Chapter 81 — Lyra's Announcement
The London mansion had finally begun to feel peaceful again.
For weeks the house had been filled with hospitals, investigations, fear, recovery, sleepless nights, and quiet worry. But tonight, something different hung in the air.
Warm lights glowed across the massive dining hall. The long marble table stretched across the room, filled with plates, glasses, and the quiet clatter of dinner.
All nineteen of them were there.
It had become a habit after everything they had survived.
No one liked being alone anymore.
Outside the tall glass windows, the London night shimmered with distant city lights, but inside the mansion there was warmth, laughter, and the strange comfort of people who had nearly lost each other too many times.
Ash sat beside Daisy, arguing quietly about some ridiculous drama series.
Percy was halfway through a story about how he nearly crashed a jet ski in the Maldives.
Honey was recording everything on her phone like always.
Freya and Endrix were whispering about some new tech startup.
Rakhi and Cin were laughing over something on Cin's tablet.
Ella and Aries were debating wine quality like professionals.
Nova and Ben were discussing a medical conference.
Joong was pretending not to check work emails.
JJ and Keifer sat comfortably at the center of the table, observing the chaos like experienced parents watching their chaotic children.
At the far end of the table—
Care sat quietly.
For once, she wasn't planning, analyzing, or solving a crisis.
She was simply watching everyone.
Alive.
Together.
Beside her, Cole leaned back in his chair lazily, one arm resting on the chair behind her.
He noticed her quiet smile.
"You look suspiciously peaceful," he murmured.
Care glanced at him.
"That's because nothing is exploding tonight."
Cole smirked.
"Give Percy ten minutes."
Across the table Percy immediately shouted—
"I heard that!"
The table burst into laughter.
The tension that had lived in their bones for months had finally started dissolving.
Then suddenly—
A chair moved.
Lyra stood up.
It wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't loud.
But the movement was enough.
Slowly conversations faded.
Heads turned.
Alex looked up first.
He frowned slightly.
Lyra rarely stood up during dinner unless something serious was happening.
She rested her hands lightly on the table.
Her expression was calm.
But there was something in her eyes.
Something determined.
The room grew quieter.
"Lyra?" Daisy asked.
Lyra took a slow breath.
Then she said calmly—
"Alex and I are getting married."
For one full second—
The room froze.
Then chaos exploded.
Percy inhaled wrong and immediately started choking on his water.
Honey screamed so loudly that Cin almost dropped his tablet.
Ash shot out of her chair like a rocket.
"WHAT?!"
She rushed across the table and threw her arms around Lyra.
"Oh my god oh my god oh my god—"
Lyra laughed as Ash squeezed her nearly to death.
Daisy jumped up next.
Joong looked stunned.
Freya clapped.
Ella gasped.
Rakhi squealed.
Even Nova's calm expression cracked into a surprised smile.
Across the table—
Cole slowly raised an eyebrow at Alex.
He leaned back in his chair.
"So..."
He smirked.
"Finally got trapped?"
The table erupted in laughter again.
Alex didn't even look embarrassed.
He calmly sipped his drink.
"I proposed months ago."
Silence hit again.
Then everyone yelled at once.
"WHAT?!"
"MONTHS AGO?!"
"YOU DIDN'T TELL US?!"
Honey nearly climbed onto the table.
"You two kept this SECRET?!"
Lyra laughed helplessly.
"We wanted to wait."
Percy dramatically wiped imaginary tears.
"This betrayal hurts."
Ash grabbed Lyra's hands again.
"When? How? Where? What ring?"
Lyra lifted her hand.
The diamond sparkled under the lights.
The table erupted again.
Daisy screamed.
Freya grabbed Lyra's hand to inspect it.
Rakhi leaned across the table for a closer look.
Meanwhile—
Care leaned back in her chair, watching everything with quiet amusement.
Cole noticed.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
Care shrugged slightly.
"It's chaos."
Cole nodded approvingly.
"Fair point."
The room had turned into a full wedding planning battlefield already.
Percy had grabbed a napkin and started sketching insane wedding ideas.
Honey was planning a documentary.
Freya was talking about outfit designers.
Ash was already planning bridesmaid dresses.
Alex looked slightly overwhelmed now.
Lyra laughed watching the madness she had started.
Then—
Keifer cleared his throat.
Not loudly.
But just enough.
The room slowly quieted.
Keifer rarely interrupted chaos unless he had something serious to say.
He leaned forward slightly.
Watching the table with calm eyes.
Then he said—
"If we're doing this..."
Everyone turned toward him.
"...why not do it properly?"
The table went quiet again.
Percy frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Keifer leaned back calmly.
"Indian wedding."
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then JJ slowly smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Oh..."
She looked around the table.
"That would be fun."
Lyra blinked.
Alex looked intrigued.
Ash immediately gasped.
"Oh my god yes."
Daisy's eyes lit up.
Freya leaned forward excitedly.
"Those weddings are insane."
Cole glanced at Care.
"Uh oh."
Care raised an eyebrow.
JJ stood up slowly.
Her eyes moved across the table.
All nineteen of them.
Friends.
Family.
Survivors.
Then she said calmly—
"Not one wedding."
The room went silent again.
Everyone stared at her.
JJ folded her arms.
Then she looked around the table slowly.
"Four weddings."
For a moment—
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Even Percy was silent.
Because suddenly—
Everyone realized what she meant.
JJ pointed across the table one by one.
"Lyra and Alex."
Then another direction.
"Care and Cole."
Cole nearly choked on his drink.
Care froze.
Then JJ pointed again.
"Nova and Ben."
Ben blinked.
Nova tilted her head thoughtfully.
Finally—
"Daisy and Joong."
Joong looked like his soul had left his body.
The room went completely silent.
Everyone slowly looked at each other.
Four couples.
Four weddings.
One massive disaster waiting to happen.
Then Percy whispered slowly—
"Oh."
Then he stood up suddenly.
"OH."
Then he slammed both hands on the table.
"THIS IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTE CHAOS."
Honey screamed again.
Ash burst into laughter.
Freya clapped.
Rakhi jumped from her seat.
Ella covered her mouth in shock.
Aries grinned.
Endrix looked entertained.
Cin just shook his head.
Across the table—
Care slowly turned her head toward Cole.
Cole was staring at her.
Both of them processing the same terrifying idea.
Then Cole said quietly—
"...so..."
Care crossed her arms.
"Don't even start."
Cole grinned slowly.
"Four weddings."
Care rolled her eyes.
Around them—
The entire table had erupted into the loudest chaos the mansion had heard in months.
And somewhere between the laughter—
The planning—
The teasing—
The madness—
All nineteen of them realized something.
For the first time since everything happened—
Life was finally moving forward again.