Steam clouded the bathroom mirror as Star soaked in the tub, trying to soothe the weight of everything pressing on her. Upstairs, Christine crept into her room, quiet as a shadow.
She reached for Star's phone.
"Locked… and fingerprinted. What's the PIN?" she muttered, poking in guesses. All failed. She frowned.
"Star?" she called out.
"I'm here, Grandma—in the bath!" Star's voice echoed through the hallway.
Christine raised her voice with an innocent tone. "My phone's on the charger and I need to make a quick call. Can I use yours?"
"Sure, Grandma! It's on the table. The PIN is four zeros!"
Christine paused, stunned. "Four… zeros?"
She picked it up again, unlocked it with a sigh.
"Such a simple code," she whispered. "But what secrets are you hiding, Star?" she leaves the room.
Across the hall, Maria was pacing like a caged predator.
"Star's always one step ahead. That idiot Mathews told her everything," she hissed. "She's more dangerous than I thought."
She gulped a glass of water, trying to calm the storm brewing in her chest.
"If she exposes me, it's over. I have to act fast… before she does."
In her room, Christine sat on her bed, earbuds in. She played the audio file Star recorded—her face pale, her heart thudding.
"This… this is proof Maria bribed Dr. Mathews?" she gasped. "Star had this all along—why didn't she say anything?"
Christine picked up her phone and made a call.
"Something's not right in this house. Star's hiding evidence against Maria. Instead of exposing her, she's protecting her… Why? Maria tried to kill her and her unborn baby. There's something deeper going on, and I need to find out what Star knows. I have to."
Downstairs, Star packed her backpack. She grabbed her phone from the table, eyes narrowing.
"Grandma must be done," she muttered, heading upstairs. She knocked, then pushed Christine's door open.
The recording was playing. Christine stood, arms crossed, face hard with betrayal.
"Why are you hiding this?" she demanded.
"Grandma, I—That recording…"
"Star, why are you protecting the woman trying to kill you? What are you waiting for?"
Star stood frozen, heart pounding.
"This isn't what it means to forgive," Christine said firmly. "This isn't noble—it's dangerous. Now talk to me. Tell me everything."
Star swallowed hard, then nodded.
"You've been suspicious for a while, and you're right. I'm done hiding."
She sat across from Christine, voice low and trembling. "My mom raised me to stay away from lies. But sometimes… you get trapped. And the only way out is the truth."
Christine leaned in, eyes desperate. But just as Star opened her mouth—
A scream rang out from the hallway.
"MENDU!"
Star flew out of the room. Mandume lay at the bottom of the stairs, wincing in pain.
"Oh my God! What happened?" Star cried, kneeling by him.
"I don't know," he groaned. "It felt like I stepped on something—slipped."
Christine and Bonita rushed over. Bonita helped him onto the sofa. Star's eyes darted to the floor and spotted a marble.
She picked it up slowly.
"Oh, you found it." Maria appeared at the top of the stairs, voice smooth as silk. "Poor son. Today a sprain, tomorrow maybe a kidnapping. Just because you won, Star, doesn't mean I've stopped playing."
Star stared, speechless.
Maria descended, faking concern. "How awful… Are you alright, my son?"
"The stairs aren't even slippery," Christine muttered. "How could this happen?"
"My son is in pain, and you're talking about the floor?" Maria snapped. "First Star, now him… What's going on in my house?"
Christine's gaze hardened. "You tell me."
Upstairs, Star helped Mandume into bed while Christine fetched massage oil.
"I'm sorry, Mendu," Star whispered. "You must've stepped on that marble."
"I'm fine," he said. "Mom will drive me to work."
"Don't worry. Grandma will fix you up," she replied softly.
Downstairs, Bonita sat with Maria, face clouded.
"I don't understand our house anymore," she murmured. "Mendu's walked those stairs his whole life. Now he slips?"
Maria sighed, feigning distress. "And Star's life is always at risk…"
"From you," Bonita cut in sharply. "You tried to destroy her—and she still protects you. Don't you feel shame?"
Maria blinked. "Boni, why would I ever try to hurt Star's baby?"
"Because that baby is the only thing keeping Star here. Because she knows your darkest secret."
Bonita stood, trembling with rage.
"You might be my mother—but don't push me to disown you."
She stormed off.
Maria stood frozen, heart sinking.
"No… my daughter didn't just say that. She was the only one on my side…"
Christine finished the massage and left. Star sat quietly beside Mandume, eyes watery.
"Why does your safety always depend on me?" she whispered.
He turned toward her, surprised. "Why are you crying? I'm okay, really."
"I just hate seeing you hurt," she said, brushing away tears. "Seeing your blood… I can't bear it."
She noticed a small wound on his arm. She quietly got the first aid kit and tended to it.
"You'd make a great nurse," Mandume teased gently.
She smiled faintly, sadness still heavy in her eyes.
Mandume sat up. "You sure this is just about my fall?"
Star hesitated. "I don't like when you're hurt. And I keep feeling like… this is my fault."
"It's not," he said firmly. "You weren't even there."
Bonita walked in.
"Mom left."
"What? She was supposed to drive me."
"She figured you couldn't work today and assigned your PA instead."
"I'm staying," Star said quickly.
"No, Star, you should go to school. I'm okay," Mandume assured her.
Bonita nodded. "Grandma's here. She'll take care of him."
Star hesitated, then nodded. She looked back at Mandume one last time.
He gave her a small nod. Everything's fine.
But Star's heart whispered otherwise.