CHAPTER 103 – The Midnight Disappearance
19th November – 10:58 PM
Sydney Mansion
The night air was quiet.
Too quiet.
A black car stopped slowly outside the mansion gates.
The headlights cut across the empty driveway.
Inside the car, Carolyn "Care" Patel leaned her head back against the seat, exhausted.
London → Sydney flights always drained her.
The driver opened the door.
Care stepped out.
She stretched slightly and looked at the mansion.
Something felt… off.
No lights in the hall.
No music.
No noise.
That alone was suspicious.
Because the people living here were incapable of silence.
She walked toward the door slowly.
The mansion was dark.
Her heels clicked softly on the marble floor as she stepped inside.
"Hello?"
Her voice echoed through the empty hall.
No answer.
She frowned.
"JJ?"
Silence.
"Percy?"
Nothing.
Her brows pulled together.
"Nova?"
Still nothing.
She crossed her arms.
"Oh wow. So everyone just disappeared?"
She walked further inside.
The decorations she expected weren't there.
No lights.
No flowers.
No birthday signs.
Just darkness.
She sighed.
"Seriously? Nobody even remembered?"
The thought hurt more than she expected.
Care turned around to walk toward the stairs—
When suddenly—
A hand covered her mouth from behind.
Before she could react—
A cloth pressed against her nose.
A sharp smell filled her lungs.
Her body froze instantly.
Her vision blurred.
Her heartbeat slowed.
Care tried to turn her head.
Her eyes struggled to focus on the person behind her.
The scent.
The presence.
Something felt…
Familiar.
Her mind tried to connect it.
That scent…
Her lips barely moved.
"…Cole?"
But her voice was barely a whisper.
The world tilted.
Darkness swallowed her.
And her body went completely limp.
Cole caught her before she fell.
For a moment—
He just looked at her.
His voice was quiet.
"Sorry, Care."
He lifted her into his arms carefully.
Then walked out the front door.
Outside—
The entire group was waiting.
Two SUVs.
Alex opened the back door.
"Mission successful?"
Cole nodded.
"She's out."
JJ rushed forward instantly.
"She's breathing right?"
Cole sighed.
"Yes JJ."
JJ exhaled.
"Okay good because if she died before her birthday I would literally kill you."
Percy laughed.
"That sentence made zero sense."
Lyra opened the car door wider.
"Move move move we don't have time!"
CN checked his watch.
"Resort is forty minutes away."
Nova climbed into the car beside Care.
"I still feel like we kidnapped her."
Ben shrugged.
"That's literally what we did."
Honey laughed.
"Best birthday surprise ever."
Freya leaned out the window.
"If she wakes up early we are all dead."
Endrix nodded seriously.
"Especially you Cole."
Cole just closed the door.
"Drive."
The convoy of cars left the mansion.
Heading toward the coastal resort.
Where the real surprise waited.
---
1:32 AM
Ocean Crown Resort
Moonlight reflected over the ocean.
The entire resort had been rented.
Lights glowed softly across the garden.
Golden decorations.
Crystal lights.
White and gold flowers.
Music equipment ready.
The stage prepared.
Everything perfect.
Inside a private suite—
Care slowly started waking up.
Her head hurt.
Her eyes opened slightly.
The ceiling looked unfamiliar.
"…what…"
Her voice was groggy.
Then she noticed something.
Two girls standing near her.
One holding a curling iron.
The other adjusting makeup.
Care blinked slowly.
"…who are you?"
The girls smiled politely.
"Good evening, Miss Patel."
Care sat up immediately.
"What the hell is going on?"
The stylists gently pushed her back.
"Please relax."
Care looked down at herself.
Her eyes widened.
She was wearing a stunning gown.
Deep midnight blue.
Flowing silk.
Perfectly fitted.
Her hair was half styled already.
"What—"
She tried to stand.
The girls stopped her again.
"Please miss, the final touch is remaining."
Care stared at them.
"…Did I get kidnapped?"
One girl laughed nervously.
"Technically… yes."
Care blinked slowly.
"…I'm going to kill someone."
They finished styling her hair.
Then one of them gently placed a silk blindfold mask over her eyes.
Care protested.
"HEY."
The girl whispered softly.
"Trust them."
Care froze.
"…them?"
But before she could ask anything—
The door opened.
Footsteps entered.
Cole's voice.
"Happy birthday my life"
"Ready?"
Care recognized it instantly.
Her jaw dropped.
"COLE?!"
Cole chuckled.
"Relax."
She pointed in his direction.
"YOU DRUGGED ME."
Cole shrugged.
"Temporary."
"I WILL LITERALLY KILL YOU."
He gently held her arm.
"Come on."
Care resisted slightly.
"Where are we going?"
Cole smirked.
"Your crime scene."
He led her outside slowly.
Cool ocean wind brushed against her skin.
Care could hear waves in the distance.
"…beach?"
Cole stayed silent.
They walked down a pathway.
Music started playing softly.
Care stopped walking.
"…wait."
She felt it.
The atmosphere.
People nearby.
Many people.
Her heartbeat increased.
Cole stopped walking too.
Then he leaned closer.
And whispered quietly—
"Welcome back, Care."
The blindfold was removed.
Lights exploded around her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARE!"
The entire resort lit up.
Music burst into the night.
Gold lights everywhere.
All of them standing there.
JJ.
Keifer
Percy.
Honey with Aarav
Nova.
Ben.
Lyra.
Alex.
CiN.
Rakhi with Aanya.
Daisy.
Joong.
Freya.
Endrix..
Ash.
.
And in front—
Aries.
Ella
Angelo.
Ion.
Care froze completely.
Her eyes widened.
Her lips parted.
She couldn't breathe for a second.
"…you…"
Lyra ran forward first.
"HI BIRTHDAY GIRL!"
Care stared at her.
Then at everyone.
Then at Cole.
"…you kidnapped me."
Percy laughed.
"Technically yes."
Nova hugged her.
"Worth it."
Care's eyes slowly moved across the crowd.
Then they stopped.
On Angelo.
Her breath caught.
"…Angelo?"
Angelo stepped forward calmly.
"Hello, Carolyn Patel. I mean "Care". "
The name echoed in the silent air.
Care's eyes filled with shock.
"You're here…"
Ion smiled warmly.
"We finally meet."
Care looked around again.
At all of them.
The lights.
The ocean.
The decorations.
The effort.
The surprise.
Her voice cracked slightly.
"…you idiots."
JJ tilted her head.
"Why does that sound emotional?"
Care suddenly hugged Lyra tightly.
Lyra froze.
"OH MY GOD SHE'S CRYING."
Nova gasped.
"THE LEGENDARY CARE IS CRYING."
Ben whispered dramatically.
"This is a historic moment."
Cole just watched quietly.
A small smile on his face.
Care wiped her eyes quickly.
"Shut up."
Lyra yelled.
"OKAY ENOUGH EMOTIONS."
She pointed dramatically.
"THE PARTY STARTS NOW."
Music blasted.
Lights flashed.
Fireworks exploded over the ocean.
And the night officially began.
But nobody noticed something.
Not even Care.
Cole's eyes moved briefly toward Kiefer.
And Kiefer nodded slightly.
Because the truth inside that tablet was still coming.