"... I just think that in order to fight against capitalism, we have to stop falling for the tricks of these private corporations that do nothing but harm lower and middle-class citizens," Karmin spit out in one breath, "so to answer your question, no, I don't want to go to the gym."

"How the hell?" stuttered Rhys in shock.

Viola shrugged as she took a potato chip from the basket on the picnic table. "You get used to it."

Maddox gazed at her in amazement with a shake of his head. "You're like a walking run-on sentence."

Karmin chuckled, a part of her agreeing with what he said. How did she go from being asked a simple question about the gym to another rant on capitalism? People may never know, but in her mind, it made perfect sense.

"Hey babe," she called, picking at her food.

"Yeah?" Maddox said, glancing at her.

But at the same time, Viola stopped what she was doing, her eyes falling on Karmin. "What's up?"

Karmin awkwardly stared at the two of them, unsure of what to say next as they eyed one another carefully.

"She was talking to me," Viola sassed as she flipped her hair.

"Um, I'm pretty sure she was talking to me. I'm her boyfriend," he reasoned with the same amount of sass.

"I'm her best friend," she fired back.

"No, I'm her best friend," interrupted Rhys.

"Huh?" Viola said.

"I don't know. I just felt left out," he smiled sheepishly.

"I just wanted more food," Karmin added stiffly as she eyed Viola and Maddox. "I'll go grab it."

"I can go grab some. I am your boyfriend after all," he emphasized as he got up from the table to make his way over to the buffet that was set up by the children playing hide-and-go-seek.

Viola made a face at him behind his back. "I'm babe, right?" she demanded seriously.

"Of course," Karmin convinced.

"Wait, I want to be babe too," Rhys exclaimed.

Karmin laughed lightly as she squinted her eyes from the bright summer sun. It was the last week of August, and it was evident from the warm breeze and people clad in jean shorts and tanks. The heat from the sun radiated on her brown skin, reminding her she was alive and present.

It almost seemed impossible three months ago.

The notion of her Dad healthy and her Mom at ease almost seemed impossible, but there they were, laughing and smiling with their friends and relatives to celebrate his recovery. They were wary at first to take the money that Maddox and she pawned off a dead man's ring, but what was the point of stopping now? Her parents were still pissed off at the fact she joined an illegal fight club, but Karmin knew they were just scared of her getting hurt.

To be honest, the conversation with them and Avery didn't go as terrible as she thought it would. They did yell that she wasn't Brad Pitt, and there was also some crying, but most of all, they were proud and appreciative. Karmin was just thankful she wasn't disowned for lying and sneaking around.

So, after getting just enough money from the pawnshop, the surgery was a go. With no complications and a few weeks of bed rest and antibiotics, Aaliyah thought it would be a great idea to host a party to celebrate the new kidney. With the pleasant weather, the park was the best place to have it.

Streamers and ribbons were tied around the branches with an array of picnic tables and sheets taken up by her family and cousins. Soft music played in the background with people holding plates of food and chatting about.

The laughter of children rang through the air as they chased one another and climbed the branches. Their clothes were covered in grass stains as their parents yelled at them, but it didn't matter to them with their wide grins and wide-eyed glimmers.

She couldn't remember the last time she was that carefree.

That child-like innocence felt like it was long gone those past few months. It still felt that way sometimes as she chased phantoms in the grocery store or saw a flicker of that night in the mirror. She occasionally had nightmares with her waking up out of breath and her clothes sticking to her skin from the sweat. Her hands would reach to her phone, dialing Maddox's number, and he would already be up.

Yeah, we could definitely use some therapy.

The excited screams of her younger cousins jolted her as they ran past her. They had tried climbing Maddox when they first got to the party, screaming he was a giant. It was safe to say he was terrified out of his mind.

Karmin exhaled freely, glancing over at Maddox, who was shoveling samosas and pakoras onto his plate with a concentrated look. She watched amused as he meticulously placed the array of sauces far away from food. He hated when they mixed and touched.

Oh, how I love his quirks.

"Hey Maddox Knight!" she called out with a beaming smile, "I love you!"

His head snapped up, immediately turning red from the looks that shot his way. Maddox glared at her, trying to make himself smaller but it was difficult to do with his tall frame. However, he mouthed a quick 'I love you,' but it may have also been 'I hate you.' It was hard to tell.

"Are you trying to kill him?" Rhys asked, chuckling at Maddox outwardly.

"Yeah, leave that poor boy alone or he'll combust," Viola teased.

"Everyone's already staring at him once they found out he was my boyfriend," Karmin defended, eyeing an auntie who was giving her a disapproving look. "Brown relatives can't keep their opinions to themselves."

"Are your parents cool with you dating him?" Rhys wondered curiously.

"Um, no not –" Karmin halted when she saw Maddox walking back to the picnic table. "What I meant to say was that they love him. Right, Mads? My parents love you."

Maddox sulked, slumping into the seat beside her. "I'm pretty sure they hate me. They keep looking at me and whispering just like everyone else here, which is already very stressful," he grumbled. "And you screaming across the park doesn't help me."

She rolled her eyes. "What can I say? I'm obsessed with you," she grinned.

"You sound like a creepy stalker," he deadpanned.

Karmin scoffed. "Besides, they don't hate you. They're grateful you helped me with the whole fight club thing, but they just..." she faltered, trying to find the correct words, "they would just prefer if I didn't date a white boy."

Maddox frowned, grabbing a hold of her hand and tracing random letters. He tended to do that when he was anxious. "But I'm trying. I started researching on the culture, and I'm taking Punjabi lessons so I can talk to them, and so they know I'm serious about us," he explained as he cut the samosa in half for Karmin.

"That's so freaking sweet," Viola squealed.

"You what?" Karmin asked with awe. Never has any boy put in this much effort, and it filled her heart with such love, she didn't know what to do with it.

"Let's not forget that I was up with him watching Bollywood movies until the early morning," Rhys chimed in. "And can I just say that they are so dramatic but so good. I wish someone would break into a musical performance for me."

The group laughed at Rhys's frown when he had a sudden realization that he was very much single.

"I'm not letting you go, so just give it some time," she assured. "Plus, Aaliyah loves you, so that's 33 percent of the family down."

"Aaliyah scares me a little bit," Maddox remarked, his lips quirking up into a smile.

"That girl is going to be the future president one day," Viola said, sipping her iced coffee.

"She was also wondering if you have any cousins her age," Karmin smirked jokingly. "But just say no, because we don't need two disappointments in the family."

"You're a disappointment because you're dating me?" Maddox whispered gloomily.

Karmin turned her body towards him, placing either of her hands on his face. "You are perfect. There is nothing wrong with you," she encouraged with a soft voice. "My parents grew up in India, so they have different values and beliefs. When they come to see how great you are, I promise they'll love you. Okay?"

"Okay," he sighed, a smile pulling at his lips.

"Now I would kiss you, but all the aunties' heads would explode," she chuckled.

"They already hate me," Maddox shrugged carelessly and grabbed her chin, placing his lips on her.

Karmin smiled into the kiss as her chest drowned in love and her skin tingled in peace. His kisses felt familiar almost as if she had him memorized. With her eyes closed, she could simply find her way back home to him.

"Ew, that's enough, gosh," Rhys gagged dramatically as he closed his eyes.

She pulled away, laughing. "That was unexpected."

"What can I say?" he said satisfied as he slung his arm around her. "I was feeling bold."

Karmin raised a brow. "Bold enough to ask the Starbucks barista to remake the drink when it's wrong?" she challenged.

"Okay, not that bold."

With her amused expression, she rested her head on his shoulder, but just for a moment when suddenly, he yanked it away, sliding as far away as he possibly could on the short bench.

She looked at him with confusion and followed his line of gaze to see her parents walking towards them. "Not feeling so bold now, huh," she teased with a smirk as she reached out for his hand.

Maddox swatted it away as he sat up straight. "Stop it. They're coming," he hissed out of the side of his mouth.

Déjà vu, anyone?

"Hello, Viola," Karmin's Mom greeted with an affectionate smile. "Thank you for coming. Where are your parents and sisters?"

"Of course, Mrs. Desai. They're on their way," she mentioned, matching the smile. "And Mr. Desai, I'm so happy you're doing better."

"Nothing was going to happen to me," her Dad said, waving unconcernedly. "You all liking the food?" He looked directly at Viola and Rhys, blatantly ignoring Maddox.

"It's awesome!" Rhys exclaimed, shoving more Indian food into his mouth.

"Um, thank you for inviting me, sir," Maddox said as he awkwardly tried to enter the conversation.

"I didn't," he said shortly.

"Oh," Maddox stuttered, turning red as his shoulder hunched over. "I can go if you like."

"What, no," Karmin rejected, shaking her head firmly.

"Is this party not up to your standard?" questioned her Mom with a testy tone.

"You not happy with the food? You want burgers and fries?" her Dad followed up with the same voice.

Rhys and Viola flickered their eyes between the parents and a flustered Maddox. Karmin couldn't tell if they were entertained or concerned for his safety.

"No, that's not what I meant. You misunderstood me," Maddox said quickly with wide eyes.

"You saying I don't understand English?" her Dad asked with a low voice.

"Oh my god," Karmin muttered.

"This party is great. I am happy to be here. I'm going to shut up now," Maddox ended helplessly.

Her Mom huffed, turning her gaze to the rest of the group. "The cake is going to be here in little bit. Leave some space."

"I always have room for cake!" joked Rhys as he rubbed his stomach.

"Good. Enjoy the party," her Mom smiled at everyone but one brooding boy. The two of them turned to leave, but her Dad halted in his steps.

"Maddox," he called out, catching his nervous eyes. "We got jalebis for you. Take some before you go."

A smile replaced his frown, and his eyes lit up. "Yes, absolutely. Thank you," he replied, but they were already walking away.

"That was a good sign," Viola encouraged.

"See, dude. They're already warming up to you," Rhys remarked, smacking his shoulder. "No one can resist those green eyes."

"You think so?" Maddox asked with a hopeful look. "Because I was ready to drown myself in a lake after that conversation."

"Didn't you already do that?" Karmin smirked.

"Fuck you," he shot back with a smile that threatened to break across his face.

The group echoed in laughter with the same carefree and innocence those kids had, and she finally understood that whatever happened in the few months led her to this exact place: joking and sharing stories with the people she loved and the boy she loved.

They had come so far.

From the beginning to when they first met and their personalities clashing with Maddox's unimpressed looks that he still couldn't help but give her. From the countless times of being underestimated and looked down upon to her rising to the top and earning the respect of her fellow competitors.

If there was one thing she realized and forced others to realize was that looks could be deceiving.

If you looked past her honey stardust persona, you could see the glowing embers inside her because if all the danger and beauty in the world were put into one person, it would be Karmin Desai.

It was something that she liked to call The Daphne Effect.

***

Hey hey!

Alright, girls, boys and non-binary folk, we are officially at the end of The Daphne Effect! It took a while to get here, but we finally made it.

I just want to thank everyone who stuck by this book. I appreciate all of you so very much! I hope you could all relate to this book some way in another and I hope that you all love Karma.

Now with this book finished, I am going to move on to complete Oh My Genie, so I am going to have to push back Stealing Is An Art Form for a few more months!

But for everyone who hasn't checked it out, it is already posted but here is the summary anyway!

Update: Stealing Is An Art Form is now being updated weekly! Please go check it out when you can :)

Solace Laurent and Sage Brooks never got along. They fought and competed over everything, whether it was grades or afterschool clubs. She hated his arrogant, I-don't-care-about-the-rules behaviour and he loved to annoy her.

Not one day went by in high school when an argument didn't break out until he disappeared without a trace. Solace, along with Sage's family and the entire school, thought he was dead. After months of criminal investigations, search parties, and missing posters, he was nowhere to be found.

But what happens when Sage shows up at her doorsteps in the middle of the night, bruised and bloody?

Thank you again and I love you all so much!

Until next time – m.k.t