lips.
Alejandra followed his gaze. Their eyes met across the room.
For a brief second, the noise of the restaurant seemed to fade.
Sunny forced herself to walk forward.
Mariana jumped up the moment she saw her.
"Sunny! You came!" she exclaimed happily, pulling her into a hug.
"Of course," Sunny said softly. "I wouldn't miss your birthday."
Mariana beamed before pulling her toward the table.
"Everyone, look who's here."
Sunny felt the tension immediately.
"You know i was skeptical when chef said she invited you" Diego said.
"I thought you would bail" Claire said.
Alejandra gave her a polite smile.
"Sunny." Her voice was calm, but her eyes carried something deeper. Something unreadable.
Sunny nodded slightly. "Alejandra."
Xavier didn't say anything. He simply watched her.
The silence stretched awkwardly until Mariana clapped her hands.
"Okay! This is supposed to be a happy dinner, not a funeral," she laughed.
Everyone chuckled nervously.
Sunny took the empty seat across from Alejandra.
For a while, the conversation stayed light—food, work, small jokes from the kitchen staff. But the tension never truly disappeared.
At one point, Sunny reached for her glass.
Her fingers brushed Alejandra's by accident.
They both froze. Sunny quickly pulled back.
"Sorry."
Alejandra shook his head. "It's fine."
Xavier noticed. His smile didn't fade, but his grip on his wine glass tightened slightly.
Mariana leaned toward Sunny.
"I'm really glad you came," she whispered.
Sunny forced a small smile. "Me too."
Across the table, Xavier was watching her carefully. Alejandra hadn't looked away in several minutes.
Sunny pushed her chair back quietly.
"I'll be right back," she murmured to Mariana before standing. No one questioned it.
She walked down the narrow hallway toward the restroom, trying to calm the storm inside her chest.
The mirror inside the restroom reflected a face she barely recognized.
Sunny stepped toward the sink and turned on the tap, letting the cool water run over her hands.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
Then the door burst open. Alejandra stormed inside.
Sunny froze.
Their eyes met through the mirror.
"Do you need something?" Sunny asked carefully.
Alejandra didn't answer.
Instead, she grabbed Sunny's arm and pulled her into one of the empty stalls.
"Chef, is everything—"
Alejandra didn't let her finish. She kissed her. Hard.
Sunny's eyes widened in shock.
She pushed against Alejandra's shoulders, trying to break free, but Alejandra held her firmly, deepening the kiss as if she had been holding it back for too long.
Sunny struggled.
Her hands pressed against Alejandra's chest, but the grip on her waist only tightened.
Finally, Alejandra pulled away.
Sunny stumbled back slightly, gasping for air.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared at her.
Alejandra looked just as shaken.
"What?" Alejandra asked softly.
Sunny wiped her mouth, still trying to breathe normally.
"I'm sorry," Alejandra said quickly, running a hand through her hair. "I must be drunk."
Tears slid silently down Sunny's cheeks.
"I hate you," she whispered.
The words hit Alejandra like a slap. Her expression faltered.
Sunny shoved past her, moving toward the stall door.
"Sunny, wait—please don't leave."
Sunny turned, her voice trembling.
"Why?" she asked. "Why did you do it?"
Alejandra looked completely lost.
"I don't know."
Sunny shook her head slowly, more tears falling.
"I should have never come," she whispered.
For the first time that night, Alejandra looked afraid of losing her.
Sunny walked out before Alejandra could stop her.
The restroom door slammed shut behind Sunny.
Alejandra stood frozen in the stall.
The words echoed in her head.
I hate you.
Her hands slowly dropped to her sides.
For a long moment, she didn't move.
Then she leaned back against the cold tile wall and shut her eyes.
"Damn it…" she whispered under her breath.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly.
Alejandra wasn't drunk. Not really.
She had only taken two glasses of wine.
But the moment she saw Sunny walk into the restaurant, something inside her had unraveled.
All night she had tried not to stare. Tried not to remember.
Tried not to think about the way Sunny used to laugh… or the way she used to say her name.
And then in the restroom—
Seeing Sunny alone.
So close. So real.
The restraint she had built for months shattered in seconds.
Alejandra pressed her fingers against her lips.
The same lips that had just kissed Sunny. Her jaw tightened.
"That was a mistake," she muttered.
But even as she said it, the words felt like a lie.
Because for that brief moment—when Sunny had been in her arms—It had felt painfully right.
Alejandra exhaled sharply and ran a hand through her hair.
"You idiot," she murmured to herself.
"Why couldn't you tell her how you really felt? Why couldn't you tell her that you love her."
"How she's the one who gives you purpose? How you've missed her smile, her laugh and her cooking."
Alejandra closed her eyes in frustration.
"She asked you why you kissed her and all you could say is you don't know? You're a fucking coward" Alejandra hits her head on the wall.
Outside the restroom, laughter from the dinner party echoed faintly down the hallway.
Alejandra barely heard it.
All she could see was Sunny's face. The tears. The anger. The hurt.
Alejandra pushed herself away from the wall.
She stared at the restroom door.
For the first time that night— She looked uncertain.
Because if Sunny left now… Alejandra wasn't sure she'd ever get another chance to explain. And that thought frightened her more than anything.