Magnus: “Technically, yes.”
Lucas: “You told Ruhanika?”
Magnus: “I will. Tonight.”
Lucas: “And what about her friend?”
Magnus: “She’ll know soon enough.”
Lucas exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck before stepping closer.
Lucas: “Magnus, I need to tell you something.”
Magnus: (turning to face him) “Say it.”
Lucas: “When you were at the office, I had a talk with Sunshine. But—”
Magnus: (cutting in, his tone sharp) “But what? Don’t tell me you scared her again or blurted out something unnecessary…”
Lucas: (calmly) “Relax. It wasn’t like that. I just told her… that I’m like a brother to her. That she can come to me if something bothers her. But when I said ‘brother’… something shifted in her. She froze. She was literally shaking, Magnus.”
Magnus's eyes darkened, concern replacing irritation.
Magnus: “Did she say anything about why she reacted that way?”
Lucas: “No. She brushed it off like it was nothing, but it didn’t feel like nothing. It felt like fear.”
Magnus: “There’s something she’s not telling us.”
Lucas: “Exactly. Should I get Bruno to look into it?”
(Magnus gave a stiff nod, glancing toward the park where laughter echoed softly.)
Magnus: “Yes. But not tonight. Let them enjoy this evening.”
---
[Time Skips – Later that Evening]
The group had gathered again.
Magnus: “Darling, remember? We were going for a long drive.”
Ruhanika: (smiling brightly) “Yes! Let’s go!”
Arohi: “I should head home. I have work tomorrow.”
Ruhaniks: (turning to her) “You still work in that mansion?”
Arohi gave a faint, painful smile.
Arohi: “Yes, Ruhi.”
Ruhanika’s cheerful expression faded. Her brows furrowed in concern as her eyes welled with unshed tears.
Ruhanika: “Why, Aru? You don’t need to anymore. I’m not trapped there now—you can leave too.”