The air was still heavy with the truth I'd just unloaded. Even after all the yelling, the disbelief, and the silence, we were still sitting in the same room, breathing in the same tension. But before anyone could say another word, the front door flung open.
"Aceee, I swear, if you ate the last cookie again—"
Alice. His younger sister, dramatic as always, stomped in with a wild look in her eyes.
And right behind her…
"Wow," a voice whistled. "Didn't expect this. Always good to have you back, Layla. I know just how much—"
Before King could even finish his sentence, Ace already bracing—lunged and smacked a hand over his mouth.
"Don't," Ace growled through gritted teeth. "Just don't."
King doubled over, groaning. "Bro! I was just saying welcome back, damn."
Alice snorted. "I gotta tell Shine and Claire!" She bolted up the stairs, phone already pressed to her ear.
It was pure chaos.
Aster muttered from his corner, "Sometimes I can't tell who's older. You or him."
Valerie raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "What was he about to say, Ace?"
"Nothing important," Ace grunted. "You know he's an idiot."
Our eyes met across the room. Aster and I. The way he looked at me made my chest ache it was cold, sharp, unreadable. Like he hated me. Or maybe worse—like I had broken something he never thought I could.
Summer jumped up from the couch and wrapped her arms around me. "I'm so glad you're back. The group's finally whole again."
I held her tight. And then Sofia and Valerie jumped in, pulling me into one massive hug attack.
Then of course my phone had to ring.
Luna.
I hesitated before answering. She was spiraling.
"I don't get these damn sponsors or their ridiculous terms! I'm losing my mind, Layla! How the hell do you manage all this? I swear, if I have to read another—"
"Luna," I whispered. "You're on speaker."
"Oh shit. Ugh! Save me!" she shouted before the line went dead.
Sofia burst out laughing. "Someone's going through it."
I sighed. "I guess I have to go back into CEO mode for a while and help her get her crap together… but after that, I'm back on finding mom."
Valerie gave me a soft nudge. "Don't worry, we're with you. All-six of us."
Noah finally stood. "Already working on it. But I need my setup, so I'm heading out."
I smiled gratefully. "Thank you, all of you."
Then—
BANG.
A loud slam echoed through the hallway. The front door?
Claire and Shine stormed in like a mini hurricane.
"LAYLA?!" Claire screamed, clutching her phone. "OMG, you're here. I have SO much to tell you!"
Shine was already mid-argument on another call, pacing, yelling, storming into the backyard.
Claire hugged me tightly. "You're back for good, right?"
Before I could answer, she was already gone, chasing Shine and yelling about "tone of voice" and "nonsense arguments."
Ace didn't even flinch. This was just his normal.
His siblings were practically mine too. I didn't mind the chaos. I kind of loved it.
Valerie whispered beside me, "You know Shine or Claire probably already messaged Selena and Victor…"
Oh, right. Valerie's little sister and Aster's younger brother. Basically my younger siblings too. We all grew up together bonded over awkward galas and fancy family gatherings long before we ever became friends in high school.
A sleek car pulled up outside.
Seconds later, Mrs. Elaine Alston walked through the front door like she owned the place—which she kind of did.
She froze. Saw me.
And smiled. "Darling. You left without a goodbye. But at least your father told me later… I'm glad you're safe."
I stepped forward. "Do you know anything? Anything dad didn't tell me?"
She hesitated. "He's doing what he thinks is right. And your mother? She's not weak, Layla. She's stronger than you know. We all are. That fire in your blood, it's not from nowhere. You're a fighter, like her."
She kissed my forehead gently, then disappeared into Ace's dad's old office to handle "business."
Sofia groaned dramatically. "I'm starving."
Ace waved a hand. "Dinner," he ordered his staff like a king in his castle.
I sat back on the couch, checking the flood of emails on my phone. My company inbox. Offers. Contracts. So many things demanding my attention while my life felt like it was on fire.
I got up to go to the bathroom.
The house hadn't changed much, but something about it still felt different. Like memories were watching me.
Then—
A hand grabbed me.
Dragged me.
I was slammed—gently, but firmly—against the wall of a dark room.
Aster.
His eyes were burning.
I froze. "What the hell—?"
"Why didn't you answer?" he hissed. "Why did you ignore me? Was I not worth a goodbye? Was I just some guy you could leave behind?"
"Aster—"
"You knew I don't open up to anyone after what happened with my mom. You knew that. And I trusted you. Then you just… vanished."
I could barely speak.
"I looked for you," he continued. "I heard about California. About your company. You made it big in less than two years. And all this time, I thought I meant something to you."
"You did. You do." I whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
And then I broke.
The tears came before I could stop them. "I miss my mom so much, Aster. Everything's falling apart. I thought running away would fix things, but it only made them worse and on top of all this new stuff."
He stared for a long second. Then softly, painfully—he pulled me into his arms.
I sobbed against his chest as he ran his fingers through my hair, holding me like he was still angry but couldn't bear to see me hurt.
We sank to the floor. Just sat there. No words. Just breathing.
"You done crying yet?" he teased after a while, smirking through the pain.
I smacked his arm. "Ass."
He laughed.
I got up, wiping my face. "Don't follow me."
He followed me anyway.
Back in the living room, the group was chaos again. King, Ace, and Shine were arguing over something ridiculous. Summer and Alice were giggling in the corner. Sofia was recording the entire mess for her "chaos archives." Claire and Valerie were whispering and gossiping.
I sat down.
Looked at them all.
Laughed a little.
Aster entered the room. Our eyes met.
We smiled.
This—this madness, this noise it was home. Maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to face this war alone.
And wherever mom was…
I'd find her.
We'd find her.
Together.
......