It was a Monday. The couple were holding hands and walking together to get some breakfast in Usagi cafe like they were making their relationship public in CarmU. Not that it was a secret in the first place. Nevertheless, they were just the happy-go-lucky pair.

Oddey wore the Love Knot like it was a statement to her. "I really like the bracelet that my boyfriend gave to me," Oddey said to him in a flirty tone.

"It does suit you," Gage replied.

"By the way, I also hung the painting in my dorm."

"Cool."

On the way, while they were talking and laughing, Courtney passed by them and even gave them a dirty look, which annoyed Gage that she had to give off her negative presence to ruin the couple's morning. "She's still pretty upset," Oddey pointed out.

"Just don't mind her," Gage told his Juliet. 

"Are you going to talk to her?"

The Romeo was slightly irksome, and his girlfriend had to remind him to do that. "Probably..."

"Gaage," she grumbled.

"She's the one who started it."

"I know, but..."

"Listen, Oddey. I love that you care, but... it's not that easy," he explained to his Juliet as she gave him this look of concern. "But, I'm gonna try. Somehow."

Oddey smiled. "Okay, well then, I'm gonna try too."

Gage had this weird expression on his face. "Try what?"

"Try to get along with Courtney."

He cringed. "I don't think that's a good idea."

They continued walking, and Oddey clung to her Romeo's arm. "Why not?" She asked.

"Trust me on that. Courtney is kinda selective about who she hangs out with."

"Selective how?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Gage sighed. "I never figured out a pattern. It's always been me, her, and Felix. She has other friends, but she doesn't hang out with them like she does with me and Felix. So if I were you, don't bother trying."

"Sounds like a challenge," Oddey responded.

"Just... don't. Please."

"Oh, come on, Gage, maybe I can get through to her."

"Oddey, no, it's not worth it."

The girl became puzzled by his demeanor. "You don't want me to be friends with her?"

"Well, why do you want to be friends with her anyway?" Gage asked. "You know what she's like."

"Because you guys are friends, and it'll be easier for you if she and I get along, right?"

"Well, yeah. It's just that Courtney is a force to reckon, I don't want you to get hurt if it all fails."

"I know it's gonna be hard, but I'm willing to try. For you."

Gage was hesitant about his girlfriend wanting to pursue a friendship with the selective friend since he knew Courtney better than anybody. "Alright," he sighed. "Just be careful, okay?"

"Okay, my Romeo," Oddey replied.

"Now, come on. Let's eat. I'm hungry."

"Okay. Okay."

Later in the auditorium, before rehearsing. Gage had to practice his lines with the other characters by the theatre seats. While backstage, Oddey and her crew worked ahead to make the last set of the play, and it was the part where Juliet was laid to rest when she was faking her death at the crypt.

"You seem glowing," a girl said to her because she noticed a smile on her face while she was crafting. "I heard you and Gage went on a date. How was it?"
                                                                                                                                 
"We had fun," Oddey answered.

"Details, please."

"He set up a paint picnic for the both of us, and then at night, we had a movie marathon, that's all." The young artist acted bashful. However, Courtney was not far away and heard them talking while she rehearsed her lines with an actress playing the role of the nurse.

"Oh, that's so sweet," another girl reacted in euphoria.

"What else did you guys do?" A third girl giggled. "I bet Gage is such a good kisser."

"Oh, yeah, I should know," the jealous actress interrupted because she could not take any more listening about the couple's paint picnic story. "Gage and I kissed the other day. You know, when we were rehearsing for the balcony scene."

Oddey knew that Courtney was trying to spite her for mentioning that, especially in front of other people. Although it did feel like someone punched her gut, she tried to maintain a brave face so it wouldn't look like she was deeply affected by it. "Oh, right," she uttered. "At least you guys managed to work it out."

That was not the reaction that the actress wanted to see. "Yeah, acting a kissing scene," said the first girl with this weird look on her face. "I don't know how you do it. Fake kissing with a guy that has no interest in you."

Smoke was coming out from thespian's ears and nose, while Oddey put her head down to hide her smugness. "Get back to work," she snapped at them.

"Hmmph... She's so petty. Ignore her."

Hours after, when the session was over. Oddey was already outside waiting for Gage, yet she saw Courtney exiting, so she decided to approach. "Hey!"

"What do you want?" the resentful girl responded coldly.

"I... I just want to apologize back there. We were just talking."

"Whatever. Bye," Courtney was about to leave.

"Hold on." Yet, Oddey stopped her. "Can we talk?"

"What?"

"Look, I know that we got off on the wrong foot, but I'm willing to start over," Oddey offered.

"Not interested," Courtney snarled.

"Why not? We can all hang out."

"What part of not interested, don't you understand?"

Oddey maintained her cool. "Court, I'm trying. Can't you at least give me a chance?"

"Because of you, I lost my best friends. We were doing just fine until you and Rita came along."

"Court, I'm sorry that you feel that way, but I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Well, I lost them. Thanks to you," the actress claimed. "And just because you and Gage are together doesn't mean that I should be all BFFs with you."

"That doesn't mean we can't at least try. Let me fix that so we can all be friends," Oddey pleaded. "I'll do anything."

"Anything?" Courtney put on a mocking smirk. "You want us to be friends? then tell Gage the truth?"

Speaking of which, the guy walked out and saw those two girls were having a heated conversation. Anyhow, Oddey got confused by her boyfriend's demanding friend's request. "Truth? What are you talking about? What truth?"

"About you! That you're the..."

"Courtney! That's enough." Gage ran to protect his girlfriend.

"Gage, it's okay..." Oddey assured him.

"You are such a liar!" Courtney screamed. "Just tell him!"

"Shut up, Courtney!" The Romeo scolded her, then took his girlfriend's arm and walked away with her leaving the jealous friend to dwell on her misery.                                                        
Once they got to the elevator, it was just the two of them inside. "I'm sorry, I think I made it worse," the art student apologized.

"Don't be," Her boyfriend replied to her, then held her shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "Look, I appreciate what you did. Just please, don't talk to her anymore. Let me handle everything."

Oddey reluctantly agreed after what happened that she had to nod in acknowledgment. "Alright."

"But, thanks for trying." He smiled at her.

"Courtney seems pretty upset. She believes that I stole you from her and that I'm a liar."

"Don't listen to her. You know that you didn't, and most importantly, you're not a liar. We talked about it, didn't we? If she doesn't believe that, then that's her problem. We both know the truth."

The Juliet quietly gulped and plastered a smile on her face. "Yeah," she choked.

"Let's just forget about it. By the way, my Mom will be going to this event fair in the mall tomorrow, and I'll be having lunch with her tomorrow."

"Oh! That's great."

"Yeah, and she asked me if you want to come along so you can meet her."

Oddey was taken aback and became anxious. "Of course," she stammered. "I would love that. I'll be there."

Gage got very excited. "Awesome, I'll tell her that you'll be having lunch with us."

The Juliet could feel her heart pounding hard, and she started to sweat a bit. It was not the idea of 'meeting the parents' that made her jittery. It was the fact that Gage trusted her so much that he was ready to introduce her to his mother.

----

In the Ebony Estates company, Adrian was still in his office even though he was supposed to be at home since working hours were over. "Don't wait up on me," he said as he was on the phone with his wife. "But I will be eating dinner there so just leave some food on the table for me. Alright, love you too, Honey."

His lawyer just came in and sat across from him. The determined VP put the phone down to begin discussing a game plan.

"I see that you're doing well," the attorney said to him.

"Yes, the harassment finally stopped. My wife and I can live in peace and go to work. Although we still receive callers from time to time, but nothing we can't handle."

"I see."

"So what do you have for me?"

"The other party had received their subpoena, so it's just a matter of time that we'll hear from their lawyers," the attorney informed.

"Good," Adrian replied, then put on an evil face. "I am ready for him."

"Of the record, I did some research about Leon Magnum, a.k.a Hal Jacoby, like you told me. I had to pull some strings to get them."

"That's right, what did you find?"

The lawyer took out a folder from his briefcase and then began opening it to read it to his client. "He was bailed by one of his clients from Dubai and adopted him so he could resume his work as an architect. That's when he also changed his name to Leon Magnum."

"Is it possible that's how he got his license back from just changing his name and identity?" Adrian asked.

"Perhaps, but he did not hide his identity, just his name. Plus, he earned back his license in Dubai."

"That son of a bitch got lucky, but luck ran out."

"Hmm... I don't know about luck, but he is fortunate. He worked for Impirio Inc. for five years after his release until he was able to start his firm and was given the biggest projects from sultans, prince, and all other elites in the country," The lawyer added, then turned to another document. "This is interesting."

The VP flinched. "What?"

"It says here that he had a daughter around the time he began opening his firm. She's a year younger than your son."

Adrian was taken aback to hear that part of the information. "Hal has a daughter? With whom?"

"No one, the child is adopted, and get this, she's studying at Carmela University."

"That's where Gage is studying. Maybe I should tell him."

"Come on, Adrian," His lawyer chuckled from his client's paranoia. "This is just a young girl that just happens to go to the same school with your son. I doubt she could do anything."

"I still have to tell him. What's her name?"

"Hold on." The attorney scanned the paper. "Oh, here it is. Her birth name was Kazel Khouri."

Adrian noticed something that his lawyer said from that last part. "Was? What do you mean that 'was' her name?"

"Simply means he changed her name to Odette Empirio-Magnum."

"What?!" The evil man reacted from hearing that very familiar name. "That's her name? Are you sure?"

"Positive." The lawyer even showed her some pictures like her I.D. and a graduation photo.

To Adrian's horror, it was Oddey's face in those pictures. He was starting to flare up, his blood began boiling, and smoke was coming out from his ears as he gazed at the image of the young lady that his son was involved with. "Shit," He uttered.

"What's wrong? Do you know her?"