CHAPTER 101 – Planning Chaos and Departure 2.0
Sydney Mansion – War Room
The living room had turned into a battlefield.
Papers. Laptops. Phones. Whiteboards. Coffee mugs.
Eighteen people talking at the same time.
Lyra had literally dragged a whiteboard into the room and written in big bold letters:
OPERATION: CARE'S BIRTHDAY
Under it were chaotic bullet points and arrows.
Alex leaned against the table, arms crossed.
"Okay. Everyone shut up for five seconds."
Nobody listened.
JJ was arguing with CN.
Percy was laughing.
Nova was yelling across the room.
Daisy and Joong were whispering some stupid idea.
Ash was sitting quietly but clearly entertained.
Finally Alex clapped loudly.
"HEY!"
Silence.
"Good. Now we plan this properly."
Lyra grabbed a marker dramatically.
"Alright. Assignments."
JJ – Schedule Control
JJ raised her hand immediately.
"I'm handling Care's schedule."
Everyone nodded.
JJ continued confidently.
"I'll move her meetings around without making her suspicious."
CN smirked.
"You realize she's one of the smartest CEOs alive, right?"
JJ rolled her eyes.
"Please. I have survived this group as well as Percy's chaos. I can handle Care."
Kiefer chuckled quietly beside her.
Alex – Venue & Security
Alex pointed at himself.
"Venue and security are mine."
Cole nodded.
"Good. She hates crowded parties."
Alex smirked.
"Exactly why I'm doing it."
Percy leaned forward.
"Where are we doing this?"
Alex simply replied,
"Secret."
Lyra gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god. Suspense."
Lyra – Decorations
Lyra flipped her hair confidently.
"Decorations are mine."
Freya grinned.
"This should be interesting."
Lyra pointed at her.
"You are helping me."
Freya laughed.
"Oh absolutely."
Endrix sighed beside her.
"I already know my credit card is going to suffer."
Cole – The Personal Surprise
Everyone looked at Cole.
Cole leaned back on the sofa.
"I'll handle the main surprise."
Ben raised an eyebrow.
"Care hates big dramatic gestures."
Cole smirked.
"That's why it'll be perfect."
Nova laughed.
"Oh this is going to be chaotic."
CN – Logistics
CN opened his laptop.
"I'll manage logistics."
Rakhi looked at him proudly.
"Transport, timing, coordination."
CN nodded.
"Exactly."
Aries added calmly,
"And I'll help with funding if necessary."
Lyra immediately pointed at him.
"Oh yes, billionaire funding approved."
Ella laughed softly beside him.
Percy & Honey
Percy stretched his arms lazily.
"So what do we do?"
Lyra pointed the marker at him.
"You're entertainment."
Percy grinned.
"I like that role."
Honey smiled softly.
"We'll handle music and mood."
Percy winked.
"Oh we'll make it unforgettable."
Freya & Endrix
Freya raised her hand.
"We'll help Lyra with decorations."
Endrix sighed.
"I'll also handle lighting and stage setup."
Lyra clapped.
"Perfect."
Nova & Ben
Nova leaned forward excitedly.
"I want to plan the cake."
Ben chuckled.
"That's dangerous."
Nova glared.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Ben laughed.
"You almost burned the kitchen last time."
Nova threw a pillow at him.
Everyone laughed.
Ash
Ash finally spoke quietly.
"I'll handle photography."
Alex nodded.
"Good idea."
Ash shrugged.
"Care hates cameras. But memories matter."
Everyone silently agreed.
Daisy & Joong
Joong raised his hand dramatically.
"We'll handle gifts."
Daisy nodded.
"But meaningful ones."
Joong grinned.
"And maybe something chaotic."
Daisy groaned.
"Please don't make it weird."
Cin & Rakhi
Cin leaned back calmly.
"I'll handle coordination between everyone."
Rakhi nodded.
"And I'll help JJ with schedule monitoring."
JJ smiled.
"Perfect."
Then Everyone Looked at Kiefer
Lyra tapped the board.
"Kiefer?"
Kiefer leaned against the wall quietly.
"Just observing."
JJ nudged him.
"You're suspiciously quiet."
He smirked faintly.
"I'll help wherever needed."
Something about his tone felt… distant.
Cole noticed.
But said nothing.
Later That Night
Everyone slowly left the room.
Plans were moving.
Chaos had direction now.
But Kiefer stepped outside onto the balcony.
His phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Kieran Watson
He answered.
"Kieran."
His brother's voice came serious.
"Kiefer. We need you here."
Kiefer frowned.
"What happened?"
Another voice joined the call.
Keigan Watson.
"It's family business."
Kiefer's expression hardened.
"I'll take the first flight."
Private Moment – JJ & Kiefer
Later that night.
JJ found him packing.
She leaned against the doorframe.
"You're leaving."
Kiefer nodded.
"Philippines."
JJ walked closer.
"For how long?"
"A few days."
She crossed her arms.
"You said that like someone hiding something."
Kiefer smiled softly.
"Family matters."
JJ looked at him carefully.
"You'll be back before the 20th?"
Kiefer stepped closer.
His voice softer.
"I promise."
JJ studied his face.
"You better."
He pulled her into a hug.
JJ rested her head against his chest.
"Don't disappear on me."
Kiefer whispered,
"Never."
But something in his eyes said he was worried.
Philippines – Watson Estate
The Watson estate stood massive and quiet.
Old. Powerful.
Kiefer arrived late at night.
Keigan and Kieran were already waiting.
Kieran hugged him.
"Good to see you."
Keigan nodded.
"You came fast."
Kiefer replied calmly,
"You said urgent."
They walked inside.
The Storage Room
Later that evening.
Kiefer searched through old storage rooms.
Dust.
Boxes.
Old family belongings.
Kieran sighed.
"Half of this should've been thrown away years ago."
Kiefer ignored him.
Then suddenly…
His hand stopped.
A sealed metal trunk.
He opened it slowly.
Inside were old belongings.
Photos.
Letters.
Jewelry.
Kiefer froze.
His voice barely above a whisper.
"Mom's things…"
Serina Watson.
Keigan frowned.
"That trunk shouldn't be here."
Kiefer carefully moved the items.
Then he saw it.
A dust-covered tablet.
He picked it up slowly.
Kieran looked confused.
"What is it?"
Kiefer wiped the dust away.
The screen flickered.
Barely turning on.
His eyes darkened.
"This wasn't supposed to be here."
Keigan asked quietly,
"What's inside?"
Kiefer shook his head.
"It's locked."
He stared at the tablet.
Something about it felt important.
Very important.
Kiefer said slowly,
"We need to recover the data."
Kieran crossed his arms.
"You know someone who can do that?"
Kiefer nodded.
"Yes."
Kuya Angelo
"Angelo Fernandez."
Keigan raised an eyebrow.
"Aries' brother?"
Kiefer nodded.
"And JJ's kuya."
Kieran smirked.
"That serious billionaire guy?"
Kiefer's voice firm.
"He's the only one I trust with this."
He picked up his phone.
"I'll call him."
Angelo Fernandez
Angelo answered quickly.
"Kiefer."
Kiefer got straight to the point.
"I found something."
Silence.
Then Angelo asked,
"What kind of something?"
Kiefer looked at the tablet.
"My mother's tablet."
Even through the phone, Angelo's tone became serious.
"Bring it."
Kiefer nodded.
"Also… come to Sydney."
Angelo paused.
"Why?"
Kiefer smirked slightly.
"There's a birthday coming."
From the background another voice spoke.
A woman.
Warm.
"There must be JJ."
Ate Ion.
Angelo sighed.
"Ion wants to meet them anyway."
Ion laughed softly.
"We're coming."
Kiefer nodded.
"Good."
The Secret Remains Locked
Recovery would take two weeks.
The tablet held secrets.
But no one knew what yet.
Not even Kiefer.
He stared at the screen quietly.
Something inside him said this discovery would change things.
But for now…
There was a birthday to return to.
And a promise to keep.
November 20th.
He had to be back.