By dawn, my eyes burned from staying awake after the nightmare.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Philip's head hitting the table. I saw my own hands pushing him. Whether it was really my memory or madness, I couldn't tell.

I dressed slowly, still thinking of it. I needed to work myself out in the company to forget the thoughts.

Outside, the driver opened the car door for me. I slid in, waiting for Elias to join.

He didn't.

After a few seconds, I leaned forward. "Where's Elias?"

"He left very early this morning, ma'am."

I sat back, unsettled. What business did he have before sunrise?

The ride to Lawson Corporation was quiet, but my mind never was. I kept replaying the dream, the push, the possibility... the fear.

When I reached the office floor, my steps slowed.

Elias's voice drifted from his office.

His door was slightly open.

"Traces of arsenic poisoning were found in my brother's system. There should be something you can do."

My blood turned cold.

Arsenic.

He's investigating Philip's death?

I stepped closer to hear more.

"I want his medical report file" he continued. "i need it soon. so get it ready."

I forced myself to walk past as if I hadn't heard anything, but the sudden sharp pain tore through my abdomen again. This time, worse.

I tried to keep walking.

Another cramp hit, violent and sudden.

My knees wobbled. I fumbled for the pill Clara prescribed, pulling one out with trembling fingers, but my vision blurred

and everything went blank.

I woke up to white lights and cold air.

I was in the hospital.

My head felt heavy, but the pain had finally eased.

A nurse approached. "You're awake. How do you feel now, Miss?"

I sat up, touching my head.

"I'm... better," I whispered, though the weakness in my voice betrayed me. "Wh... who brought me here?"

"The doctor asked to speak with him," she said. "I can direct you to the doctor's office if you're fit to walk."

"I'm okay now. Thank you."

I pushed myself up, legs shaky, and followed her down the hall. When I pushed the doctor's door open. I froze.

Elias was inside.

Sitting.

His eyes locked onto me instantly.

The doctor cleared his throat. "Mrs. Lawson, you may join us."

I sat beside Elias.

"How are you feeling?" the doctor asked.

"I'm okay now."

He turned to Elias.

"It seems your wife is stable now."

My eyes widened, but he continued, "She needs more rest. I'll prescribe additional medication."

I felt a wave of embarrassment. I wanted to correct him, we weren't married, but no words came out. Elias said nothing either.

When we were done, I followed Elias out.

He didn't look at me.

He didn't speak.

Not in the hallway.

Not in the elevator.

Not even in the car.

The ride back to the Lawson mansion was suffocating. I kept forcing myself to say thank you, but the words stuck to my throat.

Finally, when the car stopped, I whispered, "Thank you... for taking me to the hospital."

He said nothing.

The car drove off before I could close the door.

"So rude," I muttered. "He could've nodded at least."

I sighed and headed to my room.

But when I entered, I froze.

David was inside.

"What are you doing here?"

He flinched and turned toward me.

"Mara..."

"What are you doing in my room?"

He stepped forward, closing the space between us, and I instinctively moved back, but he caught my face and kissed me. For a few seconds, shock rooted me in place before I pushed him off.

"David, stop." I shoved him away, wiping my lips, "What are you doing?"

He let out a frustrated sigh. "Mara, please"

"If we're caught together..." I began, but he cut in.

"I miss you, Mara."

My entire body went still. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't even process his words.

"This isn't the time," I said quietly. "And you shouldn't be in my room. Please leave."

"Just hear me out, Mara," he tried, stepping forward again, but froze when I backed away.

"Leave my room," I warned, final and firm.

He obeyed at last.

The moment he stepped out, I exhaled shakily. He shouldn't be doing this. He's engaged. I'm married.

Dinner arrived before I had even recovered from everything that happened earlier. I kept my gaze fixed on my plate, refusing to look in David's direction.

I heard Camille talk "Elias," she said brightly, "I thought about something. Maybe you can put David somewhere in the company. He'll soon be family or he's already family. He can start at the company with you, maybe you can help him".

God, no. The last thing I needed was David hovering around the company after what happened in my room.

Camille kept rambling on, but Elias remained silent. When I risked a glance at him, he was already staring at me-intensely. My pulse jumped. I quickly lowered my eyes again.

Once Camille finished, Elias placed his cutlery down with a harsh clatter that echoed through the dining room. Everyone instantly went quiet.

His gaze never left me.

"Mara," he said, and a chill ran down my spine. "Tell everyone why you lied about your miscarriage and hid your abortion."

Camille and Andrea both gasped.

"Wait– abortion?" Andrea repeated, voice full of disgust.

Before I could even breathe, something smacked lightly against my cheek and dropped onto my plate.

My medical report.

My whole body went cold. How did he even get it? I told Clara to keep it hidden.

Camille grabbed the paper from the table, scanned through it, and her expression shifted immediately-anger, disappointment, accusation.

My throat felt tight, my hands shaking uncontrollably.

Every pair of eyes in the room was on me.

Without another word, Elias pushed back his chair and walked upstairs without another word.

I sat there, frozen, unable to explain, unable to defend myself, unable to form a single word.

Tears gathered in my eyes.

Why here?

Why like this?

In front of everyone?

"An abortion?... So all this time, you pretended it was a miscarriage?" Andrea snapped, grabbing the papers as if she needed proof. She folded her arms, chin lifted high in disgust.

"You owe this family an explanation," she added sharply. "A real one."

Camille didn't say a word.

She simply stood, turned, and went upstairs.

Her silence killed me more than her words ever could.

"And I bet Philip had no idea about this," Andrea continued. "After everything this family did for you. Such an ungrateful brat."

She hissed the words and stormed out.

It was hard to process what had just happened.

Harder to move.

Hardest to breathe.

David was the only one still at the table.

He didn't say anything.

He just stood and left.

Margaret and the other maids quietly cleared the plates, glancing at me with pity I didn't want.

I sat there until the table was completely empty.

When I finally reached my room, I closed the door... and slid down against it, collapsing on the floor.

I cried so hard it felt like something inside me was breaking all over again.

Maybe it's better how I had married Philip instead of Elias.

What happened to confronting me about it first.

Not one single person asked how I was doing.

Not one person asked why I made that decision.

Not one person cared.

Was I a wicked mother...

for choosing my life over my baby's?

I hated my life.

I hated that it had become this.

I cried and cried until Clara's call interrupted the sound of my sobs.

"Mara, what happened? My assistant told me you were brought into the hospital, are you okay?"

I couldn't reply.

"Were you careful with the report? I would've attended to you myself, I was out when..."

Still nothing from me.

"Mara? Are you crying? Mara? Did something happen?"

"Everyone knows, Clara... everyone knows about the abortion."

My voice trembled and broke.

"Somehow Elias found out and...he humiliated me in front of everyone. I'm confused, Clara... I'm so confused..."

I kept rambling, not giving her space to talk.

"My life is a mess. If I had died in Philip's place... would things be different?"

"Mara! Stop that!! Don't say that again!" she snapped.

She exhaled. "Look..."

But I hung up.

I didn't want comfort.

Or pity.

Or anything.

I cried on the floor until sleep dragged me under.

When I woke up, my eyes ached. Swollen. Hot.

I didn't want to see anyone.

But the thought of seeing Elias in the office twisted my stomach painfully.

I skipped breakfast to avoid the family... but hunger eventually won.

I waited until the house was quiet before going downstairs to make food.

I thought the kitchen would be empty.

But Andrea was there, slicing fruit-likely for David.

I ignored her completely and went to the cupboard.

She moved closer hitting me her shoulder.

Trying to provoke me.

I kept my back turned.

"The audacity to eat," she sneered. "Shouldn't you be starving? Or begging every one of us for forgiveness? Including Philip?"

I stayed silent.

"Oh, don't pretend you don't hear me!" she snapped. "You can't just run away after last night. Not after humiliating yourself like that."

I turned slowly, finally meeting her gaze.

"And you can't just look for trouble every chance you get, Andrea."

My voice was calm. Too calm.

"If I were you, I'd focus on my fiancé. Now leave me alone."

Her face twisted with rage.

"I blame Mother for still letting you stay here," she spat, grabbing her smoothie and storming out.

I exhaled shakily, my hands trembling.

At least she was gone.

Later, I went to the company.

My heart felt heavy the entire ride.

I stood quietly in the elevator, trying to steady my breathing.

Then the doors opened on another floor-

And David walked in.

My heart stuttered.

I forced myself not to look at him.

Not to remember the kiss.

Silence stretched before he finally spoke.

"About yesterday..." He paused as if debating whether to continue. "Are you okay?"

I didn't answer.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," he said softly.

"You don't need to be," I cut in.

"I hate that you're being treated this way, Mara. I..."

"My problems shouldn't bother you, David."

My voice was flat. Final.

"You have a fiancée and a wedding to plan. That should be your priority. I'll handle mine."

The elevator dinged.

"Please stay away," I added before stepping out.

When I reached Elias's floor, I saw him calmly working through papers, as if he hadn't just destroyed me the night before.

Anger flared hot beneath my skin.

I barged into his office.

He looked up, his face instantly darkening. "What are you doing in my office?"

"As if blaming me for Philip's death wasn't enough," I snapped, "you humiliated me in front of everyone."

He leaned back, jaw ticking. "There's nothing to discuss about this"

"There's everything to discuss!" I stepped forward. "You could've confronted me privately, but no. You decided to tell the whole family."

He slammed his palm on the desk.

"Don't twist this. You lied."

"I didn't lie," I hissed. "I lost my baby."

"No." His voice thundered. "You let everyone believe you miscarried, but the truth is you aborted the Lawson heir, probably because you didn't love my brother."

My breath caught.

"That's not what happened."

"Then explain it!" he snapped. "Explain why the report says so. Explain why you hid it. Explain why you acted like a criminal behind the family's back."

"Because it wasn't anyone's business!" I shouted. "No one in that house cares about me. Suddenly you all care?"

"It was my brother's child," Elias said, voice low and dangerous. "You stripped him of the right to know."

I stared at him.

He stared back like I was the lowest thing alive.

"He would've known," I whispered, voice cracking, "if he actually cared."

Elias shot up from his chair so fast it scraped the floor.

He came around the desk, stopping inches from me.

"Don't speak about Philip like that."

"Why?" I whispered, tears filling my eyes. "Philip treated me like a mistake he had to clean up."

"You still should have told him," Elias said tightly. "He deserved that much."

"You're no different from him," I said. "I regret marrying into this family. And believe me, I'm glad I never bore his child. It would've been worse."

"Mara!" he barked. "Watch your mouth."

"No," I breathed. "I won't."

His breathing grew harsher.

His stare burned into me.

"You came here to provoke me," he said slowly.

"You act like you know everything," I whispered, wiping tears. "But you don't. You don't know what happened. You don't know what I went through. You don't know what your family did to me. You don't care to ask at all."

He opened his mouth

Nothing came out.

"You shouldn't care," I continued bitterly. "Because to you, I'm the outsider who married your brother. The problem you inherited."

His jaw tightened.

He didn't deny it.

"Do you know what hurts the most?" I whispered. "The way you look at me like I disgust you. Like I'm filth. Like I'm something the rain should wash off the Lawson name. Nobody looks at me like a human. Nobody did while you were abroad."

He looked away-

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

"I'm the one suffering in the family," I whispered, voice trembling. "Not Philip. And... I loved him. At some point, I thought our baby would make him love me."

My chest shook.

"I don't blame him. Our marriage wasn't a love story. A mistake happened, and I left my ex to marry him to save your family from scandal. I knew I was just a tool. But the least he could've done was treat me like I existed. His silence towards me was worse."

I broke completely.

I couldn't hold it anymore.

I turned and ran out of his office.

Work wasn't for me today.

I headed to the staff restroom, splashing water on my face.

My reflection looked like a ghost-pale, eyes red and swollen.

I was done crying for the Lawsons.

Done.

"Rough morning, Mara?" Vivian sneered as she came out from one of the restroom.

I walked toward her until her back hit the wall. She froze.

"The next time you see me," I said quietly, "address me properly."

I left without another word.

Back home, I retreated to my room and stayed there until nightfall.

I wasn't hungry.

I didn't want food.

A knock at my door startled me.

I ignored it.

Another knock came.

I forced myself to the door and flung it open. Elias stood there.

I frowned and tried to close it, but he stepped inside, stumbling slightly.

The moment he passed me, I smelled it.

Whiskey.

Has he been drinking?

I quickly shut the door behind us to avoid getting caught.

"I've been looking for you," he said.

"No," he corrected softly, "I've been thinking about you."

"No-no, it's the alcohol talking," I said quickly. "I need to get you out of here before someone sees..."

"You're beautiful," he interrupted.

My heart stopped.

"You're beautiful," he said again, voice lower. "I'm so jealous... Philip married the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

That was... strange.

Coming from him.

His tie hung loose, his eyes dark.

The scent of whiskey surrounded him as he leaned closer.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured, his breath brushing my skin.

"You're drunk," I whispered, unable to look away as my heart pounded violently.

He smiled faintly.

His gaze moved slowly over my face...

into my eyes...

down to my lips.

"Drunk," he whispered, his thumb grazing the corner of my mouth,

"but not blind. You want this as much as I do."

My breath caught.

"Say something," he murmured, his forehead nearly touching mine. "Anything."

"Elias..." I breathed, the sound more a plea than a warning.

He cupped my face and kissed me.

The second kiss since the one-night stand.

He kissed me like he was starved

And I kissed him back.

"Mara..." he whispered against my skin, voice breaking, "please don't stop."

I didn't want to stop either.

But then-

The door swung open.

I gasped, pushing Elias back slightly, turning toward the doorway.

David stood there.

Frozen.

Elias POV

Breakfast was unusually quiet.

I sat at the head of the table, staring at the untouched coffee cooling beside me, pretending to listen to the soft clatter of utensils. But my mind wasn't here.

It was replaying last night.

The scent of her skin when she pulled me closer instead of pushing me away.

The soft shock of her mouth, warm, opening under mine.

The way she whispered my name like she didn't hate me...like she remembered the last time we had kissed.

I shouldn't have touched her.

I sure as hell shouldn't have woken up in her room.

But I did.

And now I was sitting here pretending everything was normal.

Mara stepped into the room.

She was dressed for work, hair pinned neatly, face bare. Her eyes were swollen from crying, but her posture was painfully controlled, as if holding herself together by sheer force.

She saw everyone at the table...and immediately tried to walk past like she wanted nothing to do with any of us.

Margaret hurried forward.

"Madam, your food is on the table," she said gently.

I didn't hear Mara's reply, her voice was too low.

Margaret tried again.

"Please, ma... you didn't eat yesterday. At least take small."

Mara hesitated, shoulders trembling faintly. She stood there for a long moment, torn between running and obeying.

Finally, she exhaled and walked toward the table.

The reaction was immediate.

Camille dropped her fork loudly and stood up, leaving without a glance.

Andrea rose next.

David followed silently behind her.

All three left as if her presence contaminated the air.

Mara sat down anyway.

She didn't lift her face, not even when I tried to catch her eyes.

The discomfort in my chest was something else.

I couldn't stand sitting there anymore.

I pushed my chair back and left.

At the Company

Richard was already waiting for me in my office, tablet in hand.

"Sir, your meeting with Scott Enterprises is in thirty minutes," he said. "Should I confirm the conference room?"

"No, I'll be heading there in person." I said, pausing , looking at her from the glass that separated us. She seemed to be busy too.

"Tell Mrs. Lawson to prepare. She'll be joining me."

Richard blinked. "Um... yes, sir. Will she be joining you in the car or..."

I glanced at him and he shut up.

I waited for her inside the car. When she finally stepped out of the building, she kept her eyes on the floor. Without a word, she slipped into the back seat beside me.

The ride was quiet.

Every second dragged last night closer in my mind until it pressed against my ribs, refusing to be forgotten.

I clenched my jaw and turned away from her.

I hated that I could still feel her.

Scott Enterprises welcomed us with glass walls and city views. Their manager, Mr. Desmond, dove straight into projections and mergers.

I responded on mechanically.

Because my eyes kept drifting to her.

She sat beside me, but her mind was miles away.

"...Mrs. Lawson?" Desmond called.

She jerked slightly, startled.

"I'm so sorry. I need a moment," she whispered, then stood abruptly and left the room.

Desmond raised a brow at me.

I ignored it.

We ended the meeting barely ten minutes after she walked out.

I waited outside by the car until she emerged.

Her face was expressionless.

"You can't walk out of meetings like that," I said, voice sharp. "What was so important you had to leave?"

She didn't answer.

She opened the door and sat inside.

My hands curled into fists before I followed.

When we reached the company, we entered the elevator together.

She stood in front.

I stood behind.

Her profile was too clear-long lashes, faint freckles, the soft line of her cheek.

Then my eyes dropped to her lips.

The same lips I kissed.

The same lips that kissed me back.

My chest tightened painfully.

The elevator chimed open.

She stepped out.

I followed, unable to stop watching her.

As we approached our offices, I saw Richard trying to block someone standing at her door.

David.

"What's going on?" I asked, voice turning cold.

Richard nearly jumped. "S–sir, I tried to stop him-"

David spun around, his eyes locking onto me with the intensity of a long-held grudge.

"Are you lost," I said, stepping closer, "or have you forgotten your place in this company? You belong downstairs."

"I'm not here for you," he snapped, brushing past me like I wasn't even there.

Then he grabbed Mara's wrist, dragging her out.

Something cold and violent snapped inside me.