CHAPTER 102: BITTER BREW.

Sterling stepped into the apartment with Rajesh close behind, his eyes taking in every detail as Mira closed the door and locked it with a soft click. The space was small but tidy, bags packed near the couch where Raquel and Liam sat, their faces turning to look at the newcomers with blank expressions that sent a chill through him. Mira stood between them and the door, her arms crossed, her gaze steady as she said, "You’re in, now talk, what does my father want?"

Sterling kept his hands visible, his voice calm and even, "He wants you home, Mira, he’s worried about you and your friends, we’re here to make sure you all get back safely."

Mira’s eyes narrowed, her tone flat, "Worried? He wasn’t worried when he left me alone for months, what changed?"

Rajesh glanced at Sterling, his voice soft but firm, "He hired us to find you, that’s how much he cares, we’ve been watching the building, making sure no one else gets to you first."

Raquel shifted on the couch, her voice hesitant, "Mira, who are these guys? Should we call someone?"

Mira held up a hand, her voice soothing, "It’s okay, Raquel, they say they’re from my dad, we’ll figure this out." She turned back to Sterling, her expression unreadable, "You mentioned people are watching, who are they and why are they watching me?"

Sterling nodded, stepping a little closer but not too close, "We don’t know yet, but someone came here earlier, asking questions, probably the same people your father’s concerned about, we need to get you out before they make a move."

She remembered the mysterious SUV, the delivered package, the strange leads Everett’s been picking up. All of it confirmed what Sterling was saying. But she would never tell him that.

Liam leaned forward, his brow furrowed, "Mira, if your dad sent them, maybe we should listen, but I don’t remember him."

"And why would he send people after us, Mira, we’re just here for a school event. And we’re quite safe. Why involve these men and what is he talking about other people watching us?" Raquel asked in confusion.

Mira smiled faintly, her voice gentle, "That’s how dad is, have you forgotten? He always goes the extra mile to ensure my safety. Just let me handle this okay?"

She gestured to the small table, "Sit down, we can talk, but I need to know more before I trust you’re from my dad."

Sterling exchanged a quick look with Rajesh, his mind racing as he pulled out a chair and sat, "Fair enough, Mira, ask us anything, your father gave us full details on your disappearance, the jet to Mumbai, the apartment here, we’ve been tracking you for weeks."

She sucked in a sharp breath. Then she turned to Raquel and Liam. "Guys, why don’t you go rest in the room a bit, let me fully attend to these men so they can be on their way, I’ll be with you shortly."

Liam shook his head. "But we’re not tired."

"Yeah. I think we should rather stay here," Raquel agreed.

Mira pinched the top of her nose, clearly getting irritated.

The both men exchanged glances as Rajesh slowly sat beside Sterling, his tone even, "We know about the cultural exchange story you told the housekeeper, it’s smart, but it’s time to come home."

Mira leaned against the counter, her arms still crossed, "Home? To what, more empty houses and absent parents? I’m doing fine here, we all are."

Raquel nodded, her voice confident, "Yeah, Mira’s taking care of us, Mumbai’s been great, why would we leave now?"

Sterling’s stomach tightened, noting how Raquel’s words matched Mira’s planted memories, her eyes showing no doubt, and he said, "The program’s over, Raquel, it’s time to get back, your families are worried too."

Liam shook his head, his voice firm, "Our families know we’re here, Mira organized everything, it’s all good."

Mira watched Sterling closely, her voice casual, "See? They’re happy, but if you’re really from my dad, prove it, tell me something only he would know."

Sterling leaned forward, his voice low, "He mentioned the estate, how you came home three weeks ago with two friends, talked about a school exhibition, but left the next day, he’s been searching since."

Mira’s expression flickered for a second, her tone steady, "Anyone could know that, the housekeeper probably told you."

Rajesh spoke up, his voice calm, "He also said you transferred a million dollars, used his jet without permission, he’s not mad, just wants you safe."

Mira’s eyes hardened, but she nodded slowly, "Okay, maybe you are from him, but I’m not going back, not yet. And you can go tell him that."

Sterling’s mind raced, trying to keep her talking, "Why not? What’s keeping you here with them?"

Mira glanced at Raquel and Liam, her voice soft, "We’re building something new, away from all that, but if you’re here to help, maybe you can stay a bit, make sure the people you mentioned earlier aren’t coming."

Raquel stood, her voice uncertain, "Mira, you sure about this? They look like trouble."

Mira smiled, her tone reassuring, "It’s fine, Raquel, they’re just talking, why don’t you and Liam go in now to lie down and rest okay? I’ll handle this."

Liam nodded, finally agreeing. Sterling noted how they followed her lead without question, his suspicion growing. "Mira, we need to talk alone," he said, his voice firm, "about what you’ve been doing here."

Mira’s smile faded, her voice even, "Alone? No, we can talk here, but first, let me make some tea, it’ll calm everyone down."

Sterling’s instincts flared, his voice cautious, "Tea? We’re good, Mira, let’s just talk."

Rajesh glanced at him, his tone light, "Actually, tea sounds nice, it’s been a long day."

Mira nodded, moving to the small kitchen area, "See? Your partner’s smart, tea it is, give me a minute."

Sterling leaned close to Rajesh, his voice low, "What are you doing? We don’t know what she could do."

Rajesh whispered back, "We need her to trust us, if we drink it, she’ll relax, we can get her to open up."

Sterling hesitated, his mind weighing the risk, but he nodded slowly, "Fine, but watch her."

Mira filled a kettle, her movements smooth, and turned on the stove, her voice casual over the water running, "So, how did my dad find me? I thought I covered my tracks."

Sterling kept his eyes on her, "He’s got resources, Mira, the jet logs, the money transfer, it wasn’t hard to trace you to Mumbai."

She poured water into cups, adding tea bags, "Impressive, but why send you now? He could have come himself."

Rajesh spoke up, "He’s busy, but he wants you safe, that’s why we’re here."

Mira carried the tray over, setting cups in front of them, "Busy, yeah, that sounds like him. Drink up, it’s herbal, helps with stress."

Sterling picked up the cup, smelling the steam, his suspicion high, but he took a sip, the tea hot and bitter, and said, "Thanks, now let’s talk about Raquel and Liam, their families are looking for them too."

Mira sat across from them, her cup in hand, "They’re fine, they chose to come with me, we’re starting fresh."

Raquel peeked from the bedroom, her voice worried, "Mira, is everything okay?"

Mira smiled, "Yes, go to sleep, Raquel, we’re good."

Sterling took another sip, his head starting to feel fuzzy, and he said, "Mira, this isn’t right, what you’re doing to them, it’s not their choice, it’s control."

Mira’s eyes sharpened, her voice calm, "You don’t know what you’re talking about, they’re happy this way."

Rajesh set his cup down, his voice slurring slightly, "We know, we heard everything, the questions, the false answers, you’re erasing who they are."

Mira leaned back, her tone even, "Erasing? I’m saving them, from lives they didn’t want, now drink your tea, and stop questioning me."

Sterling’s vision blurred, his cup slipping from his hand, then he said, "The tea, you drugged it."

Mira smiled faintly, "Of course! You think I’d trust you? Waltz in here telling me about how I’m erasing their memories, what do you know?!"

Rajesh tried to stand, his legs wobbling, "We need to... get out."

Raquel rushed in, her voice panicked, "Mira, what’s happening? They’re falling!"

Liam followed, his eyes wide, "Are they okay? Should we call someone?"

Mira stood, her voice soothing, "It’s fine, they’re just tired, the tea will help them rest, come here, both of you."

Raquel stepped closer, her hands wringing, "But they look sick, Mira, what did you do?"

Mira pulled out a small syringe from her pocket, her movements quick, "Nothing bad okay? Just trust me. Like always."

Liam backed up, his voice uncertain, "Tea? You gave them tea, but why are they... Mira?"

Sterling slumped in his chair, his head heavy, watching as Mira approached Raquel, her voice gentle, "It’s okay, this is for the best, hold still."

Raquel froze, her eyes wide, "What’s that? Mira, no!"

Mira injected her arm fast, the needle in and out before she could pull away, she gasped, "What did you... I feel dizzy."

Liam turned to run, but Mira grabbed him, her voice firm, "Liam, stop, this is part of the plan, remember? The program."

He struggled, his voice breaking, "What program? Mira, let me go!"

She injected him too, her grip strong, "It’ll make everything clear, trust me."

Raquel swayed, her knees buckling, "Mira... why..." she said, collapsing to the floor.

Liam clutched his arm, his eyes glazing over, "I don’t... feel right," he mumbled, falling beside her.

Sterling’s vision faded, his body limp, watching Mira stand over them, her face calm as they all lay unconscious, the room spinning into black.