Orahime Palace — Zandra (The Forbidden Place)
Deep beneath the palace, hidden in an underground cave, a lone throne stood bathed in shadow.
Haider knelt before a small feminine figure seated upon it. She drank calmly from a glass of wine, her black mask concealing half her face.
"My queen," Haider said, trembling. "I sincerely apologize… I was unable to obtain Alex's whereabouts."
The glass stopped midair.
"What nonsense are you saying?" Mauja asked coldly.
"I—I did manage to get rid of Akira, as you commanded," Haider stammered. "But she already told Alex about the diary… everything."
Mauja rose slowly.
"You failed to get Alex," she said quietly. "And you kill Akira only after the truth reached him?"
Haider bowed lower. "I suspected Humaira's involvement, but she's been missing for days now—"
"Silence," Mauja snapped, raising her hand. "You call yourself 'great'? You can't even complete a simple task."
Her thoughts darkened. If Asuna reaches Alex before me… I'm finished.
"Please," Haider begged. "Give me a chance. I have a family—"
A gunshot echoed.
Haider collapsed lifelessly.
"I had a family too," Mauja whispered.
A young man in his twenties stepped forward.
"You're next?" she asked.
He bowed deeply. "My name is Mubarak. I will serve you, Your Highness."
She glanced at the corpse. "That was your father, yes?"
"Yes."
"I hope 'like father, like son' doesn't apply here," she smiled. "Grief suits you. Don't disappoint me."
She left.
Mubarak knelt beside the body, fists clenched.
"I will avenge you, Father."
Sumdem City — Bello Mansion
Safeera Bello sat on her bed, consumed by spiraling thoughts.
Humaira has been missing for weeks. Charles won't answer. Alex… gone.
Was knowing about his dead mother better than staying with his living one?
Her chest tightened.
What if Alex is Mauja's son? The woman who murdered my brother?
The memory burned — Mauja holding the knife, blood everywhere.
"No," Safeera whispered. "I won't stay silent anymore."
Her eyes hardened.
"If Alex is truly Mauja's son… then he must pay for his mother's sins."
Prinna City
Manu paced near Akira's ruined home, checking her watch again.
"This is pointless," she muttered, turning to leave.
A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows.
"Leaving so soon?" Mauja asked.
Manu froze. "Who are you?"
"I know who you are," Mauja replied calmly. "Maria's forgotten daughter. Banished by her own mother."
Manu's anger flared. "Ali was never my father. Maria was never my mother."
"I understand," Mauja said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Having what's yours stolen."
Manu shoved her away. "Get to the point."
"I'm offering you a deal," Mauja smiled. "Zanu left the palace looking for you… blaming you for her mother's death."
Manu hesitated. "I can't fight her."
Mauja leaned in. "Everyone has a weakness."
She whispered one word.
"Alex."
White City Hotel — Zanu's POV
Zanu sat on the balcony as her maid brushed her long red hair.
Her thoughts betrayed her.
Alex…
His jawline. His eyes.
She flushed.
This is wrong. He's my stepbrother.
Her phone rang.
A distorted voice spoke.
"Your existence is a disgrace, Zanu Ali. Meet me at the cliffside near Pruga."
The call ended.
Her heart raced.
That voice…
She dressed quickly and left.
The Duel — Cliffside, Outskirts of Prinna City
Zanu waited.
Then—
"There's no point calling," a voice sneered. "Sister."
Zanu gasped. "Manu…"
She stepped forward—only to be slapped hard.
"Don't touch me," Manu hissed.
"You slapped royalty," Zanu smiled coldly.
Manu unsheathed her sword. "Let's end this. Life or death."
Steel clashed.
Wind roared.
The sky bled orange.
"You were always a mistake," Zanu taunted.
Manu struck back fiercely.
"You trained for years," Manu spat. "And this is all you've got?"
Blood spilled.
Zanu faltered.
Manu slashed her legs, grabbed her hair, and whispered:
"Alex will never be yours."
She kicked Zanu off the cliff.
As Zanu fell—
I will return.
She plunged into the River of Vengeance
Orahime Palace — Ali
Ali jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
Nightmares again.
He clutched Maria's portrait.
"First Mauja… then you… now Zanu?"
His last hope.
Outskirts of Sumdem City — The Forest
Humaira sat tied to a chair, weak and broken.
Is this how it ends?
A figure stepped forward.
"Grief suits you," Maria said.
Humaira's eyes widened.
"You destroyed my village," Maria continued. "Five hundred people. Infants."
Jaiz entered silently.
"End it," Maria said.
Humaira begged. Cried. Promised.
The gun fired.
Silence followed.
"Dispose of the body," Maria ordered. "Where they'll find it."
She entered a black car, smiling.