The hideout was dead silent—until Rea's phone started blaring.
Rea groaned, rolling over and blindly searching for the device while half-asleep. The obnoxious ringtone kept playing.
Aster, who was sprawled out on a chair, lifted his head. "Who the hell is calling this early?"
Christy, sitting cross-legged on the counter, smirked. "Rea's secret admirer?"
Rea finally grabbed her phone, still groggy. "Hello?"
Elena's voice nearly burst her eardrum. "WHERE ARE YOU?"
Rea winced. "Why are you screaming?"
"Because you and Aster are missing from school! Are you guys eloping or something? Did you two run away to get married and not invite me?!"
Rea's eyes snapped open. "WHAT?! NO!"
Aster, overhearing, burst into laughter. "Oh my god."
Christy's smirk widened. "Wait, wait, did she say married? Oh, this is gold."
Rea sat up, flustered. "Elena, what kind of insane—"
"Oh, don't lie to me, Rea," Elena teased. "You disappear with Aster, and now neither of you are in school. That's highly suspicious!"
"I—We—THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS!"
Christy put a hand over her heart dramatically. "Aster, how could you not tell me you were engaged? I thought we were friends."
Aster grinned. "Rea, you could've at least let me propose first. I feel robbed."
Rea glared at both of them, her face heating up. "I swear, I will fight both of you."
Elena cackled on the phone. "This reaction is making my day. Alright, lovebirds, I'll let you get back to your honeymoon."
"ELENA—"
The call ended.
Aster wiped fake tears from his eyes. "I wish I had recorded that."
Christy sighed dramatically. "We should start wedding planning. What's the theme? 'Accidental Partners in Crime'?"
Rea groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I hate you both."
Aster patted her back. "Aw, don't be shy. We'll make a beautiful couple."
Christy nodded. "Absolutely. Rea, just accept your fate."
Rea considered throwing her phone at them.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Celeste and Jaxon arrived at Eric's underground lair.
Celeste stepped inside first, her sharp gaze scanning the room. Eric was standing by the control panel, while Rina sat nearby, flipping through a worn-out notebook.
Rina looked up and smiled. "Look who finally decided to visit."
Jaxon walked in behind his mother, setting a small box on the table. "We come bearing gifts."
Celeste rolled her eyes but slid a delicate necklace out of the box and held it up. The pendant glowed faintly under the dim light.
Rina's breath caught. She slowly reached for it. "Is this…?"
Celeste nodded. "It's yours. We finally got it back."
Eric whistled lowly. "Took long enough."
Jaxon crossed his arms. "We need you to decrypt whatever's inside it. We're guessing it's something important."
Rina turned the necklace over in her hands, deep in thought. "This is not mine. This is the key to the one meant to be decrypted, I need the other necklace..... " She trailed off, her expression darkening.
Celeste sat beside her. "We're getting closer, Rina. Whatever secrets this necklace holds, we'll find out together."
Rina looked at her old friend and then at Jaxon, her son, standing tall beside them. A rare warmth spread through her chest.
She had lost so much. But right now, she wasn't alone.
Rina held the necklace tightly, her fingers running over the familiar ridges of the pendant—except, it wasn't in her hands. It was with Rea. And that complicated things.
Jaxon leaned against the table, arms crossed. "So, what now? We just wait for Rea to show up with it?"
Rina smirked. "You think I just press a button and it pops open?"
Jaxon frowned. "I mean, it'd be nice."
Eric snorted. "You really got Westwood's brain, huh?"
Jaxon shot him a glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Eric ignored him and turned to Rina. "How complicated is this thing?"
Rina exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "It's not just a necklace. It's a storage device. Celeste and I designed it years ago to keep sensitive information hidden. If Collaway kept it all this time, it means he knew its value—but he couldn't access it."
Celeste tapped her fingers on the table. "Why not?"
Rina smirked. "Because it requires my DNA to unlock. Without me, all he could do was stare at encrypted garbage."
Eric raised an eyebrow. "Smart."
Jaxon groaned. "Great, so we're just waiting on Rea now?"
Celeste checked her watch. "She should be here soon."
Jaxon huffed. "Hope she doesn't lose it."
Rina gave him a teasing grin. "Patience, dear son."
Jaxon scowled. "Don't start with that."
Celeste chuckled. "Oh, I think she should."
Jaxon groaned again and sat down heavily. "Someone wake me when Rea finally gets here."
Rina and Celeste exchanged amused glances. They had waited years for this moment—what was a few more hours?