As Nalani and Viviane made their way back to the elevator, the gravity of the revelations weighed heavily on Nalani's mind. She turned to Viviane with a troubled expression. "Did she hate my mother so much that she would want to kill me too?"

Viviane sighed deeply. "I've been investigating Lydia for years, keeping a close watch on her. Your mother told me to do so, and I've honored her wishes. But it's not just about hatred. There's something more complex at play."

They reached the elevator, and as the doors closed, Viviane pressed a button. She turned to face Nalani, who was leaning against the wall, looking for answers. "I never knew the full extent of the relationship between Lydia and your mother. Your mother only ever said that it was complicated. Whenever she spoke of Lydia, there was a sadness rather than anger in her voice. I couldn't fully understand it until I saw Lydia for the first time at your mother's funeral."

The elevator chimed and the doors opened. Viviane stepped out, with Nalani slowly following behind her. "You were at the funeral? But I don't remember seeing you there," Nalani said, trying to recall the events of that day.

Viviane smiled softly. "I didn't attend it. I arrived after it was over. The only thing I saw was you being accompanied by Mrs. Evangeline to the car, about to leave. I went to your mother's grave as soon as your car left. But I stopped when I saw someone kneeling by her grave, head down on a tablet, so I couldn't see her face."

Nalani listened intently, absorbing every word. "What happened next?"

Flashback

Viviane hid behind a large oak tree, watching the figure at Malina's grave. The woman knelt, her head bowed over a tablet. As Viviane took a cautious step forward, she heard a soft snicker. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I should have done this a long time ago," the woman said, her voice dripping with a mix of satisfaction and malice. She smirked, looking down at the grave. "Did you see how everyone was giving their condolences to me? It was hilarious."

The woman let out another laugh, a chilling sound that seemed to cut through the quiet of the cemetery. "But I do understand. I'm your sister, after all. But how could they do that, huh? How could they not know, Malina?" Her voice grew more hysterical, a twisted mixture of glee and bitterness.

"How could they not know? I was the one who killed you, didn't I? But I guess this is for the better," she added, adjusting her position and bending down closer to the gravestone. "That just means that no one could blame me."

Viviane watched in horror as Lydia patted her clothes, brushing off the dirt from kneeling. "So maybe I should take our parents and you, Malina. Thank you for being my sister," she said with a mocking tone, patting the gravestone almost affectionately. "Now it's your time to look up where I am, Malina. I'm the one who is up here and not you."

With a final, cruel grin, Lydia stood up and started to walk away, a smile of triumph on her face. Viviane remained hidden, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she tried to process what she had just witnessed.

End of Flashback

Nalani stood in the dimly lit hallway, staring at Viviane, who seemed lost in thought. "What happened next?" Nalani asked, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Viviane's eyes momentarily glazed over, as if she was recalling a distant, painful memory. But she said nothing, turning abruptly to continue walking towards the exit. Nalani called out after her, "Wait! Viviane!"

Viviane's pace quickened, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. She was deeply worried about burdening Nalani with the full truth of that day. Lydia's actions were beyond comprehension, and Viviane couldn't bear the thought of causing Nalani more pain. Lydia was still her aunt, and the idea of her being a murderer was unthinkable to most people.

"You should go back," Viviane said as she opened the heavy wooden door, the outside world beginning to cast long shadows. "It's going to get dark soon."

"W-wait, you didn't even--" Nalani began to protest, her frustration bubbling over.

Viviane cut her off gently but firmly. "You asked if Lydia hated your mother. I can't answer that. But there's only one person who ever got close to her. The person who was with your mother before she died and before Lydia ever showed up."

Nalani's mind raced, connecting the dots. As realization dawned, she looked up at Viviane, who gave her a small, sad smile. "Don't hate her too much, Nalani. You should give her a chance. I'll keep in touch, okay?" With that, Viviane closed the door, leaving Nalani standing in the fading light.

The name echoed in Nalani's mind—Aunt Naomi. All these years, she had resented Naomi, believing she had abandoned the family in their time of need. But now, it seemed there was more to the story. Viviane's words had planted a seed of doubt and curiosity.

Nalani sighed, her breath visible in the cool evening air. She began to walk down the street, her thoughts swirling like the leaves at her feet. Maybe Viviane was right. Maybe she should give Naomi a chance to explain herself.

As she walked, the streetlights flickered on, casting a warm glow on the pavement. Nalani pulled her coat tighter around her, feeling a mix of apprehension and determination. She would find Naomi. She needed answers, and it was time to face the truths she had been avoiding for so long.

Nalani walked aimlessly through the busy streets of Paris, her thoughts a storm of confusion and pain. When she came across a nearby park, she sank onto a bench, trying to catch her breath. She pulled out her phone and opened the conversation with Zephyr, scrolling up to one of his messages. The words seemed to jump out at her: Aunt Naomi, Zephyr's mother and her cousin, had arrived the day she and Lena left for Paris. They were staying at home to help take care of her father.

Rain suddenly poured down. Covering her head with her arm, she ran to the nearest crosswalk, waiting for the light to turn green. The light turned green, and people started to cross. Nalani moved slowly, feeling heavy and cold. She barely noticed the honking cars as she walked, lost in her thoughts. The light turned red again, and cars began to speed past her. She was in the middle of the street, oblivious to the danger.

A car came speeding towards her, honking loudly. Nalani was still walking, unaware, when suddenly she heard someone call her name. The voice was unclear but urgent. A hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her back just as the car sped past, narrowly missing her. She fell into someone's arms, looking up in a daze.

"It's all my fault," she murmured, tears streaming down her face