Evan arrived at the designated testing site—an abandoned warehouse just outside town—but there was no one in sight. Not even a footprint. The silence was deafening. His heart pounded. Panic gripped him.
He raced to the AID Headquarters, only to find the team preparing to lock up for the night.
"Evan?" Roberts called, startled.
"Where's my sister?" Evan demanded, breathless.
The room fell into puzzled silence.
"I thought you told us to abort the plan," Ruben said cautiously.
"Yeah... we were just about to head to your place after the message," Natasha added.
Evan's chest tightened. "Guys, this isn't a joke. Vicky's unstable—she's on the verge of a breakdown! Anything could happen! Please, just... bring my sister back!" he broke down, tears streaming. Roberts instinctively pulled him into a comforting embrace.
Meanwhile, Nathan climbed into his car, staring at the three incapacitated men behind him—two paralyzed, one dead. Twelve hours of paralysis. He should've felt haunted, but instead, relief washed over him.
"I don't know where you came from," Nathan muttered to the tiny earring device, "but you're a damn lifesaver. Robbers everywhere..."
His phone buzzed.
He reached for it—only for the screen to black out. Vicky's phone was dead. His battery was moments from following suit. Emily had tried to call Evan earlier but got no response. Frustrated, she locked herself in her room, trembling with fear.
"Even my phone's dying... Damn it! I need to find Vicky," Nathan growled.
He turned the ignition—nothing. The car wouldn't start.
"Come on!" He slammed the steering wheel in frustration, wincing at his injured hand. He tried dialing Catty. The phone died just as the call began to connect.
Back at the Shikongo estate, the smell of dinner wafted through the air. Everyone was seated, except for two.
"I'm worried about Nate. He hasn't come home," Kuku Veronica said, glancing at the front door.
Monica shrugged. "He probably went to the orphanage. Wouldn't be surprised if he comes back with all the kids."
Daniels chuckled. "That's Nathan for you."
"I'm seriously worried," Kuku insisted. Adam came down the stairs, stretching. Betty immediately pulled him into a hug.
"I'm starving," Adam groaned.
Damien, however, was quiet, Nathan's recent warnings about Adam ringing in his ears.
"Why is everyone just staring at the food?" Adam asked. "Come on, let's eat."
"My brother isn't home," Monica said.
"He's sitting right beside you," Adam quipped.
Kuku tried calling Nathan—his phone was off.
"Can someone call Ruben?" she asked.
Adam smirked. "Maybe Nathan's dead, and Ruben doesn't know how to break it to us."
Everyone froze.
"What?" Adam shrugged. "Why are you all staring like that? Isn't this what you're all thinking? Nathan and his bodyguard aren't here, and suddenly, no one's touching the food? Come on. Nathan's a grown man. He's getting engaged—he's probably out with his fiancée. Stop treating him like a toddler."
Monica blinked. "I didn't even realize Catty's not here either…"
"Exactly. They're probably together. Let's not overthink," Sofia added.
"Yeah. Let's eat," Kuku said, though her voice lacked conviction.
"Relax, Mom. Nathan's fine," Sofia assured, rubbing her back.
Daniels changed the subject, complimenting the food. Cinthya discreetly texted Catty: Where are you?
Catty sat at a quiet coffee stand, phone left in the car. She took a deep breath as she received her order, just as a young man joined her.
"This is my favorite stand," he said with a warm smile.
"Oh—um, it's very nice," she replied, nervous but trying to be polite.
"I'm Ben," he said, offering his hand.
"Catherine... but everyone calls me Catty."
Ben chuckled. "So... why were we mad at the stop?"
"Mad?" she asked, confused.
"Well, the steering wheel suffered," he joked.
Catty laughed. "Oh... yeah. That."
"Did you just say 'we'?" she teased.
"In Namibia, we share everything," Ben said with a wink. They giggled together as he placed his order.
"Thanks," Catty said when her drink arrived.
"As usual," Ben replied.
"You even have a usual?" Catty asked, raising a brow.
"Yep. I love coffee."
"Mmm... I like both tea and coffee. Not really sure what's the difference to not like one," she mused.
"My wife—well, ex-wife—used to say the same."
"Oh… you're divorced?" Catty asked gently.
"In the process," he said with a sigh.
"I'm sorry."
Catty stood and walked back to her car to grab her phone. She leaned against the door, scrolling through photos. One picture stopped her: her and her sister, younger, smiling.
"Your kids?" Ben asked from behind, startling her.
"You scared me!" she said.
"They're adorable," he said.
"I wish I could say the same," she muttered.
"Something happened?" he asked gently.
"You're surprisingly interested in my personal life. Just so you know—I'm getting married soon," Catty said defensively.
Ben raised his hands. "Not like that. I'm a cop." He showed his badge.
"Oh—wait, are you here to arrest me?"
"No!" He laughed. "Just needed company. I'm going through a divorce and it's tearing me apart. Sorry, I shouldn't—"
He turned to leave, but Catty stopped him.
"It's my sister and me," she said.
Ben paused.
"She left me," Catty whispered.
"I guess I'm not the only one alone," Ben said softly.
"At least you still get to see your ex if you miss her. My sister's gone—gone forever."
Ben's breath caught. "I'm so sorry..."
"She left five years ago."
"And you're still mourning?"
"That photo…" Catty said, "was the last time I saw her. She literally dragged me to enroll in a computer scholarship I didn't want. I hated that it meant years apart. But she believed in me. She was younger, but she had that motherly touch. We were best friends."
She paused, tears gathering. "I took the scholarship, and she vanished. I only found out what happened weeks ago. I don't even know why I feel so guilty."
Ben whispered, "Catty... do you really love your sister that much?"
She looked at him, puzzled. "Of course I do. What do you mean?"
"My grandmother used to say: If you truly love someone, all you'll ever want is their happiness," he said.
"She was everything to me," Catty whispered.
"Then maybe... maybe she came into your life to give you purpose. And when you found it, she left. You said she believed in you, pushed you to succeed. Don't let your grief ruin what she gave you."
Catty wiped a tear. "Since I got the news, I haven't done anything meaningful. My webinar is next week—I'm not even prepared."
Ben smiled. "She'd probably scold you for that."
Catty chuckled. "She'd say, 'Catherine! We only live once!'"
Ben watched her, struck by her strength and beauty.
"Thank you, Ben," she said softly.
He blinked, shaken out of his reverie. "Right… You're getting married."
Catty smiled. "Don't worry about that. Tell me about you. Why the divorce?"
Ben scratched his head. "Where do I start? It was an arranged marriage. We got married last year…"
"Arranged marriage?" Catty echoed, eyes narrowing.
"Yeah," Ben replied with a small nod. "When you marry someone without ever having been in love with them… you didn't know?"
"I know what it means," she said. "But I've never come across it here in Namibia."
Ben leaned back, his voice turning reflective. "Then listen to mine. It's actually my childhood friend. We grew up together, just friends—always were. No sparks, no romantic tension. But our parents? They thought we'd make the perfect couple. So, when I got back from South Africa, my mom decided it was time she had a daughter-in-law… and she picked her for me."
He sighed, a distant look in his eyes."We didn't want to disappoint them, so we agreed. Got married. But the truth is… there's no romantic love. We still find it awkward to kiss, to even hold hands. It's like trying to date your sister. Not every childhood friend is meant to become your soulmate. Sometimes—"
"Seriously?" Catty snapped, cutting him off. Her expression hardened. "I should've known. You're a cop—maybe even a spy."
Before Ben could say a word, she spun around, got in her car, and drove off, leaving him stunned in the dust—utterly confused about what had just happened.