Ruben and Kuku Veronica stood frozen in the empty parking lot. The car was gone. Nathan was gone.
"What the hell…?" Ruben muttered, scanning the area. No signs of struggle. No clue. Just silence.
Without hesitation, he flagged down a taxi for Kuku. "Get somewhere safe. I'll track Nate."
He pulled out his tracker phone. The signal was moving.
—
Back at the office, Roberts and Natasha were just stepping out when a shadow approached them — a man clad in a black Aid Agent uniform. In his hand, he held a familiar object: a flickering earring. Paige's.
Natasha's heart skipped. Roberts's jaw clenched.
The man smiled coldly. "Going somewhere?" His voice was calm… too calm. "Oh… you're looking for Paige."
Neither spoke. They stared, as though seeing a ghost.
"You don't recognize me?" he asked, stepping closer. "Evan. Evan Samuels."
—
Elsewhere, chaos unfolded.
Marcus was on the floor — beaten, tied, and utterly bewildered. He had no idea how Vicky overpowered him so fast. But Vicky wasn't done. She spotted Marcus's gang overwhelming Nathan — three on one.
Then, Ruben arrived.
He tripped over a body — one of Vicky's early victims. His eyes widened in horror as he saw Nate, bloody and staggering.
"Ruben—don't!" Vicky shouted, leaping into the fight. She moved like a storm — fists flying, feet kicking, a blur of fury. One after another, the goons dropped.
Ruben froze, stunned.
"…Vicky?" he breathed. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. She was a ghost from the past — and a storm in the present.
Vicky didn't wait. She sprinted toward the children she'd glimpsed earlier, untying them quickly. She pulled them into her arms.
"Are you okay?" she whispered.
Monica nodded. But Daniel… he trembled, silent, shattered.
"Thank you…" Monica breathed, clutching Vicky's hand.
Vicky cuddled Daniel gently. "You're safe now," she whispered into his ear. "You're in a safe haven… and you'll always be."
Daniel's body relaxed. His breathing slowed. Monica watched, astonished, as Daniel finally blinked.
"Moni… we're free," Daniel whispered. And the two children hugged tightly, sobbing into each other's arms.
Vicky smiled through the tears in her eyes. This was worth every fight.
—
Meanwhile, Evan was pacing through the Aid office. Natasha followed behind him nervously, with Robert close by.
"Nothing's changed," Evan said, brushing his fingers over a dusty desk. "Why didn't you change it? Maybe because you never wanted to."
Natasha hesitated. "What if… he's a ghost?"
"He's holding Paige's earring…" Robert whispered.
Evan spun around and grabbed Natasha's wrist. She flinched.
"Calm down. I'm not a ghost. I'm Evan — Evan Samuels!" he snapped.
Natasha lowered her gaze, shaken.
"Why are you looking for my sister?" he asked, staring into their souls.
"Evan, we… we're in great need of help—" Robert began.
Evan laughed darkly. "'Great help'? You ignored her cries five years ago. She begged. You didn't trust her. You didn't listen. And now, you want help?"
"We're sorry…" Robert said quietly.
"So, she's alive?" Natasha asked softly.
"I'm not here to negotiate," Evan snapped, tossing the earring onto the boardroom table. "This is the earring that gave you her location. It only resumed signal because she hasn't worn it in days."
He paused.
"But hear this—leave my sister alone. She left Aid. And she's never coming back. Deal with your mess yourselves."
He turned to leave.
"So… she's alive, then," Robert said again.
Evan stopped at the door.
"No," he said coldly. "Paige is dead."
He vanished into the hallway.
—
Back at the warehouse, Nathan stumbled toward Ruben.
"Ruben…" he rasped. "I had to leave early…"
Behind him, one of the fallen goons slowly rose, a knife in hand, eyes locked on Nathan's back.
"NECRO!" Vicky screamed.
She launched herself forward, crashing into Nathan and rolling with him just as the blade missed. The goon lost balance and flew forward — right into Marcus, nearly stabbing him in the chest.
Nathan and Vicky rolled on the ground — tangled, breathless — her on top of him.
Their eyes met.
Time stopped.
From the corner, Monica gasped, a huge smile spreading across her face. Even Ruben cracked a smile.
Nathan and Vicky couldn't look away from each other.
Then Ruben spotted the kids.
"Daniel? How did you get here?" he asked, puzzled.
Vicky and Nathan quickly untangled themselves, standing awkwardly.
"Are you okay?" Nathan asked, brushing dust off her cheek.
"Yes," Vicky said. "Are you?"
Monica ran to them, throwing herself into Nathan's arms.
"I'm so sorry, brother," she cried. "I should've told you—"
"Shhh," Nathan whispered, hugging her tightly.
Vicky smiled, watching the siblings.
"She's your sweetheart, huh?" she teased, eyes twinkling as Nathan embraced Monica.
Daniel joined in. Vicky tilted her head.
"Who's she?" Monica asked, looking curiously at Vicky.
"She's my—" Nathan began.
"…girlfriend," Ruben interrupted smoothly.
Vicky blinked. "What?"
Nathan gaped at Ruben.
"…my girlfriend. Yes," Ruben repeated. But his voice lacked conviction.
Vicky's mouth fell open. Monica and Daniel looked heartbroken.
"She's his heroine… and your girlfriend too?" Monica asked, confused.
"Hi, Moni…?" Vicky said carefully.
"I'm Monica, Nate's sister," the girl said proudly. "And I promise you — I'll snatch you from Ruben for my brother. So you'll be his heroine."
"I'll ignore that for now," Vicky said. "I'm Victoria."
"Vicky, this is my brother. He's sweet, kind… charming—"
"…and soon to be married," Vicky added quietly. She turned and walked away, leaving everyone stunned.
She approached Marcus and yanked the phone from his pocket.
"It's not a Nokia," Marcus sneered. "Face ID, fingerprint, backup PIN… You won't crack it."
But before anyone could speak, the screen lit up. Unlocked.
Marcus's jaw dropped. "Did you just… unlock my iPhone?"
The sound of sirens echoed outside.
The police had arrived.