"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.

"Mum," Dante called out, hesitating as if weighing his words.

"Yes, my son?" Margret replied calmly.

"Bella and your grandson are coming to visit you today."

Margret's lips curved into a faint smile. "That's really okay. I would like to finally meet my grandson... and my daughter-in-law."

Dante nodded, but unease lingered in his eyes. "But Mum, are you sure it's okay if they come today?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" she said lightly, placing her glass of wine on the table.

He lowered his voice. "Won't it look suspicious?"

Margret waved it off. "Come on, son. They're only visiting, not staying. Zara's body and the child will be found by tomorrow... or the following day."

Dante exhaled slowly, reassured. "Alright."

She fixed him with a steady look. "You made sure the brakes were properly tampered with?"

"Yes, Mum. The brakes won't work. She'll only realize when it's too late. And the park I sent them to is far from here."

A thin smile spread across Margret's face. "That's my son," she said softly.

Dante nodded. With a faint smile 

Then, suddenly, before he could say anything more, the doorbell rang.

A little boy, slightly older than Lilly, came running in and threw himself into Dante's arms.

"Oh, Daddy! Daddy!" he shouted.

"Being followed by a woman!" Dante laughed, steadying him.

"You're welcome, Mark. Bella, please come in," Dante said, smiling.

Bella entered slowly, taking in the room cautiously.

Margret rose from her chair, a gentle smile on her face. "You're most welcome, my daughter-in-law," she said warmly.

Bella nodded politely, returning the greeting. "Thank you... I'll feel at home," she added softly.

"C'mon, Mark, greet your grandmother,"

Mark wriggled free of Dante's hold and ran toward Margret, hugging her tightly.

"Hello, Granny!" he said with a bright smile.

"Oh, hello, my dear... you smell nice, the little boy said, " Margret blushed  slightly. Oh, this child... he's a genius! she thought, shaking her head in amusement.Thank you my dear . You're also handsome like your father she added .

They all laughed together, the sound warm and light.

Margret's phone rang, and she excused herself briefly, telling Dante to show them around the house while she handled the call.

As they walked, Dante gently took Bella's hand. "Welcome to my house," he said. Bella smiled softly, holding Mark's hand in the other.

"This will be your room," Dante added, leading her into the space Zara and he used to stay in.

Bella looked around, curiosity in her eyes. "What about your wife?" she asked.

"Oh... her?" Dante replied casually. "She's never coming back. You'll just have to pick a day to come here." Bella smiled faintly .

Mark's eyes lit up as he spotted another room. "Daddy! I want this one!" he exclaimed, pointing at Lilly's old room.

"Okay, champ," Dante laughed. "You're going to get it and even more decorated, I promise."

Bella chuckled, shaking her head. "I think we should head back downstairs now," she suggested.

Dante gave a small nod, leading them back, the house now alive with the chatter and laughter of family . Compared to when Zara was around .

In the sitting room, Dante kept staring at his phone as if expecting a call.

Bella noticed his tense expression. "Are you okay?" she asked gently.

"Yes... I'm waiting for my partner to call. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I can put the phone away," he replied calmly.

"No, no, it's okay Bella said Camly but not convinced . Can I prepare anything for you?" He  asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"No, Dante . I already told you over the phone that we are coming in full," she said and "we need to leave early because Mark has to go to  school tomorrow , but let's first say bye to mother ". Bella said as she lifted her hand bag lightly .

"Okay...  Dante lifted the boy, turning him away from the front door.

"Daddy... yes?"  "Who is that woman and that girl standing in the doorway?"  Mark asked, curious.

Dante froze, his heart pounding, as his gaze lifted to the doorway.

Standing there, hand in hand, were Zara and Lilly  both fully unharmed.

Even Margret, coming down the stairs, stopped in shock, her mouth slightly open.

Zara's eyes widened as she recognized the woman from before the same woman who had been with Dante the last time and her confusion deepened when she realized the little boy was calling him "Daddy."

"Dante," Bella snapped, stepping forward, her voice sharp. "You said they were never coming back. Why are they here?"

Dante didn't answer. He was frozen, caught in a moment that none of them could have predicted.

Zara stepped closer with Lilly, bewildered, trying to make sense of the house, the people, and the strange, impossible scene unfolding before her.

Confused, Dante glanced at his mother, who was still frozen at the foot of the stairs.

"Dante," Zara asked, stepping forward, her voice sharp, "do you care to explain what's happening? And who is this woman? Why is her child calling you 'Daddy'?"

Dante opened his mouth to speak, but seeing Zara alive rendered him completely speechless.

Bella stepped forward boldly. "I am the mother of his heir... and his first love," she said calmly.

Zara froze for a moment, then a bitter, sarcastic smile tugged at her lips. "So I was right about this... when I first saw you in the hospital with her."

Lilly looked between them, confused. She didn't understand a thing.

Margret's hands flew to her face. "This can't be... no, this can't be..." she muttered. Her eyes darted around, stunned, trying to make sense of it all she said as she was coming from up stairs .

She ran sharply to Zara. "Which car did you take this morning?"

Zara hesitated. "Uh... wait, talk first..."

Margret shook her firmly. "A cab? You didn't take the car?"

"No... I didn't take the car," Zara said. "Ann took it."

Margret's eyes widened as she looked at Dante. "It's Ann who got into the accident... not Zara and her child."

The room fell into stunned silence, the weight of realization pressing down on them all. Dante's face was drained of color, Bella's expression remained unreadable because of the confusion and Zara clutched Lilly's hand, trying to process the truth.