The drive to the function was anything but peaceful.

Kavira sat in the passenger seat with her arms crossed.

Karl was driving with a stupid smile on his face.

Kavira glared at him.

"Stop smiling."

"No."

"You're annoying."

"I know."

"You're impossible."

"Also true."

Kavira groaned.

"I hate you."

Karl looked at her.

"That's my favorite sentence."

"I wasn't joking."

"Neither was I."

She grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.

Karl laughed.

"Violence. Nice."

"You kidnapped me!"

"I invited you."

"You locked my apartment door from inside!"

"Details."

"Karl Casanova!"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Shut up."

After thirty minutes they arrived.

The mansion was enormous.

Golden lights decorated the entrance.

Luxury cars filled the driveway.

Kavira stepped out of the car.

Tonight she wore a deep emerald-green floor-length gown.

The dress hugged her waist perfectly before flowing elegantly to the ground.

Her black hair fell freely over her shoulders.

Karl stared for several seconds.

Kavira noticed.

"What?"

Karl cleared his throat.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"You look beautiful."

Kavira immediately looked away.

"Shut up."

Inside another car—

Aaron and Divyanka arrived.

Divyanka was wearing a simple black one-piece dress.

No expensive jewelry.

No fancy makeup.

Just herself.

Aaron couldn't stop staring.

Divyanka smacked his arm.

"Stop."

"What?"

"Looking."

"I'm your boyfriend."

"And?"

"I have rights."

Divyanka rolled her eyes.

Inside the mansion...

Everyone gathered in the massive dining hall.

At the head of the table sat Karl's father.

Let's call him:

Heinrich Casanova

A feared businessman.

A former mafia king.

Beside him sat his wife:

Flora Casanova

Still as intimidating as ever.

Across from them sat Heinrich's childhood best friend:

Wilhelm Falkenberg

A dangerous-looking German businessman with silver hair and sharp eyes.

Beside him sat his wife:

Helene Falkenberg

Elegant and graceful.

The moment everyone sat down—

Kavira noticed someone.

And nearly dropped her fork.

"..."

Divyanka froze too.

"..."

Both girls looked at each other.

Then at Aaron.

Then back at each other.

Then Aaron.

Then each other.

Finally—

Kavira whispered:

"What the hell?"

Divyanka whispered back:

"I can explain."

"YOU'RE DATING HIM?!"

"Lower your voice!"

"THAT'S AARON CASANOVA!"

"I know!"

"THE MAFIA?!"

"Technically yes."

"DIVYANKA!"

Aaron was trying not to laugh.

Karl was openly laughing.

Then Heinrich spoke.

His gaze landed on Divyanka.

"Who is this young lady?"

The hall became quiet.

Aaron immediately answered.

"This is Divyanka."

Everyone waited.

Aaron continued.

"My girlfriend."

Divyanka almost choked on water.

Aaron held her glass.

"And the woman I'm going to marry."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Even Karl stopped laughing.

Kavira's mouth fell open.

Divyanka wanted the floor to swallow her.

Heinrich blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then looked at Aaron.

"You're serious?"

Aaron nodded.

"Very."

Divyanka was now completely red.

Aaron casually grabbed her hand.

"She's family."

Karl looked impressed.

Kavira looked betrayed.

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"

Divyanka pointed at Aaron.

"He proposed!"

"When?!"

"Recently!"

"AND YOU DIDN'T CALL ME?!"

"I FORGOT!"

"YOU FORGOT YOU GOT PROPOSED TO?!"

Karl was laughing so hard he nearly fell from his chair.

Meanwhile...

At Damon's mansion.

Damon was sitting on the couch.

His phone was ringing.

No answer.

Again.

No answer.

Again.

Still no answer.

Arshia walked downstairs holding juice.

"Who are you calling?"

"Friedrich."

"He won't pick up."

Damon looked up.

"..."

Arshia froze.

"..."

Damon narrowed his eyes.

"How do you know?"

Arshia blinked.

"Uh..."

Damon stood.

"How."

Arshia immediately started panicking.

"I just guessed."

"You guessed?"

"Yes."

"Specifically that Friedrich won't answer?"

"Maybe?"

Damon crossed his arms.

"Arshia."

"Yes?"

"You're terrible at lying."

Arshia laughed nervously.

"No I'm not."

"You are."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Fine maybe."

Damon sighed.

"Why do you know where Friedrich is?"

Arshia nearly exposed herself.

Because she had spoken to Friedrich earlier.

But she couldn't tell Damon that.

So she quickly said:

"Because he's weird."

Damon stared.

"That's your explanation?"

"Yes."

"That's the dumbest thing I've heard today."

Arshia smiled proudly.

"Thank you."

Damon looked at the ceiling.

"God help me."

Back at the dinner...

Wilhelm Falkenberg suddenly smiled.

His eyes moved between Karl and Kavira.

"So this is your wife?"

Kavira froze.

Karl smiled immediately.

"Yes."

Kavira kicked him under the table.

Hard.

Karl almost screamed.

Wilhelm laughed loudly.

"Oh, I like her."

Helene nodded.

"Me too."

Flora looked at Kavira.

Then at Karl.

Then sighed dramatically.

"She's the only person in this world who can survive Karl."

Everyone laughed.

Even Heinrich.

Except Kavira.

Because she was busy trying to murder Karl with her eyes.

And Karl...

Karl looked happier than he had in months.

For the first time in a long time...

His entire family was in one room.

Aaron had Divyanka.

Kavira was beside him.

Even Friedrich had shown up.

Which meant only one thing.

Something was coming.

Something big.

And Friedrich's presence tonight...

Was not a coincidence.