C503 The Truth Behind The Apology

Cipher frowned as she looked between Pixel and Silver. “Wait a minute. Are you two really dating?” Silver's eyebrows drew together. Pixel immediately turned to look at her, seemingly unsure whether to answer the question or remain silent. For a moment, nobody said anything. Then Bighead burst out laughing. “See! I knew it!” I shook my head at him. “Bighead, can you be serious for once?” “What?” he asked innocently. “I have eyes, don't I? I've been telling you people that something is going on between those two.” Cipher smiled and waved her hand dismissively. “Honestly, if that's what you're apologising for, you don't have to worry. I don't control your lives. Who you love, who you date, or even who you cheat with is your business. Just don't bring your personal problems into my war.” Survivor burst into laughter. “Cipher, that's one way to put it!” Bighead nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! That's what I've been trying to say.” But neither Pixel nor Silver laughed. Their silence slowly wiped the smile from Cipher's face. She looked at them again, this time more carefully. “Wait. It's not that?” Pixel lowered her eyes. Silver remained still. Cipher's expression changed. “Then what is it?”

Before either woman could answer, Cipher's phone began to ring. She glanced at the screen and saw that the call was from her grandfather, Victor. “Excuse me,” she said, answering the call. “Grandpa, you know the network is terrible here.” But instead of responding to her usual complaint, Victor spoke in a voice she had never expected to hear from him. “My grandchild…” Cipher immediately straightened. “Grandpa? What's wrong?” There was a brief silence on the other end. Then Victor asked, “My grandchild, did you do it?” Cipher frowned. “Did I do what, Grandpa? You sent me to war, and I'm here at war. What are you talking about?” Victor took a shaky breath. “Is it really not you?” Something about his voice made Cipher uneasy. She glanced at the others, then turned away slightly, trying to hear him more clearly. “Grandpa, you're frightening me. What happened?” This time, Victor did not hesitate. “My older brother, Samson, was killed earlier today.” Cipher froze. For a moment, the noise inside the tent seemed to disappear. She could hear Victor breathing through the phone, but his words kept repeating in her mind. Samson was killed. Her grandfather continued, his voice heavy with grief. “My grandchild, I need you to tell me the truth. Did you have anything to do with it? If you did, I need to know. I have to find a way to protect you before this situation becomes worse.”

Cipher's lips parted, but no words came out immediately. “Grandpa… what?” “I'm asking you whether you were responsible.” She answered quickly. “Grandpa, how could I...” She stopped. Her eyes moved towards the two women standing in front of her. Pixel had her head lowered. Silver stood beside her, looking as though she wished she could disappear. Neither woman dared to meet Cipher's eyes. And suddenly, Cipher understood why they had apologised. Her face went pale. “Oh, no…” Victor was still speaking. “My grandchild, tell me you didn't do it.” Cipher slowly closed her eyes. She had spent the morning organising the construction of a wall, preparing soldiers for an approaching war, and trying to unite two families that barely trusted one another. She had been determined to prove that she could lead the Gupta family without allowing personal grudges to interfere with her decisions. Now, before she could even finish her first full day as leader, someone had killed Samson. And the two people standing in front of her appeared to know exactly what had happened. “Grandpa,” she said quietly, “I'll call you back in a moment.” “Alicia...” She ended the call.

For several seconds, she remained motionless, staring at the phone in her hand. Then she slowly lifted her head. Pixel and Silver were still standing before her. Cipher placed the phone on the table. “What did you do?” Neither woman answered. Her voice grew louder. “I'm asking you a question! What did you do?” Pixel swallowed. “Alicia…” “Don't!” Cipher snapped. “Don't say my name like that. Not until you tell me what is going on.” She stepped away from the table and began pacing around the tent. “What were you apologising for? Why did my grandfather call me just now? Her voice broke slightly on the last question, but she quickly regained control. “Pixel, do you understand what you've done?” The rest of us stood frozen. I had never seen Cipher look at Pixel that way before. She was not simply angry. She looked as though someone had taken the ground from beneath her feet. Bighead slowly rose from his seat. “Cipher, what's wrong? What happened? What did they do?” Cipher stopped pacing and looked at us. “Ask them.” She pointed towards Pixel and Silver. “Perhaps they'll tell you.” I looked at my wife, confused. “Cipher, what are you talking about?” She shook her head in frustration. “I don't even know where to begin.” Then she turned towards Silver. “And you? Silver, I trusted you. You went behind my back?”

Silver's face tightened. “Cipher, please..” “No! I want an answer!” Pixel stepped forward immediately. “Don't blame her. Silver didn't do anything. This was all my decision.” I stood up. “Wife, what's going on?” Cipher looked at me, and for a moment, “Cracker,” she said quietly, “I need a moment.” She turned away and reached for a bottle of water on the table. Her hands were trembling slightly as she opened it. She took several gulps, then placed the bottle down and wiped her mouth. When she faced Pixel again, her expression had hardened. “Are you ready to tell us what you did?" Pixel looked at her. For a moment, she seemed ready to speak. Then her eyes filled with tears, and she lowered her head. Cipher let out a bitter laugh. “Crying won't help you now, Pixel. Whatever you've done, you need to tell everyone the truth.” A tear rolled down Pixel's cheek. She wiped it away, but another followed. “I…” Her voice failed her. Chipmunk moved closer, her face filled with concern. “Pixel, please. Just tell us what happened.” Pixel took a shaky breath. “I avenged my father.” The words fell into the silence like a stone. Survivor frowned. “What?” Chipmunk stared at her. “You avenged your father? How?” She paused, then asked the question that was already on everyone's mind. “Do you mean you killed Hanna?” Bighead looked from Pixel to Silver. “But if you avenged your father, why are you crying?” Nobody answered him. I stared at Pixel, trying to make sense of what she had just said. Then the realisation began to sink in. My eyes widened. “Wait… you killed...” “Let her explain!” Cipher interrupted sharply. I fell silent. Cipher stepped closer to Pixel, her gaze fixed on her. “Start from the beginning. Tell us exactly what you did, who helped you, and why you thought you had to do it without telling me.”

Pixel looked around the tent. Every pair of eyes was fixed on her now. Bighead had stopped smiling. Survivor stood with her arms folded, visibly disturbed. Chipmunk looked worried, while Silver remained beside Pixel, silent and pale. I could hardly believe what was happening. We had come to the border to defend the Gupta family, unite its soldiers, and prepare for a war that threatened everyone. Cipher had only just established her authority, and already one of our own had apparently taken matters into her hands. If Pixel had killed Samson, this was no longer simply a personal matter. Samson was part of the Gupta family. His death could provoke retaliation, deepen the conflict between the First and Third Families, and place every Lion in danger. And Cipher, as the newly appointed leader, would be expected to answer for it. Pixel drew another shaky breath. Then she looked directly at Cipher.