Vicky's eyes fell on the AirPods gleaming in Ndeshi's ears. Something flickered—a flash of memory:
A bomb. Strapped to Karen's chest. A countdown. Panic.
She lunged forward, ripped the AirPods from Ndeshi's ears, and slammed them to the ground, shattering them.
Gasps filled the hallway.
"MY AIRPODS!" Ndeshi screamed, frozen in shock.
Everyone turned to stare.
Meanwhile, Adam's phone buzzed. He answered, murmured something low, and slipped out without a word. Damien, watching from the corridor, raised an eyebrow.
Adam arrived at an upscale apartment. He knocked once, and the door creaked open.
Auguste, wrapped in a silk robe over a bikini, a wine glass in hand, smirked at him.
"Didn't know you were that fast," she said, stepping aside. "I was just making breakfast."
Adam stepped in. "Even better. I need something to distract me from my family drama."
Auguste rolled her eyes. "I'm not here for your drama. Let's talk business." She poured him a drink.
"My nephew is getting married in a month—maybe sooner. He owns Shikongo Empire, Industries, and the Estates. But on my wedding day, I got a call. My real mother told me Veronica Shikongo isn't actually my mom."
Auguste tilted her head. "Wait—who's 'mom,' and who's Veronica?"
"Veronica is the woman who raised me. The only one I knew. But now I find out my birth mother is Mariane Desmond. She's overseas. I've only seen her picture."
Auguste raised an eyebrow. "And you believe all this?"
Adam nodded. "Yeah."
"So why are you here, Adam?"
"I need you to help me transfer everything back. Take it all. In return—you get my hotels in the North and 30% of the estate."
Auguste coughed. "That's... generous. Why so much?"
"Because you've got two weeks."
"Two weeks?!" she balked. "That's impossible. I don't even know where to start."
"You snatched your brother-in-law's catering company in three days," Adam said, sipping the wine. "This? Piece of cake."
"That was different—we had inside access. You don't have anything in the Shikongo vault."
"I'll keep Nathan away from the office. He's getting engaged Friday. I'll cause a distraction—he won't return until after the wedding."
Before Auguste could argue, Adam's phone rang—Betty.
"Shit," Adam muttered.
"What now?" Auguste asked.
"My wife. I forgot she was calling."
He picked up. "Hi, babe?"
Betty's voice came through, clear and suspicious. "I'm at the hospital. Nathan doesn't seem injured at all."
Adam's phone buzzed—2% battery.
"Uh—babe, hold on. My phone's dying." He scanned the room, found a nearby cable near the TV stand, and plugged in.
Auguste lunged. "No—Adam! That's a projector cable!"
Too late.
The call splashed across the flat screen. Betty's face filled the living room. Auguste sighed and sank into the couch, sipping her wine.
Adam leaned back. "This is perfect. I can see him better this way."
Betty continued, "As I was saying—Nathan looks fine. Just a rag wrapped around his hand."
"Then who's hospitalized?" Adam asked.
Back at the hospital:
"PAIGE, WHAT THE HELL?!" Ndeshi shouted.
The name hit like a blade through the air. Auguste froze, eyes fixed on the screen.
"Did she just say—Paige?" Auguste whispered.
Adam turned, confused, but saw the fear in Auguste's eyes.
Her hand trembled. She remembered:
Vicky… or Paige…
Driving a car.
A crash. Blood. Screams.
"Paige?" she murmured again.
Nathan approached Vicky, gently.
"Vicky… why did you do that?"
Vicky was shaking, just as confused. "I—I don't know. I just remembered something…"
"Oh my God!" Ndeshi snapped. "That was a GIFT from my boyfriend! You just smashed it! You never cared about anyone, did you?"
Simon stepped in. "Ndeshi, that's enough."
"Of course! Always protect her. She's Paige. She must be right!" Ndeshi cried. Tears welled as she grabbed the broken AirPods and stormed out.
Vicky looked down, guilt crashing over her.
Back on the call, Betty tilted the camera. "I think this Paige girl is the one hospitalized. Her hand's in a cast."
Adam leaned closer. "No wonder Nathan sounded shaken."
"Wait—Paige is his fiancée?" Auguste asked.
Betty frowned. "Do you think she might be useful?"
Adam nodded. But Auguste misunderstood.
"You think she's useful?" Auguste repeated.
"I can't help you," she whispered suddenly, her whole body still.
"What?" Adam said, spinning around.
"I said—I can't help you," Auguste repeated, voice shaking.
"Why?"
"Because Paige is—"
But just then, Catty walked up behind Betty, stepping into the frame.
"Hmm… Aunt Betty, are you filming a hospital for your Insta? I didn't know you were such a social media tycoon," Catty teased, twirling into view.
Betty stiffened. "Catherine, I'm on a call with my husband—"
Vicky's vision blurred. Her eyes locked on something—AID—sticking out of Ruben's pocket.
Suddenly, everything went black.
She collapsed.
"VICKY?!" Nathan cried, catching her just in time. "Oh God—SOMEONE HELP!"
He scooped her into his arms, running toward the emergency ward.
Back in the apartment, Auguste sat trembling.
"You never told me… she was alive," she whispered.
Adam blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"I can't help you," she said again. "Not now. Not after seeing her."
"You're not making any sense—"
"She's Paige. And if she's really back…" Auguste paused, terrified, "…we're all in trouble."