Zara changed direction immediately. She didn't want her daughter to see her father hugging another child a child who received the affection Lilly had never known, not even a simple hug. Nor was she willing to run into Dante.

Inside the taxi, Zara's thoughts spiraled. She wondered about the relationship between the woman and her husband, but she forced herself not to dwell on it. She didn't even know how she would ask Dante if she dared to ask at all. They no longer spoke like normal married people.

To make matters worse, Dante had chased her  out of their matrimonial bedroom.She now slept in the guest room.

Maybe she's just a coworker, Zara told herself, clinging desperately to the thought as she gently patted Lilly's head.

Before she realized it, the taxi had already pulled up to the house.

Zara sighed deeply and stepped out, carefully lifting her sleeping daughter into her arms. With heavy steps, she carried Lilly back inside.

As Zara stepped inside, she saw her mother-in-law seated on the couch beside her sister-in-law. For a brief moment, hope flickered in her chest. Maybe when they see Lilly, they'll finally ask what's wrong.

"There you are," her sister-in-law said, her eyes sharp with provocation. "I needed someone to run errands for me, but you were nowhere to be found. Where have you been?"

Before Zara could answer, her mother-in-law spoke with biting sarcasm. "She went to check on her sick child."

The words were delivered as though Lilly were a stranger someone with no connection to them at all.

Zara swallowed hard.

"I don't care whether the child is sick or not," her sister-in-law said coldly. "She's not mine. Anyway, you can leave now."

Zara stared at them, her arms tightening around Lilly. She had no words left.

Noticing that Zara was still standing there, her mother-in-law snapped, "What are you waiting for? Go to your room. Don't ruin our day by standing there with your child."

Zara lowered her head and turned away, her heart aching as she carried Lilly down the hallway.

Zara laid Lilly down and felt a small sense of relief that her daughter had slept through everything. Lilly had seen enough already too many moments of her mother being mistreated, moments Zara always tried to hide and soften for her sake.

She tucked the blankets around her gently, her heart heavy.

"I'm doing this for you, Lilly," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I should have left this marriage long ago. But I don't want you to grow up in a broken home. I want you to have a father's presence in your life."

She brushed a kiss against Lilly's forehead.

"Maybe one day he'll come around," she continued softly. "Maybe he'll accept that you are not the son he wanted and love you the way you deserve."

Her voice cracked, but she swallowed the tears. There was no time to cry.

She had to find a way to survive in a house where neither she nor her child was loved.

"I need to start working again," she whispered, finally mustering the courage to say it aloud. "If I talk to Dante, he will agree. Lilly is old enough now."

She wasn't willing to wait for him to return home that night. Exhausted, she fell asleep with only one thought in her mind speaking to Dante in the morning.

That night, no one even asked her to prepare supper, which almost felt like a blessing. She slept lightly, clutching that single hope.

Early the next morning, Zara stood outside her former matrimonial bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

She was afraid, but she had no choice. She had to try.

"Come in," a voice replied from inside.

When Dante saw her, his expression darkened. "Oh... it's you," he said, his tone making it painfully clear that had he known it was her, he wouldn't have opened the door.

"What do you want?" he asked, breaking the silence.

Zara swallowed hard. "I I ,need to start working again."

Dante stood before the mirror, adjusting his tie. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet hers, his gaze cold and unreadable.

"Are you serious?" he asked flatly.

Fear crept into Zara's chest, but she forced herself to continue. "You asked me to stop working because Lilly was still young. But now she's older. We can hire a maid, Dante... Please let me work."

Her voice trembled. "The allowance you give me isn't enough. And even if it's not with your company, I can look for another job "

"So why did you come into my room?" Dante cut in sharply.

"I came to get my qualifications," she replied softly. "So I can apply."

For a moment, Dante said nothing. Then, unexpectedly, his voice softened.

"Come," he said calmly. "Follow me downstairs."

The sudden shift sent a chill through Zara. Her heart skipped a beat.

Something told her this was not going to end well

Still, Zara followed him in silence, her fingers crossed, praying he wouldn't do anything cruel.

She was terribly wrong.

When they reached the dining room, her heart dropped. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were already seated at the table, sipping tea as though they had been waiting for a show.

Dante slipped his hands into his pockets and spoke casually. "Mum, look who says she wants to start working."

Zara froze.

"She's even suggesting we hire a maid to handle the chores," he added calmly, "so she can go back to work."

"A maid?" her mother-in-law scoffed. "When we already have you? Who do you think eats for free in this house?"

"As if that would ever happen," her sister-in-law laughed.

Both women chuckled, enjoying the humiliation as they sipped their tea.

"Oh," her sister-in-law mocked, "so she wants to work now."

Dante turned to his sister. "Ann bring  her documents," he said evenly.

She looked at him with curious eyes.

"They're in drawer two," he continued, pulling out a key. "Here take this."

Zara lowered her head, silently praying for mercy.

Moments later, the documents were placed into Dante's hands.

To everyone's shock, he flicked open a lighter.

The flame caught the paper instantly, curling the edges as fire devoured her certificates years of effort, sacrifice, and dreams reduced to ash before her eyes.

"Dante, please stop," Zara begged, her voice breaking as she watched her entire future burn before her eyes. "Please... stop."

She rushed forward, trying to grab the remaining papers before the flames could consume them but Dante shoved her hard. She fell to the ground, pain shooting through her body.

When she looked up, they were laughing.

All of them.

Something inside Zara snapped.

"Please, stop!" she cried, her voice shaking with rage and despair. "What did I ever do to deserve this? What have I done to you?"

She pushed herself up, her eyes blazing. "I am filing for a divorce. I will survive without you."

The sudden outburst stunned them into silence.

Before anyone could respond, small footsteps echoed through the room.

"Mommy!"

Lilly came running and wrapped her arms tightly around Zara.

But before Zara could hold her, Dante bent down and lifted Lilly into his arms.

"Lilly," he said gently, his voice suddenly warm, "do you want to go to the park with Daddy tomorrow ?"

Lilly froze, surprised. She had never heard such softness from him. Slowly, her face lit up.

"Yes, Daddy," she said happily.

Zara's heart clenched. She knew exactly what he was doing.

"And by the way," Dante added casually, "your mum wants to leave us and go away."

Lilly's smile faded. "Why?"

Her grandmother leaned forward with a cruel smile. "Because she doesn't love us anymore."

Zara let out a bitter, pained smirk.

Are they really manipulating a child now? she thought.

Her hands trembled not with fear anymore, but with fury

Dante looked down at Lilly and added softly, "Do you want to leave your daddy?"

She shook her head quickly. "No."

"Then don't let it happen," he said gently, smiling. "Remember, tomorrow we have a playdate."

"Yay!" Lilly cheered, jumping up and down despite her weakness.

Zara froze. She had never seen her daughter this happy . "That's enough, Lilly." Zara said softly 

"Mommy," Lilly pleaded, her eyes filling with fear. "Please don't take me away from Daddy. I want to stay with Daddy."

Zara's chest tightened. "We are not going anywhere," she said firmly.

"Yes!" Lilly smiled again.

At that moment, Zara felt the weight of it all. Filing for divorce would make her look selfish in her daughter's eyes. Yet she knew the truth every ounce of affection Dante showed was fake, carefully staged.

"Lilly, go upstairs first," Dante said calmly. "I need to talk to your mother."

Obediently, Lilly ran off.

The moment she disappeared, Dante's face darkened. His voice dropped into a deadly whisper.

"If you ever mention divorce again," he said, "I will kill you with my own hands."

Zara swallowed hard, fear clawing at her throat.

"Think about lunch," her sister-in-law added casually. "My boyfriend is coming."

They all walked away, laughing, leaving Zara alone in the dining room like nothing had happened.

She stared at the ashes scattered on the floor the remains of her dreams, her hard work, her future.

A faint, painful smile crossed her lips as she swept them away.

"I am only being strong for you, Lilly," she whispered, her voice cold, exhausted, and unbreakable.

Back in Dante's room, 

He  sat with his mother in tense silence.

"I told you this day would come," she said coldly. "But you didn't listen to me, did you?"

Dante ran a hand through his hair. "I thought she was weak," he muttered. "But if she files for divorce... trust me, Mum, you'll have to share property with her."

His mother's eyes hardened.

"Don't even mention sharing," Dante continued bitterly. "Even the small allowance I give her pains me. A large settlement?" He shook his head sharply. "No, Mum. Never."

A slow, calculating smile spread across her face. "Then we proceed with the plan I told you."

Dante stiffened. Fear flickered across his face.

"You know what that plan means," she said quietly.

He swallowed, then nodded.

"We'll make it look like an accident," she went on smoothly. "No one will suspect a thing. By the time the truth surfaces if it ever does she'll already be gone."

Dante nodded again, his hands trembling slightly.

His mother leaned back, satisfied. "That's better," she said calmly.

Outside the room, the house remained silent unaware that a life had just been sentenced.

Back in the kitchen, Zara had finished preparing the table and was wiping her hands when Ann came running toward a young man, throwing her arms around him.

"Thanks for coming!" she exclaimed.

The man smiled warmly, returning the embrace.

Her mother stepped closer. "Mum, this is Henry," Ann said, introducing him. "My boyfriend."

Henry extended his hand politely. "Nice to meet you," he said warmly.

"And Henry, this is Margret my mother," Ann added.

They all exchanged smiles, and Zara lingered in the kitchen, keeping her distance and trying not to draw attention.

"Go to the dining table," Margret directed, and Ann, hand in hand with Henry, followed.

Moments later, Zara was called to bring more soup. She sighed, dried her hands, and carried the pot toward the table. As she reached to serve Henry's plate, she felt his hand brush hers deliberately. She pulled back slightly, telling herself it must have been a mistake. No one else seemed to notice.

Once she returned to the kitchen, she heard Henry ask, "Who is that?"

"Oh," Ann said casually, "that's my brother's wife. But it's like they're no longer married, so don't mind her."

Still, Henry's gaze lingered on Zara. Even from the kitchen, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.

Henry was going to stay the night, so he was given a tour of the house, Ann showing him all the rooms. When she mentioned that Zara stayed alone in her room, he smirked.

Zara was exhausted. The day had drained her physically and emotionally, and all she wanted was rest.

A knock at the door startled her. When she opened it, she saw Henry standing there.

"I'm sorry to bother you at this hour," he said smoothly. "Ann is asleep, but I needed something and didn't want to wake her. I thought you might be up."

Zara felt a chill run down her spine. Something about the way he looked made her uneasy. She hesitated, feeling trapped and unsure.

Henry stepped closer, his smirk widening. "You know," he said, "it must be lonely staying here all alone. It can't be easy."

Panic tightened in her chest. She knew she had to stay calm, think quickly, and find a way to get him out before things escalated.

Before Henry could get any closer, Zara panicked. She slapped him hard and shouted, "Help!"

The noise was loud enough that Margret and Ann came running, only to freeze in shock at the scene in Zara's room. Henry stood there, looking startled, while Zara's nightdress added to the confusion.

"Henry, honey!" Ann cried, grabbing his hands. "This woman is evil! She tried to "

Zara froze, her mind racing. "That's not true! He"

But Henry quickly jumped in with a rehearsed story. "I only came to ask for some water," he said smoothly, "because you said she runs everything here. I didn't want to disturb you since you were sleeping. When I reached her, she grabbed me, and I had no choice but to defend myself. She tried to make it look like I was the aggressor."

Zara's heart pounded. Before she could respond, Ann slapped her across the face. "How dare you try this with my man!"

Just as Henry moved to retaliate again, a strong hand gripped his wrist. Everyone turned in shock.

Dante's eyes blazed. "That's enough," he growled, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

"Ann, my wife didn't do such a thing," Dante said firmly.

Everyone froze. Zara's heart skipped a beat. Was he really siding with her?

Dante turned to Henry, his eyes sharp and cold. "I know you're lying. But it's late, and I don't feel like being a bad man and throwing you out bleeding. It's better for you to leave my house right now."

Zara couldn't believe it. Her husband defending her?

Henry snapped angrily but had no choice. He stormed out, with Ann glaring at Zara before following him. Margret simply walked away, stunned and silent.

Zara stayed frozen, staring at Dante. Is this the same man who burned my documents and pushed me earlier? Why is he siding with me now?

"Zara... are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Dante asked gently.

"No," she whispered, still in shock, unsure what to make of his change in behavior. What is he planning?

Before he left, Dante added softly, "I'm sorry I pushed you. And about the documents... we can get new ones."

He walked away, leaving Zara standing there, stunned. She had never heard him speak to her like that gentle, concerned, almost... kind.

A strange mix of relief and fear settled over her. Is Dante finally coming around?

"Henry, stop!" Ann called, grabbing his arm. "Don't go, it's late."

"But your family thinks I'm a pervert," he protested.

"I don't think so," Ann said softly, her hand still on his arm. "I believe you. Please... don't go."

Henry hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and left. Ann's face darkened with anger. "You're going to pay for this, you woman," she muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, Dante knocked lightly on his mother's room.

She clapped her hands like a proud general. "Genius, my son! Bravissimo! You made her think you care about her, so she'll fall right into our trap."

Dante smiled, his expression cold and calculating. "Yes, Mother. We need to get her out of our way. And about Ann's boyfriend I don't think she could be that shameless."

They both nodded, their hatred for Zara clear, though even they could admit it was obvious she hadn't done anything wrong.

Later, Zara fell asleep with a faint smile, feeling a rare sense of relief. If Dante was truly on her side now, she thought, maybe just maybe things could start to get better.

Early the next morning, Zara went to check on Lilly and was surprised to find Dante happily playing with her daughter.

Her stomach tightened. What is he planning? she wondered.

"Mommy, come here!" Lilly called out. "Daddy's been here since..."

Dante looked up and smiled. "Oh, good morning," he said warmly.

Zara replied cautiously, her voice slow.

"I might not be able to go with you to the park," Dante continued, "I've got work. But I've prepared a car for you to take her around and here are the tickets. Everything's already paid for ."

Zara's eyes widened. She hadn't sat in his cars for ages.

Lilly pouted. "I thought we'd go with you?"

"No, honey," Dante said smoothly, "I got busy. But you're going to have lots and lots of fun."

Zara couldn't help but smile faintly at his words.

He rose from the bed, glanced at Zara, and added, "Okay, safe trip," before turning to leave.

Zara crouched down and said gently, "Okay, little queen, let's get you ready." She helped Lilly dress, and soon they were done.

Happily, Zara led her daughter to the car, already fueled and ready. She helped Lilly into the front seat and fastened her seatbelt.

From the doorway, Dante watched them enter the car, a strange, unreadable smile on his face. 

Dante turned to his mother, a satisfied glint in his eyes. "I think it's done now."

She raised her glass, and they toasted in quiet triumph.

A slow, wicked smile spread across her face. "Well done, my son," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

Dante mirrored her expression, the corners of his mouth curling into a subtle, cold smile. Inside, both were pleased with the trap they had set everything moving exactly as they had planned.