When Kaivan opened it, his eyes widened. Inside were a bank book, an ATM card, and a security token. A symbol of immense trust. His fingers trembled slightly.
"This is your full payment," Livia's father said gently, patting his shoulder. "Thank you for helping me… and for taking care of Livia."
His friends erupted cheering. Radit jumped, Raphael smiled in relief, Ethan seemed deep in thought. Felicia and Thivi hugged tightly, Zinnia and Isabel joined in the excitement. Frans immediately sprinted toward the car. "Party time! Everyone, let's go!"
Kaivan turned back, a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, sir. My friends get carried away sometimes."
Livia's father laughed warmly. "It's fine. Let them enjoy their youth."
As the others rushed to the car, Kaivan looked again at the bank book. His eyes widened even more. The balance read: 650 million rupiah.
He frowned, startled. "Sir… this is too much. I think there's been a mistake."
Livia's father regarded him with a wise gaze. "You're a strange one, Kaivan. You already have the money, yet you're still asking if it's correct. Yes, it's more than the value of the gold. Think of it as… a reward."
Kaivan bowed his head slightly. "But it's such a large amount…"
Livia's father patted his shoulder again. "It's yours. And your friends'. Consider it a bonus from me. Livia has changed since meeting all of you, more independent, more mature. Thank you for being part of her life."
Kaivan absorbed the words slowly, then thanked him and stepped outside. Laughter and cheers greeted him immediately. His friends were already gathered around the car, their spirits lifting each other like rising sparks.
He closed the briefcase gently and smiled. Somewhere deep inside, Kaivan knew this wasn't just a victory, it was the beginning of something larger. A journey with a new family tied not by blood, but by struggle and hope.
Frans was already behind the wheel, music blasting, energy surging. "Party at Kaivan's house! Everyone's coming!" he shouted.
In the backseat, Thivi raised her hands in excitement, then paused, squinting forward. "Wait… why is Zinnia sitting on Kaivan's lap? Am I the only one who finds that weird?"
Zinnia turned with a playful smile. "If you sit here, Felicia gets jealous. If Felicia sits here, you get jealous. Why make life difficult?"
Felicia giggled softly. "Then maybe Isabel or Livia should sit there instead? Problem solved, right?"
Before the argument could escalate, Kaivan cut in gently, raising his phone to his ear. "Relax, all of you. I'm calling home. We need permission first."
Raphael nudged Radit. "Quiet. This call decides the fate of our entire party."
Everyone fell silent. Only faint breaths, suppressed giggles, and unspoken hopes filled the car. But Radit couldn't resist leaning closer to Thivi and whispering, "If you can't sit on his lap now, you can always sleep next to Kaivan later. Maybe continue what happened in the warehouse…"
Thivi's face flushed bright red. Images of the villa flickered in her mind, making her stare out the window awkwardly as her heartbeat quickened.
Finally, Kaivan turned back with a relieved smile. "Okay! We're good. Permission granted!"
A wave of cheers exploded. Frans hit the gas, sending the car speeding toward a night full of laughter and possibilities. Inside that small, crowded vehicle, something warmer than excitement began to grow, an unspoken bond stronger than simple friendship.
Frans' car rolled to a stop in front of Kaivan's house, quiet and warm as if welcoming them home. The moment they stepped out, Kaivan walked ahead and entered, spotting his mother on the sofa, watching a documentary about the Norwegian aurora. The soft glow from the TV made the living room feel even cozier.
He approached and called gently, "Mom…"
She blinked, surprised, then smiled. "Oh my, you're all here already? I completely forgot to prepare anything to welcome you."
Before Kaivan could respond, Thivi stepped forward cheerfully. "Mom, let me help like always, okay?"
Felicia followed with a warm nod. "Me too, Mom. It'll be faster if we do it together."
Zinnia added with a calm smile, "I'll help as well. Things go quicker when there are many hands."
Kaivan's mother let out a small, touched laugh. Meanwhile, Kaivan's gaze drifted to Isabel, who sat quietly in a corner, her eyes distant as if lost deep in thought. A shadow of worry crossed his face.
Livia whispered beside him, "Brother, Isabel's been quiet for a while. I think a lot is on her mind."
Radit grinned, "Just use the Tome Omnicent, then we'll know what's wrong."
Kaivan sighed softly. "Actually… I've been ignoring some of its instructions lately." His tone was firm, though a hint of doubt lingered.