After All

Brian and Marie's first date

At Innovare headquarters, Marie was deeply immersed in her paperwork, her focus unwavering despite the growing stack of documents on her desk. Her concentration was interrupted when she noticed two women approaching—Kanna Fontierra and her daughter, Kara. Kanna, ever the picture of grace and elegance, carried a basket filled with flowers and fruits, and Kara, equally poised, followed closely behind.

Marie looked up, startled but curious. She stood, smoothing down her skirt as Kanna stopped in front of her.

"Marie," Kanna began, her voice soft but warm. "Please accept this small gift as a token of our gratitude for saving my daughter." She extended the basket toward Marie, her smile sincere.

Marie blinked, caught off guard by the gesture. Her hands trembled slightly as she accepted the basket, the weight of the gesture sinking in. "I... I don't know what to say," Marie stammered. "I'm honored, truly, Madam Fontierra. Thank you."

Kanna's smile deepened as she reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from Marie's face. Her touch was gentle, motherly. "You know," Kanna said, her voice tinged with nostalgia, "if my daughter were still alive, she'd be around your age."

Marie's heart ached at the words. She could feel the weight of Kanna's loss in her tone, and for a brief moment, the air between them was filled with unspoken emotions.

The tender moment was abruptly interrupted as the conference room door swung open. Rafael strode in, his presence immediately shifting the energy in the room. Karen was close behind him, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The tension in the air thickened as Rafael spoke, his voice casual yet cutting, "So, the kid's not dead, huh?"

The comment hung in the air like a bomb, causing everyone to pause. Kanna stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face Rafael. Her usual calm demeanor was slipping, her frustration boiling over.

"We both saw the hut blow up," Kanna said, her voice low but laced with anger. "The explosion was massive. There was no way anyone could have survived that."

Rafael shrugged, unbothered. "Maybe," he said, his tone indifferent. "But there were no bones, no body. If the kid was there, we would've found something. Anything."

Kanna's fists clenched at her sides, her frustration mounting. "It's not just about finding bones, Rafael. We saw the destruction, we were there. But the kid's absence doesn't automatically mean survival. There are other possibilities."

Rafael's gaze hardened. "Or it could mean the kid was never there to begin with."

The charged silence that followed was almost unbearable. The tension between Rafael and Kanna was palpable, and everyone else in the room exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to intervene.

Karen, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "Rafael, maybe you should ease up," she said, her voice laced with concern. "Kanna's been through enough. You questioning the kid's fate isn't helping."

Rafael didn't reply immediately, but his eyes flickered with annoyance. He cast a glance around the room before saying, "We need to stay focused on what's in front of us. Emotional distractions and personal vendettas aren't going to get us anywhere."

Kanna's jaw tightened, but she took a steadying breath, trying to maintain her composure. "I need answers," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "If the kid's alive, it changes everything."

Before the conversation could escalate further, the door opened again, and Katarina, Kyoko, Bianca, and Jasmine entered, their presence adding another layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.

"The Golden Girls are here," Rafael quipped with a hint of mockery. "You should probably leave."

Kanna's face flushed with anger, but before she could respond, Katarina chimed in, her tone teasing but sharp. "Yeah, Moe Howard's right. You should leave before the witch behind him turns any redder."