Three months had passed since Marcus’s surgery, and by God’s grace—it had been successful.

The recovery was slow, careful, and often exhausting, but there was no denying the change. Marcus looked... better. Healthier. Stronger than he had been in years.

Even his voice carried more life now.

"You two seriously need to help me," Ethan groaned, running a frustrated hand through his hair as he stared at the two older men seated comfortably across from him.

Marcus and Hugo, however, seemed completely unbothered.

They sat side by side, sipping their herbal tea like retired philosophers who had transcended worldly problems.

"I need ideas," Ethan insisted. "How do I propose to Kathrine?"

Silence.

Sip.

Sip.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Are you both ignoring me?"

"I doubt I’m capable of helping," Marcus said calmly, placing his cup down with a thoughtful sigh.

Ethan blinked. "You proposed to your wife."

"Yes," Marcus nodded. "And she said no the first time."

"...That’s not encouraging."

Hugo chuckled, shaking his head. "And you think I’m any better? Romance isn’t exactly my area of expertise."

Ethan stared at him. "You were married."

Hugo shrugged. "Tragically."

"...Wow."

Ethan let out an exaggerated sigh, throwing his hands up. "Unbelievable. Two grown men, both married before, and neither of you can help me propose?"

Marcus leaned back, folding his arms with a faint smile. "You’re the one they call the heartthrob of the entertainment industry, aren’t you?"

Hugo nodded in agreement. "The man who delivers romantic dialogues that make people cry."

"And now," Marcus added, raising a brow, "you can’t even confess to your own girlfriend?"

Ethan looked personally attacked.

"That’s acting!" he snapped. "There’s a script! There’s a director! There are retakes!"

"And now?" Hugo asked, clearly amused.

Ethan deflated slightly. "...Now there’s just me."

"And that’s the problem," Marcus concluded.

Ethan glared at both of them.

"Never mind," he muttered, getting to his feet abruptly. "I’ll figure it out myself."

Without another word, he grabbed his phone and practically sprinted out.

Hugo watched him leave, blinking once. "He seems nervous."

Marcus smirked faintly. "He should be. He’s proposing to my daughter."

Hugo nodded thoughtfully. "Fair point."

Marcus picked up his tea again, looking oddly satisfied. "Let him struggle a little. If he wants to marry her, he better put in the effort."

Hugo chuckled. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

"Very much."

—

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city...

"Something is wrong with Ethan."

Kathrine sat on the couch, her brows furrowed as she spoke seriously.

Anna sat beside her, completely relaxed, focused on finishing her snacks.

Betty sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes wide with curiosity, while Kevin leaned lazily against the armrest like he was about to deliver breaking news.

"This morning," Kathrine continued, "he got dressed and rushed out... without wearing his pants."

Anna paused mid-bite.

"...What?"

"I had to stop him at the door," Kathrine said, looking mildly traumatized. "If I hadn’t, the neighbors would’ve started questioning his sanity."

Kevin snorted. "Maybe they still should."

Betty gasped. "That’s so embarrassing!"

Anna chewed thoughtfully, then shrugged. "He sounded perfectly normal when he called Daniel the other night."

Kathrine frowned deeper. "Exactly. That’s what’s confusing."

Kevin suddenly leaned forward, his expression turning serious.

"What if..." he said slowly, "...he’s having second thoughts?"

Silence.

Dead silence.

Betty’s eyes widened in horror.

Kathrine froze.

Anna continued eating.

"I’ve seen it happen," Kevin went on dramatically. "Couples doing great, everything perfect, and then boom—one of them changes their mind."

"Ah—!"

"Sir Kevin, what are you saying?!" Betty smacked him hard on the arm.

"Ow!" Kevin winced. "I’m just stating possibilities!"

"Terrible possibilities!" Betty snapped.

But it was too late.

Kathrine had already gone quiet.

"I think Kevin might be right..." she murmured.

Anna slowly turned her head toward her, her expression flat.

"Really?" she said. "You’re going to believe Kevin?"

"Hey!"

Anna pointed at him with her snack. "This is the same person who changes his crush every two weeks because he ’gets bored.’"

Kevin sat up straight immediately. "Excuse me. That is highly inaccurate."

"Oh?" Anna raised a brow. "What about Gavin?"

Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly. "Gavin and I dated for two months. That’s commitment."

"And why did it end?" Betty asked sweetly.

Kevin froze.

"...Mutual decision."

Anna smirked. "Translation: he got bored."

"I did not!"

"You did."

"I did not!"

Betty waved her hand. "Whatever. Not important."

Then she turned to Kathrine, her eyes suddenly sparkling with excitement.

"Big Sis Kathrine," she leaned closer, lowering her voice dramatically, "what if... Ethan is planning something secret?"

Everyone paused.

"...Secret?" Kathrine repeated.

Anna’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Betty... what kind of secret?"

Betty immediately turned red. "N-Nothing! I didn’t mean anything specific!"

Anna leaned closer, suspicious. "Don’t tell me it’s that kind of secret."

"It’s not!" Betty said quickly.

Kevin squinted at her. "Now I’m curious."

"There is nothing to be curious about!" Betty insisted, waving her hands.

The room went quiet for a second.

Then—

"Goodness," Betty muttered, clutching her chest. "You all are so scary."

Kathrine, however, had gone thoughtful again.

"...Secret, huh..."

Meanwhile—

"Yawn—"

Anna suddenly stood up, stretching lazily.

"I’m sleepy," she announced, as if she hadn’t just been fully engaged in chaos seconds ago.

And just like that, she walked away toward her room.

No explanation.

No warning.

Just gone.

The remaining three stared after her.

"...Now she’s acting strange," Kevin muttered.

He leaned forward, motioning Betty and Kathrine closer like he was about to reveal classified information.

"She cried the other day," he whispered.

Both girls froze.

"For no reason."

Betty blinked.

Kathrine blinked.

They slowly turned to look at each other.

A silent conversation passed between them.

Maybe it’s her menstrual cycle.

Or maybe she’s just sleepy.

Kevin nodded seriously, as if confirming a major theory.

"Definitely suspicious."

Little did they know they were completely, absolutely wrong.

While Kathrine and the rest were left thinking, the men were also having a hard time giving suggestions to Ethan because nothing was helping out.