Chapter 82 — The Final Decision
The explosion that began with Lyra's announcement had not ended.
It had only evolved.
The massive dining hall of Care's London mansion now looked less like a dinner gathering and more like the command center of an international operation.
Except this operation involved weddings.
Four weddings.
At the center of the table, Lyra still stood beside Alex, who had now accepted that the evening had spiraled completely out of control.
Honey was pacing with her phone, already planning a wedding documentary.
Freya had opened three different fashion websites.
Rakhi and Ella were debating lehenga colors.
Endrix had somehow opened a spreadsheet.
Cin leaned back in his chair, watching the chaos with quiet amusement.
Aries had grabbed a pen and started sketching something suspiciously like a stage layout.
Meanwhile Percy stood dramatically at the center of the room like a general about to announce war.
The entire group looked toward him.
He slammed both palms on the table.
Hard.
"DOUBLE WEDDINGS ARE BORING."
The room fell silent for half a second.
Then Percy pointed at Lyra and Alex.
"One wedding."
Then he pointed across the table.
"Care and Cole."
Another finger moved.
"Nova and Ben."
Then Daisy and Joong.
"AND THEM."
He took a breath.
Then yelled—
"QUADRUPLE WEDDING."
Honey screamed again.
Actually screamed.
Like someone had just announced the greatest entertainment event of the century.
Ash jumped up laughing.
"Oh my god YES."
Freya clapped loudly.
"That would be legendary."
Rakhi nodded enthusiastically.
"Four brides!"
Ella added excitedly.
"And four grooms trying not to faint."
Aries leaned back with a grin.
"This is already the best idea anyone has had this year."
Across the table—
Joong suddenly looked terrified.
"Wait wait wait—"
Everyone turned toward him.
Joong raised both hands like a man negotiating with a firing squad.
"Let's slow down."
Daisy slowly turned toward him.
Her arms crossed.
Dangerously.
"You don't want to marry me?"
The entire table froze.
Even Percy stepped back slightly.
Joong's brain visibly short-circuited.
His eyes widened.
"No."
Daisy's eyebrow lifted higher.
Joong panicked.
"I mean yes."
The room erupted in laughter.
Joong rubbed his forehead.
"I mean—yes I want to marry you."
Daisy stared at him for three seconds.
Then finally smiled.
"Good answer."
Joong collapsed back into his chair in relief.
Across the table—
Nova and Ben exchanged a glance.
It was quiet.
Calm.
The way they always were.
Ben leaned slightly toward her.
"What do you think?"
Nova tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Four weddings will reduce logistical repetition."
Ben laughed softly.
"So that's a yes?"
Nova gave a small smile.
"Yes."
Ben nodded once.
"Then we're in."
Freya clapped again.
"Two couples confirmed!"
Meanwhile—
Cole leaned back in his chair watching the madness unfold.
Then slowly turned his head toward Care.
She was watching the room too.
Her expression calm.
But her eyes thoughtful.
Cole studied her for a moment.
Then he asked quietly—
"You ready for this?"
Care glanced at him.
Her eyebrow lifted.
"You?"
Cole leaned back casually.
"I survived freezing trucks."
For one second—
Care stared at him.
Then she laughed.
Actually laughed.
A real one.
The kind that hadn't appeared often before.
The table caught it immediately.
Percy pointed dramatically.
"THAT SOUNDS LIKE A YES."
Honey screamed again.
Ash jumped up again.
"I KNEW IT."
Care sighed softly.
But the small smile on her face betrayed her.
She turned toward the table.
"All of you are insane."
Percy nodded proudly.
"Correct."
JJ folded her arms with satisfaction.
Keifer watched the room quietly, clearly enjoying the chaos he helped create.
Cin shook his head.
"This will be the most complicated wedding planning in human history."
Endrix raised his laptop.
"I've already started organizing it."
Aries lifted his sketch.
"I'm designing the ceremony area."
Freya looked at the four women.
"Oh this is going to be beautiful."
Rakhi grabbed Ella's arm excitedly.
"Four bridal entries!"
Honey raised her phone.
"This is going to break the internet."
Joong leaned toward Daisy again.
"I still think we should talk about this."
Daisy patted his shoulder.
"Too late."
Meanwhile—
At the far end of the table—
Ash sat quietly.
She watched the laughter.
The arguments.
The teasing.
The chaos.
The people she almost lost.
The people who saved each other.
The family that had formed from disaster.
For a long time she had believed her life had been destroyed.
Kevin.
Betrayal.
Kidnapping.
Pain.
But now—
Watching this room—
Watching four couples beginning new chapters—
She realized something.
Healing didn't happen in silence.
It happened like this.
With laughter.
With people.
With second chances.
A quiet smile slowly appeared on her face.
Across the room—
Care noticed it.
And she understood.
Because tonight—
For the first time in a long time—
Everyone in that room felt the same thing.
Life had finally moved forward.
And now—
It was time to celebrate it.