Hunting for clue
The air inside the villa had changed. Engfa could feel it—a subtle tension rippling beneath the surface. Ever since the fake wedding, the other contestants had been watching her and Charlotte a little too closely.
Breakfast wasn’t peaceful anymore. Lou and Alicia kept bringing up the event while Engfa tried to focus on her food.
“I still can’t get over that kiss,” Lou teased, leaning lazily against the kitchen counter. “I mean, who pulls off a stunt like that at a bachelorette party?”
Alicia smirked, stirring her coffee. “And Charlotte didn’t even react. Almost too comfortable with it.” She side-eyed Engfa, clearly fishing for a reaction.
Engfa took a deliberate bite of her tartine, pretending to be unfazed. “What? It was just a party. I was playing along,” she said with a casual shrug. But the warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her.
Alicia raised an eyebrow, crossing her legs. “Sure. But you have to admit, you two have a weird energy. Feels like there’s history there.”
Engfa didn’t answer, instead focusing on stirring her orange juice like it held the meaning of life.
Across the room, Charlotte stood by the espresso machine, stirring sugar into her coffee with the kind of ease that suggested she wasn’t listening. But Engfa knew her too well. The slight clench of her jaw, the too-casual tilt of her head—Charlotte was calculating.
“Please,” Charlotte finally said, turning to the group with a small smirk. “I don’t even remember it. I was too drunk.”
Lou burst out laughing. “That’s not impossible. You look like you still have a hangover.”
In reality, Charlotte had barely slept. It wasn’t the alcohol—just thoughts. Thoughts of the wedding, the money, Engfa.
She flashed a lazy grin. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” She set her cup down and leaned back against the kitchen island. “Did I ever tell you about the crazy party I had in the Maldives?”
Alicia immediately perked up. “Oh, this I have to hear.”
Engfa knew exactly what Charlotte was doing—redirecting, lying to keep her secret safe. And from the gleam in her eye, she was enjoying every second of it.
“Picture this,” Charlotte started smoothly. “A private villa, right on the water. Endless champagne. Sunset cruises with a personal chef serving a five-course dinner.”
Lou whistled. “Damn. That sounds unreal.”
Engfa nearly choked on her juice. Unreal was an understatement. The real Maldives trip? A last-minute budget trip where they stayed in a tiny beach shack with no air-conditioning, surviving off instant noodles and cheap wine.
Alicia, ever skeptical, narrowed her eyes. “And you’re telling me you did all this alone?”
Charlotte lifted her cup, hiding her smirk behind the rim. “A lady never travels alone,” she replied coyly. “But I prefer to keep certain details private. It’s not like we’re on national TV or anything,” she added, gesturing toward the nearest camera.
The group groaned at her teasing deflection, but Engfa caught the quick glance Charlotte shot her. A silent challenge. Keep up.
Fans on Social media were already losing their minds:
🐦 @FreenBeckyyy: CHARLOTTE REALLY SAID “A LADY NEVER TRAVELS ALONE” AND THEN LOOKED STRAIGHT AT ENGFA, LEGEND #EngLot
🐦 @TeaForTension: Engfa trying to act normal while knowing damn well what happened in the Maldives trip is KILLING ME 😂
🐦 @CharlotteDefenseSquad: Charlotte is giving good strategy ! Engfa is just sitting there trying not to laugh… I love them, Your Honor.
Later, Engfa found Charlotte lounging by the pool, sunglasses perched on her nose, looking perfectly at ease. Charles and Lou were splashing around in the water.
Engfa settled into the chair beside her, lowering her voice. “Maldives, huh? You must’ve forgotten the part where our beach shack had no air-conditioning.”
Charlotte didn’t even flinch. “Details, darling. They love a good story.”
Engfa shook her head, unable to suppress a laugh. “You’re having way too much fun with this.”
Charlotte pushed her sunglasses up, glancing at Engfa. “It’s good pretending.” She hesitated. “About the money situation, I mean.”
Engfa didn’t respond.
A while later, Charlotte was now in the water and Lou flopped down beside Engfa, still dripping from the pool.
“Alright,” he said in a conspiratorial whisper, “you’ve got to tell me. Are you into her?”
Engfa tilted her head, pretending to think. Lou was like her friend here, so she wanted this time to be as honest as she could with him. “Not impossible.” She flashed a teasing smile.
Lou smirked. “You should be careful. I think Charlotte might have a thing for Charles.” He gestured toward them playing in the water.
Engfa’s smile faltered for just a second.
Lou continued, watching her reaction. “The way he touches her? And she lets him? That’s not just game strategy.”
Engfa forced a laugh. “I’m doomed.”
Lou chuckled, then tapped his chin thoughtfully. “But she also said she wasn’t alone in the Maldives. If she had someone serious outside the villa… now that would be a twist.”
Engfa let out a snort. “You’re way too invested.”
Lou grinned. “Of course I am. And you know what? Let’s get more details.”
Before Engfa could protest, Lou dragged her toward the pool.
“Hey, little mermaid,” Lou called, plopping down across from Charlotte. “That Maldives story? You left out the best part. Who did you go with?”
Charlotte didn’t blink. “Oh, so curious, Lou,” she said smoothly. “I was with my best friend.”
Engfa, barely holding in her laughter, leaned in. “Do you often go on vacations with your best friend?”
Charlotte tilted her head slightly. “Not as much as I’d like to.”
Lou laughed. “Come on, tell us another vacation story. I know you have more.”
Charlotte let out a soft sigh as if indulging a persistent child. “Fine. There was this time in Tuscany…” She launched into another over-the-top tale, painting a picture of vineyard sunsets and truffle hunts.
As the conversation stretched on, Alicia drifted toward their group, settling into a chair without a word. Her silence was heavy, her gaze intent.
The moment didn’t go unnoticed. Charlotte shifted ever so slightly, her posture more guarded. Engfa felt it too—they were being studied.
More Twitter chaos ensued:
🐦 @EngLotNation: THE WAY ENGFA IS JUST. STIRRING THE POT. “Do you often go on vacations with your best friend?” GIRL PLEASE 😂😂
🐦@ObsessedWithDrama: CHARLOTTE IS A MENACE 🥵 This woman just spun a whole Maldives fairytale and left Engfa biting her lip. I'm SCREAMING. #SecretStory #EngLot
🐦 @ChaosQueen: Lou is the best wingman that’s my man !!
🐦 @AliciaKnowsAll: Alicia watching them interact like she’s gathering evidence for a murder case. She’ll soon discover the couple secret !
🐦 @LouStanAcc: Lou is the voice of the people. He sees the vision. He KNOWS.
🐦 @RealityTVMess: At this point, the producers don’t even need to give us clues. Charlotte and Engfa are leaking their own secrets.
🐦@ShipItRealGood: Lou deserves a raise for being this nosy. "Are you into her?" SIR WE ALL KNOW. #SecretStory
🐦@TheTeaIsHot: "best friend" yeah, sure Charlotte. #SecretStory
🐦@ChachaLotte : And they were best friends ! lol
🐦@NoChillFan: Charles and Charlotte flirting is giving me hives. Engfa, save us. #EngLot #SecretStory
The tv in the living room made a sound, they were being called for a new game. They all rushed inside.
“Attention, contestants! A new challenge begins now.”
Everyone fell silent.
“One hidden card has been scattered throughout the villa. The player who finds it will receive $5,000 and a clue about the player of their choice. Everyone else… will have to… cook dinner.”
A brief moment of silence passed. Then chaos erupted.
Charlotte barely had time to process the rules before contestants started darting in all directions. She could already hear the sound of furniture being moved, cushions being tossed, and cabinets being flung open.
Her heartbeat quickened. She wasn’t great at this kind of game. She wasn’t slow, but she wasn’t as erratic as some of the others.
Lou and Charles were heading toward the bedrooms, exchanging theories about where the producers might have hidden the cards. Charlotte followed, trying not to seem desperate. “Bedrooms are a solid bet,” Lou was saying. “They probably hid one somewhere tricky but accessible.”
Meanwhile, Engfa wasn’t rushing like the others. She was standing in the center of the living room, scanning the space with narrowed eyes.
Where would they hide something like this?
She considered the cameras. This was a game, but it was also a show. The producers would want to capture the moment of discovery clearly. That meant somewhere visible but not immediately obvious.
Her gaze landed on the TV stand.
Inside the bedroom, Charlotte searched frantically, moving objects aside, checking under the bed, scanning every possible hiding spot. She wasn’t alone—Lou and Charles were just as determined.
Then she spotted something.
A small slip of paper barely visible beneath a pillow.
She reached for it—
But Charles’s hand shot out at the last second, snatching it before she could.
Charlotte froze, blinking at her now-empty fingers.
Charlotte’s jaw clenched. “You—” She cut herself off, inhaling sharply through her nose. She had seen it first. She had reached for it first. But Charles had been quicker.
Lou jumped over Charles' shoulder “let me see !”
The three of them looked at the paper for a moments
“What ?” Said Charles, confused as he was reading
“This is not the card, you’ve been decoyed”
At the same moment, Maria voice was heard from the garden “Damn they’re false cards !”
Charlotte and Lou laugh at Charles and Maria.
Alone in the living room, Engfa casually walked over the TV, bent down, and ran a hand behind it. Her fingers brushed against something smooth. She pulled it out.
A golden card.
“Winner,” it read.
She smirked.
“Found it.” she shouted
As the others gathered around, Lou leaned in, whispering, “Ask for Charlotte’s secret for confirmation. Then you’ll have her money.” He winked.
Engfa swallowed hard, It was going to be painful to lie to Lou.
On the revealed room, the host had asked Engfa which player she wanted a secret on, with no hesitation she had answered
“Alicia”
On the tv in front of her, a picture of Johnny Depp appeared for 1s then disappeared, living the screen black.
“Okay ?” Said Engfa confused.
Across the villa, Alicia sat back, deep in thought. she was rethinking all the Charlotte and Engfa interaction, she was kind of sure of it now, the two had a history for sure. One more clue, she told herself, and I’m making my move.
🍿 @ChaoticLouFan:
"Lou whispering 'ask for Charlotte’s secret' like he’s not already the captain of the EngLot ship 💀🚢 #SecretStory"
🕵️♀️ @AliciaDetective:
"Alicia is connecting the dots faster than the FBI. One more clue and she’s exposing the whole EngLot saga 😭🔍 #SecretStory"
👑 @TeamEngfa:
"Engfa bending down all casual to grab that golden card while everyone else is losing their minds… ICON. 🎤✨ #SecretStory"
🤣 @CharlesWho:
"Charles stealing a FAKE CARD only to get laughed at by Charlotte and Lou… this man can’t catch a break 💀📉 #SecretStory"
😤 @CharlotteObsessed:
"Charlotte’s face when Charles snatched the card?? If looks could kill… 👀🔥 #SecretStory"
🏆 @LouIsTheMoment:
"‘Let me see!’ – Lou jumping over Charles like a kid at Christmas. GIVE THIS MAN A TROPHY. 😂 #SecretStory"
🧐 @SnoopAlicia:
"Alicia sitting back like Sherlock Holmes, piecing together EngLot’s entire history. She’s coming for blood. 🕵️♀️🩸 #SecretStory"
💥 @ChaoticHouse:
"So… Engfa wins the card, Alicia is plotting, and Lou is basically the EngLot hype man. I LOVE THIS SHOW. 📺💀 #SecretStory"
💘 @GayAndChaotic:
"ENGLOT is my Roman Empire. #Period 💅✨"