The day of the Spring Picnic arrived, and the atmosphere buzzed with the promise of a beautiful Saturday morning. Spring had started to make itself known, the warmth of the sun barely brushing the skin, and the flowers in full bloom. Inside the cabin, Lua stood nervously by the window, watching the morning light filter through the trees. This would be her first time participating in an event hosted by GallU, and despite her nerves, there was a thrill in knowing that her work would finally be seen. With Gael’s help, she had prepared treats from the fruits of her garden, arranging them carefully to take to the picnic. Her booth would showcase her homemade recipes under the CURA brand for the very first time.
Meanwhile, over at the GallU campus, Ali was already busy helping Mrs. Lynx set up her booth for Whispers, their products neatly arranged as usual. Evelyn sat next to her, her attention fixated on her phone, tapping away as always, seemingly disconnected from the excitement around her. Just after they finished setting up, Brett and the twins arrived, their arms full of musical equipment. They had renamed their band “Brett and the Twins,” much to Ali’s amusement, who teased them about their unimaginative choice. Still, she couldn’t deny her excitement for their performance later.
As Brett worked on setting up the stage, he spotted Kelly walking in with her father, Arthur Martin, who was sponsoring the event. Brett pretended not to notice her, tired of the back-and-forth games they had been playing. Maybe tonight, if they played well enough, things could change, and he could meet someone new. Kelly, on the other hand, was busy introducing Arthur to her friends, including Lua. Arthur’s eyes lit up when he met Lua, fascinated by her and eager to know her better. Kelly, however, found his interest inappropriate, and they had a small, tense argument before Lua excused herself, leaving to take care of the CURA booth with Gael.
Peter arrived shortly after, with Abigail by his side, and made his way directly toward Arthur Martin.
“Dr. Peter Gallanti, a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” Arthur began, gripping Peter’s hand in a firm handshake. Peter cringed inwardly at the use of “doctor.” Technically, he was one—he held a medical degree—but it was a title he never felt comfortable with, and certainly one he hadn’t intended to use in practice.
“Mr. Martin, the honor is mine,” Peter replied smoothly, slipping into the polished charm he had been raised to perfect. “I hope you like what you see. Let me give you a tour of the campus.” As they began walking, Peter expressed his gratitude for Martin’s generous donation, guiding him through the grounds with ease.
Peter had been taught from a young age how to be charismatic, how to play the game of diplomacy when necessary. It was a skill you acquired when you came from a traditional family with a powerful name, a sprawling business, and an even bigger fortune. But as they walked, Peter’s gut twisted. Martin was exactly the kind of man he despised—driven by greed and a thirst for power, willing to bulldoze anything or anyone in his path. A part of him realized that people might say the same about him—that he too was ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted. But Peter knew better. His motivation wasn’t money or power. His life’s purpose was to honor his mother’s wishes and the legacy his father had built. That, he told himself, was something far deeper, something Martin would never understand.
As they made their way through the bustling picnic, Peter caught sight of Lua at her booth. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her, looking radiant amidst her display of handmade treats and produce. Gael and Alinda were helping arrange some jars on the displays, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the crowd.
“I didn’t know you’d be here today,” Peter said, stepping closer. “You never participate in these events.” He was sipping on a red drink that was too sweet for his taste, but someone had given it to him at the entrance and he wanted to seem engaged in the event while secretly hoping for a moment with Lua.
“Well, things have changed,” Lua replied, her voice steady but her heart racing furiously. As their eyes locked, she could feel an undeniable tension between them that seemed to thrum in the air. They hadn’t seen each other since they had secretly kissed in the cabin a month before, and the memory flickered in her mind like a candle flame, warming her cheeks.
With Lua standing right in front of him, Peter struggled to focus on his interaction with Arthur, who was animatedly discussing some local sports team. Noticing Peter’s distraction, Abigail discreetly pulled Arthur to the next booth, steering the conversation back on track and leaving Peter behind, which only deepened the space between him and Lua.
“So what do you have here?” Peter asked Lua while taking a sip of his overly sweet watermelon drink and reaching for one of the small containers neatly displayed. The vibrant colors of her treats sparkled in the sunlight, making them all the more enticing. “Do you really wanna know?” Lua asked, trying to maintain an air of aloofness, but her heart raced in her chest, betraying her calm facade. She focused on taking jars from a large box and arranging them carefully on the counter, pretending to be engrossed in her work.
“Yes,” he replied almost in a whisper, stepping even closer to her, “of course I do.” The intensity in his gaze made her stomach flutter, and for a moment, the chaos of the picnic faded away as everything felt incredibly intimate.
Alinda and Gael, who were watching the interaction from the sidelines, exchanged puzzled glances, surprised by the unexpected tension they were witnessing between the two sworn “enemies”. Deep inside, Ali knew there was something there, especially after she had seen Peter leaving the cabin on Valentine’s Day just before Kelly and herself arrived. But she kept this insight to herself, feeling the need to protect Lua from any possible scrutiny.
Lua took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh produce and baked goods mingling in the air, ready to share her latest creations when suddenly, Abigail shouted Peter’s name from across the pathway, her voice cutting through the moment. “Peter! Come join us!” she called out, her tone cheerful yet commanding.
He hesitated, glancing back at Lua with a hint of regret etching his features. “I should probably go,” he murmured, the words tasting bittersweet. He excused himself, forcing a casual smile before walking away, his mind filled with thoughts of what had just transpired.
On the stage, Brett and the Twins started their set, and the atmosphere of the picnic transformed. People danced and swayed to the music, their spirits lifted by the lively performance. Among the crowd, Ali, caught up in the moment, turned to Evelyn and, with all the joy and excitement swirling around them, whispered, “I love you.” It was the first time she had ever said it. Evelyn, however, didn’t say it back. Her face revealed a flicker of hesitation, and deep inside, she struggled with the truth. This wasn’t supposed to happen—falling for Ali was never part of the plan. Her relationship with Ali had started as an informant job for Arthur Martin, but now, Evelyn was at a crossroads. As she spotted Arthur leaving the picnic, nodding at her discreetly, Evelyn wondered if she could continue this farce, knowing it would break Ali’s heart.
Alinda, feeling the sting of Evelyn’s silence, started drinking, and soon enough, her frustrations boiled over. She ran into Tori, who was beaming with pride over how well the picnic was going. “Great, another thing you’re perfect at! Event planning! Aren’t we all just in awe of how perfect you and your life are, Tori?” Alinda spat, her words biting.
Brett, on a break from the concert, overheard and quietly tried to calm her down, but his attempt backfired. “Seriously, Brett? You’re the last person I’ll take advice from! You hit on my girlfriend at my family’s home on New Years!,” Alinda snapped, her words cutting through the air and clearly hurting him. Emboldened by her anger, she made her way to CURA’s booth, where she spotted Peter and greeted him with hostility. “Oh, hi. Let me ask you this—how many more of my friends are you secretly hooking up with, Professor? All of them? Should I call my mom and ask her when you two are off to your next date?” Her words sent a chill through the air, and Lua, overhearing from nearby, froze in shock. How does she know?
Overwhelmed, Lua quickly made her way to the storage house where her produce was kept. She needed to escape, to breathe. Peter, feeling guilty and rattled by Alinda’s accusations, decided it was time to confront this once and for all. He followed Lua, determined to fix the mess he’d made.
At a distance, Abigail chatted with Tori, basking in the success of the event, but then she saw Peter slip into the storage house right after Lua. Her smile faded, a sense of unease settling over her.
Alinda stumbled on stage, a bottle still clutched in her hand, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wild with the rush of alcohol. Brett looked at her in disbelief, already frustrated by her earlier outbursts, but now? This? On stage? He shook his head, trying to pull her back gently.
“Ali, not now,” Brett muttered, his hand hovering near her arm, but she shrugged him off, stumbling toward the microphone.
“No! I need to sing!” she slurred, pushing past him. “Let me sing!”
Brett sighed, realizing that fighting her would only make things worse. With an exasperated nod, he stepped aside, motioning to the twins to just go along with her. The twins exchanged nervous glances but reluctantly agreed, trying to adjust their instruments to follow whatever chaos was about to unfold.
Alinda grabbed the mic with both hands and, after a moment of swaying, announced, “Love on the Brain. Follow me, boys!” The audience, initially stunned by the sudden interruption, grew quiet, curious about what would come next.
As soon as the first few notes escaped Alinda’s lips, the crowd was captivated. Her voice, raw and full of emotion, sent shivers through the air. The band, despite the impromptu situation, quickly caught the rhythm, and soon the haunting melody filled the picnic grounds. Alinda’s eyes scanned the crowd, searching desperately for Evelyn, but there was no sign of her. It was as if Alinda was pouring every ounce of her emotion into the song, every line a cry out for Evelyn’s attention.
Inside the storage room, Peter stood frozen, his eyes locked on Lua. They were mere feet apart when he suddenly realized Arthur Martin was there too, standing close to her. Holding his phone with a sly smile, as if sealing a deal. Peter’s heart sank when he saw Arthur save Lua’s number, then walk in his direction. “Peter, glad you’re here. I’ll have to leave sooner than I’d planned,” He reached his hand for a good bye handshake. “I’ll call you tomorrow to talk business.” He smiled and left the room.
The sound of Alinda’s powerful voice in the background only amplified the moment, heightening the drama as Lua glanced at Peter with a look that said everything and nothing. Peter could only nod, acknowledging her silently before turning on his heel and walking out of the room. He couldn’t handle this right now.
Outside, Ali finished her impromptu performance and stepped down from the stage, her eyes still searching for someone who wasn’t there. Kelly rushed over to her, full of praise for her singing. “You were amazing up there, Ali. Seriously, that was beautiful.” But before Ali could respond, she turned and vomited, the night’s indulgences catching up with her all at once.
Kelly gently sat Alinda down on a nearby bench, rubbing her back as she groaned, her face flushed with embarrassment and exhaustion. “Why doesn’t she love me, Kell?” Ali mumbled, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. Kelly’s heart sank, beginning to piece together the reason behind Ali’s erratic behavior that day.
“Sweetie, why would you think that?” Kelly asked softly, her tone a mixture of concern and tenderness.
Ali’s face was red from crying, tears mixing with the streaks of makeup that had smudged throughout the afternoon. “I told her I loved her, and she didn’t say it back,” Ali whispered, her voice barely audible. “Now she’s back in New York, and I’ll probably never see her again.” The words hit hard, filled with the kind of heartache Kelly knew all too well.
“New York…” Kelly’s mind churned. “It’s funny, I always had this feeling that Evelyn looked so familiar.” She paused, blinking as fragmented memories began flashing in her mind—quick, fleeting moments where she had seen Evelyn, perhaps in passing, back in New York. And with those memories came a strange, unpleasant feeling, like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit.
But she pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to dwell on them just yet. Kelly leaned in, her voice dripping with irritation. “Can you believe my dad is actually interested in Lua? He wants to date her, Ali. Date! My father! With my friend!” Her words were sharp, but as she vented her frustrations, something inside her clicked, and the realization struck her like a lightning bolt.
That’s where she knew Evelyn from. She worked with her dad. No, more than that—she worked for her dad. Kelly’s stomach twisted in knots, a flood of anxiety washing over her. Was Evelyn spying on me this whole time? The idea that her father might have sent Evelyn to keep tabs on her felt both terrifying and infuriating.
Her thoughts spiraled as she tried to keep her expression neutral, knowing that she couldn’t say anything to Alinda—not now, not like this. Ali was too drunk, too heartbroken to process the betrayal. And Kelly wasn’t even sure yet—she needed proof, she needed to understand Evelyn’s involvement before she confronted her father. This is going to crush Ali, she thought, her heart sinking deeper.
“Lua’s gonna be your new mommy!” Ali joked suddenly, her voice slurred but laced with that familiar humor, even as her heart lay shattered in pieces. She could barely speak, her pain obvious, but her sense of humor remained intact, trying to lighten the mood even in her broken state.
Kelly rolled her eyes, her frustration bubbling under the surface as she forced a smile, patting Ali’s back gently. “Yeah, right,” she muttered, but her mind was already racing, her blood boiling with anger beneath her calm exterior. She sat there, pretending nothing was happening, while the truth threatened to tear her friendships apart.
As the afternoon stretched on and the golden light of the setting sun bathed the picnic, the mood was both electric and serene. Despite the mishaps, everything seemed to have worked out. Lua and Gael stood at CURA’s booth, going over the day’s sales with satisfied smiles. The launch had been a success; their homemade treats had sold out, and the picnic was wrapping up in a pleasant hum of conversation and laughter.
But then, without warning, the mood shifted. A group of officers appeared at the entrance to the picnic grounds, led by Detectives Fergusson and Ryder Scott. The festive atmosphere evaporated as whispers began to spread through the crowd. All eyes turned toward the detectives as they walked with purpose through the grounds, heading straight for CURA’s booth.
Ryder’s gaze met Lua’s, and she could feel the pain still lingering in his eyes from their breakup. But it wasn’t him who spoke. Fergusson stepped forward, his voice clear and heavy with authority.
“Gael Mendes, you’re under arrest for the murder of Joseph Gallanti.”
The words cut through the air like a blade, leaving everyone stunned. Tori screamed, rushing toward Gael, but the officers were quick to pull him away. In the chaos, Gael managed to embrace her for one brief, heartbreaking moment before being forcefully separated again. Lua caught Tori in her arms, holding her tightly as she screamed crying, as she could only watch in horror as her fiance was handcuffed and led away.
“This is wrong,” Lua whispered, her voice barely audible over the commotion. “Why would he do this? Why would Gael ever…?” But no one had an answer.
Thoughts on this chapter?