Melody (Callista) POV
After we received the message, the atmosphere shifted. Doubts and fears began to swirl in the air like a storm, filling the underground base with quiet murmurs and anxious eyes. Panic was creeping in, subtle but undeniable.
Then, another notification popped up on Felix's screen.
"Don't worry, it's just one of our people."
I blinked. Just one? So they've been spying on us this entire time?
Before I could even open my mouth, another message appeared.
"Really—don't worry! We mean no harm. The person we're sending is the only child of the Director of DTY."
I froze. Huh?
The only child of the DTY Director? Are they trying to send a message by sending someone that high-profile? Or... is this a trap?
Everyone's eyes were on me now. I could hear the whispers, feel their tension.
What exactly are we walking into?
Felix tilted his head, then chuckled lightly. "The sender seems... nice," he commented, still typing rapidly on the phone.
Then another message appeared.
"In fact, we're grateful to you for saving the Director's child."
I blinked. What?
Grateful?
I looked around, confused. "What do they mean by that?"
Before any of us could figure it out, another message popped up on the screen.
"I'll explain everything at the restaurant."
A tight silence followed. That was it. No name. No details. Just a vague promise and a ticking clock.
The countdown had begun—and now, we were walking into a meeting full of shadows, secrets, and someone who claimed I'd saved their life without even knowing.
A few hours passed, and we finally arrived at the designated location—right on the dot, 12 PM sharp.
The restaurant was towering, elegant, and clearly the most expensive one in the entire city. A five-star establishment, with crystal chandeliers gleaming through tinted glass and a golden plaque by the door that screamed wealth. The entire place had been rented out… just for us.
But what unsettled me wasn't the luxury—it was the silence. No customers. No waiters bustling around. Just an eerie stillness… and the presence of dozens of agents, all in black suits and earpieces, stationed discreetly around the perimeter. Some were perched on nearby rooftops. Others stood near sleek black cars. Their gazes were sharp, scanning everything and everyone.
Xavier gently tightened his hold on my hand as we stepped forward. "They're not hiding how serious they are," he whispered.
Felix, Zack, and Mia followed close behind, alert but calm.
At the entrance, a man in a suit—clearly one of the DTY agents—bowed slightly and said, "Welcome, Melody Xander. The director's child is waiting for you inside."
I froze.
So it's true. We really saved someone important. But who? And why?
We walked in, and the heavy glass doors shut behind us with a soft hiss.
The man in the suit gestured politely. "The child of the Director is the Deputy Director herself. You'll recognize her, Miss Xander."
I blinked. Her?
I choked on my breath slightly, glancing at the others. "Wait… it's a girl?"
Zack raised a brow. Mia crossed her arms with a smug grin. Felix muttered, "So the Deputy Director is our mystery girl?"
Then it hit me. I'm supposed to know her? Was she once part of LUMENN? A disguised operative? An ally I'd forgotten?
My thoughts swirled as I glanced down at myself. Both Laurence—Xavier—and I had dressed to impress, thanks to Mia's very specific (and loud) fashion instructions. I was in a sleek emerald gown that hugged my figure, my hair pinned up, my belly now very noticeable. Xavier wore a clean-cut black tuxedo with a green pocket square to match mine. We looked like a power couple straight out of a luxury magazine.
Not that I enjoyed the attention. But it was necessary—for the mission, for the illusion.
As we entered the grand dining hall, the lights dimmed slightly, the glow of golden chandeliers casting a soft shimmer on polished marble floors.
Then, without a word, Mia calmly stepped forward and took a seat beside the older man at the head of the table—the man we assumed was the Director.
We all stared.
No one moved.
Then it clicked.
Felix's jaw dropped. "Mia…? What the—?"
I blinked hard, as if my eyes had deceived me. But no. It was her. Mia. Sitting beside the Director as if she belonged there—graceful, poised, confident. Like a different person altogether.
Xavier leaned closer to me. "Is that… her dad?"
The resemblance was undeniable. The man had the same sharp eyes, the same firm expression softened only by his presence beside his daughter.
Zack whispered, "Mia… is the Deputy Director?"
Mia smiled faintly, not denying it. "Surprise."
My mind reeled. All this time—she had been one of us, but also… one of them?
No, not them. Both.
Mia was LUMENN… and DTY.
Every single LUMENN member in the room froze, jaws dropped in unison. The silence was deafening. Especially Felix—he looked like someone had knocked the wind out of him.
I glanced at him. There it was, that look—confusion, betrayal… maybe even hurt. I always knew there was something unspoken between him and Mia, but seeing her now, like this, made it real.
Then, the older man—Mia's father, the Director—calmly raised his hand.
The entire room fell into silence, just like that.
His voice was composed, but carried the weight of authority. "We ask for your collaboration," he said. "The Deputy Director"—he gestured to Mia—"told us that you and I share the same goal."
I blinked. My thoughts still trying to catch up. Did he just say… same goal?
I glanced around. The others were just as stunned.
Mia remained calm, her hands folded neatly on the table. She wasn't the girl who had once giggled over chocolate milk anymore.
She was the bridge between us.
Between LUMENN and the DTY.
All of the LUMENN members and every high-ranking DTY agent in the room had their eyes on me. The weight of their stares was suffocating. One wrong move, one bad call—and we could go from potential allies to enemies. LUMENN and DTY… tearing each other apart.
I swallowed hard, my palms damp. It was still my first time leading LUMENN. I wasn't ready for this kind of pressure—especially not while pregnant.
Xavier stood close beside me, eyes full of concern. He wasn't acting anymore, not playing the role of a husband. This was real. But I wasn't even sure what kind of concern it was—friendly? Protective? Something deeper?
I forced myself to breathe, then slowly stood. The tension in the room felt like a knife's edge.
"I have one condition," I said firmly, letting my voice carry across the table.
The Director's face remained unreadable, but his tone was respectful. "What is it? We're willing to agree to any reasonable term—as long as we can collaborate. From what the Deputy Director has told us, LUMENN is every bit as powerful and gifted as they claim."
I blinked.
A compliment—from the Director of the DTY himself.
Murmurs spread across both sides of the room, but I stood my ground.
And then I opened my mouth—
To be continued...