Laughter bubbled in Star's hospital room. Bonita and Tiffanie sat beside her bed, throwing light jokes back and forth, the joy contagious. Star's smile gleamed as she joined in—until the door creaked open.
Her laughter faltered. Her eyes landed on him.
Daniels.
Her heart kicked against her ribs. The image of Steffy—the force, the confusion, the betrayal—slammed into her like a freight train. Her body stiffened. Her throat locked.
Daniels froze too, mid-step. The silence in the room thickened.
"…Steffy," Star breathed, her voice a ghost.
Bonita leapt in, unknowing. "Oh! Star, this is Daniels. Daniels, meet my lovely sister and best friend, Star."
"Is… this Daniels?" Star asked, her words shaky, suspicious.
"Yeah," Bonita said with a smile.
Suddenly, Star began hiccuping—sharp, uncontrolled bursts. Bonita quickly poured her water, but the hiccups didn't stop. Mandume stepped forward and handed her his cup instead. The moment the glass touched her lips, the spasms ceased.
"Hi… Star," Daniels finally said.
"Daniels… Boni's told me so much about you," Star replied, her voice unusually composed.
"…And everyone's told me so much about you." Daniels chuckled, eyes glinting strangely. "This family loves and hates you in equal measure."
The room went still.
"I mean—how do I put this? I walked into that house last night and everyone was talking about you. Now that I see you… I get it. They're obsessed."
Star blinked. Bonita's mouth dropped open.
"Daniels, this is family," Bonita warned, her tone tight. "Let's not get too dramatic, please."
"It was a joke, Boni," Daniels shrugged. "I make bad jokes sometimes."
"It's okay…" Star said with a small laugh. "I like bad jokes too."
"She sure does," Olivia muttered under her breath from the corner.
Just then, the door opened again. Christine entered.
"Grandma!" Star lit up and stretched her arms out.
"My precious Star…" Christine pulled her into a warm hug. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all this."
Maria, watching from the back, narrowed her eyes. Her gaze dropped to Star's wrist—and froze. There it was: the Davids' Ancestral Bangle, glowing subtly under the hospital lights.
That's why she didn't die… Maria thought, jealousy and alarm twisting in her gut.
"I thank God for your protection…" Christine whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm God's favourite, remember?" Star replied, holding her grandmother tightly.
The doctor entered with a light knock. "Alright, alright—everyone out. We need a moment with our miracle girl. We want to know what she saw in heaven."
Everyone chuckled as they filed out.
"Heaven?" Star blinked, amused.
"Yes, now hold still. We're confirming if you're fit to be discharged," the doctor said with a smile.
"I'm going home?" Star asked, hope blooming.
"Maybe," the doctor winked.
Meanwhile, Tomas sat on a bench just outside, phone to his ear. The rest of the family exited the room, buzzing.
"We'll talk later," Tomas said into the phone. "I don't think she'll be discharged today."
Mandume walked past. Tomas called out, "Mandume."
"Yes, sir?"
"How's Star doing?"
"She's doing well. The doctor's checking her now, but I think we're going home today."
"Good. I already informed her mother. But tell me—how did she end up here? What happened?"
Mandume hesitated. "Honestly, I don't know everything. I think Rudra can explain that better."
"She was with Rudra?"
"With all of us, actually… Yesterday we went hunting, and we camped out. Slept in the forest. But Star decided to stay at the campsite alone for a while…"
Rudra appeared, stepping in. "I'll take it from here," he said.
He laid out the events of the previous night—the attack, the blood loss, the frantic dash to the hospital.
"She lost a pool of blood," Rudra concluded. "But she made it here. She fought to live."
"You slept in the forest?" Tomas barked, stunned. "What kind of madness is that?"
"It was just for fun, sir," Mandume said, almost apologetically.
"And you left her alone?"
"We thought it'd be safer for her to stay behind… we didn't go far," Mandume explained.
"My daughter isn't safe anymore…" Tomas muttered.
"I called you so many times, Mandume," Rudra cut in. "You declined every time."
"There were some… misunderstandings," Mandume murmured.
"…And I came to your house," Rudra added, frowning. "Your mother made me leave before I could say a word. She was saying things I couldn't even understand."
"You came to our house today?" Mandume asked, eyes narrowing.
"Before I went to Mr. Tomas' workplace. I had no time for riddles."
"But who wants to kill Star—and why?" Mandume asked, fuming.
"That's what I want to know too," Tomas agreed. "You said they mentioned a 'boss', Rudra?"
"Yes. Do you think Star's in some kind of trouble? Owes someone dangerous?"
"Not that I know of…" Tomas muttered. "What could she possibly owe?"
"We need to speak to the man we caught," Rudra said. "No need to overload Star with questions right now."
Tomas nodded. "Agreed."
Back inside, Mandume approached Maria.
"Mom, listen to the doctor. We're going to question the man who attacked Star."
"What? Why?" Maria blurted, caught off-guard.
"Why not?" Mandume said firmly. "He owes us answers."
"Oh… okay," Maria said, forcing calm.
"Mom," Mandume added, his eyes dark, voice like steel, "whoever tried to kill Star just challenged me. And they're about to feel the full wrath of the Davids."
Maria swallowed, stunned.
"Yes… just do what's right, son," she said with forced support as he walked away.