"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.

Dante rushed to his mother, quickly setting little Mark down.

"Mum, what's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?" he asked desperately.

"We... we need to go to the hospital. Now!"

"Why? What happened?" Dante's voice trembled with anxiety.

"Because..." she stuttered, her hands shaking. "Because it was Ann who took the car!"

Dante froze, stunned.

"But Mum I saw Zara start the car with my own eyes."

"I don't know what happened," she whispered helplessly. "But it's Ann... my child... who got into the accident instead of that woman and her child. It's my daughter who is barely alive instead of her..."

Zara had already sensed something, but hearing the full truth made her legs weaken. She didn't speak. She just stared at them in horror. Who were these people? How cruel could they be... to plan an accident for their own blood?

Dante turned to Bella, who looked sad not because of guilt, but because only Ann had been hurt, not Zara like they had planned.

"Bella, go home. I'll call you," he said coldly.

He then helped his mother up and rushed to the hospital completely ignoring Zara, who stood frozen, gripping Lilly's tiny hands tightly.

Zara tried to stay strong, fighting back tears, but it was too much to bear. When she finally looked at Lilly, she thought the child hadn't understood. But to her shock, Lilly's eyes were filled with tears.

"Lilly..." Zara whispered, kneeling beside her.

"Mum..." Lilly's little voice trembled. "Grandma wanted us to get into an accident... like in those movies."

Zara's heart shattered.

"No... sweetheart, that's not what you heard," she tried to deny it, desperate to protect her.

But Lilly burst into tears.

"I heard her! She said she wanted us to die! Is Granny... a bad person? They don't like us... do they, Mum?"

Zara finally broke down. Every day she had endured humiliation, pain, and torment just so her daughter would never know the darkness of this family. But now Lilly knew everything.

Pulling her daughter into a tight embrace, Zara cried with her.

"We're leaving," she whispered fiercely, hugging Lilly as they both sobbed. "We're leaving... and we're never coming back."

They stood frozen in horror when they finally saw Ann unconscious, her legs and arms badly injured. Tubes ran across her fragile body, machines beeping steadily beside her.

"Dante..." Margaret whispered, her voice trembling. "How did this happen?"

"Mum... I I don't know," Dante choked out, pain filling his chest. "I just pray she survives this... that's all I want."

Margaret let out a long, shaky sigh.

"And Dante... listen carefully. No matter what happens, you must never tell her the truth. If she ever finds out what we did... she will never forgive us."

Dante swallowed hard and nodded silently.

Moments later, the doctor entered the room.

"We've completed the examination," he said. "According to the police report, the car had no brakes. It was a total mechanical failure."

The guilty duo shared a silent, heavy breath of relief.

"But thank God," the doctor continued, "she didn't lose much blood, and her vital signs are stable. She will live. However... her legs have taken severe damage. She may take a very long time to walk again... or she may never walk again."

Margaret felt something tear inside her chest. Dante dragged a shaky hand down his face, guilt burning deeper into his soul.

After the doctor left, Margaret broke down, hugging Dante tightly.

"I'm so sorry, my child..." she whispered to Ann from a distance, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You weren't meant to suffer this. This wasn't for you. It was meant for that useless Zara and her brat!"

She cursed Zara bitterly, as if Zara were the cause of everything and not their own cruelty.

"Mum," Dante said suddenly. "Zara heard everything earlier. What if she reports us?"

Margaret's eyes widened, then hardened coldly.

"She won't," she snapped. "She knows what I'm capable of. Let her try we will deal with her later. Just hearing her name irritates me."

Dante nodded silently, defeated.

That night, the two of them remained in the hospital, sitting in silence beside Ann's bed haunted by guilt, fear, and the consequences of their own wickedness.

In the morning, after returning from the hospital to freshen up, Dante and Margaret stepped into the living room only to freeze.

Zara stood there, a suitcase by her side, her face pale but determined. She wasn't crying anymore. Her silence spoke louder than any scream. Lilly stood beside her, clutching Zara's hand tightly, fear still lingering in her eyes.

"I've signed the divorce papers."

The room froze. Shock rippled across every face. Before any of them could utter a word, she lifted her chin and continued.

"Don't panic," she said calmly. "I don't want a single penny from either of you."

They stared at her, confused, trying to understand what she was planning.

"Because I know," her voice hardened, anger burning beneath the surface, "that money is exactly why you both tried to end my life... and my daughter's. You shameless people."

Their gazes dropped instantly, guilt tightening their throats.

"And in case you're wondering how your plan failed," she added sharply, "Ann insisted that was the car she wanted. She practically dragged us toward it. And since I'm already used to you all being cruel, I didn't argue. But look where that decision led us."

They sighed quietly, humiliation coating the air between them.

"But hear me clearly," she said, eyes cold and unwavering. "You will not get away with this."

"And what exactly are you going to do?" Margret snapped, her tone strong though guilt trembled behind it. "You're an orphan. You have no one. And we are rich." Dante nodded in agreement beside her.

A slow, dark smile touched her lips. "Maybe I have nothing now," she said softly, dangerously. "But I will be back. And trust me... I'll savor every second of my revenge."

A chill swept through the room. The atmosphere turned heavy.

Without another word, she brushed past them, tightening her grip around Lilly's small hand. And as she walked away, all they could do was watch fear silently settling in their hearts.

When Zara stepped out of the house, she glanced down at her baby. She expected the familiar sting of heartbreak... but instead, she felt free. For the first time in years, the weight pressing on her chest was gone. A faint smile tugged at her lips. That grand mansion behind her was nothing but a palace of wickedness and she was finally out of it.

They stood by the roadside, a little distance away from the estate. She had ordered an Uber, but it was taking longer than expected. Just then, the sky darkened out of nowhere and heavy rain began to pour.

"Oh, come on..." Zara muttered, staring up at the sky in disbelief. "It was clear a second ago."

She looked around desperately and spotted a small shelter. She hurried there with Lilly, but the child was already shivering. Panic stabbed through her chest.

"Oh my God Lilly!" she cried, her voice trembling.

She quickly rummaged through her bag, pulling out a jacket and wrapping it around the little girl, but it was already too late. Lilly's tiny body was shaking uncontrollably.

Guilt tore at Zara's heart as rain splashed against her, soaking her completely. She stood in front of Lilly, shielding her with her own body. Fear clawed up her throat Lilly had only just recovered, and now here she was again, out in the cold, in the rain.

"Even if it means I get soaked... you're going to be okay," Zara whispered to her daughter, more like a promise than reassurance.

Just then, headlights appeared through the curtain of rain. The cab finally pulled up.

The drenched pair hurried inside.

"I'm so sorry for being late, ma'am the traffic was terrible," the driver said.

"It's okay," Zara breathed, not even thinking about herself as she focused on drying Lilly. She dug back into her bag, pulling out warmer clothes and gently dressing her daughter while her own clothes clung to her skin.

Nothing in her life ever went the way she planned. The thought burned painfully in her chest.

"Ma'am... where should I drop you?" the driver asked gently.

Reality hit her.

Zara had nowhere to go.

She had grown up in an orphanage... besides that place, the world outside felt strange and unfamiliar. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Anywhere with a cheap hotel," she murmured. "Somewhere we can stay tonight."

The driver nodded, but as he drove, he kept glancing at the mirror. There was sadness in her eyes that spoke louder than any words.

When they arrived, Zara stepped out and reached for her bag, then pulled out money to pay him.

But the driver shook his head.

"Take it as my apology... for being late and making you get caught in the rain," he said softly.

She tried to insist, but he refused with a kind smile.

Zara froze for a moment, staring at him. After everything she had endured... she wondered if people like him still existed.

The duo entered the small hotel quietly, their footsteps echoing softly against the dimly lit lobby floor. After booking a room for the night, they made their way upstairs. The room wasn't big, but it was enough. It was warm. Safe. And for Zara, that was more than she'd had in a long time.

"Lilly, my love," she whispered gently as she settled her daughter on the bed. "Let me cover you so you can get warm while I freshen up, okay?"

Lilly weakly nodded. Zara tucked her in carefully, wrapping the blanket securely around her tiny body. Then she headed toward the bathroom.

The moment the cold water hit her skin, a memory stabbed into her mind Margaret pouring freezing water over her simply because she'd made a mistake. Zara's chest tightened.

They had always been cruel. Always.

She sighed, forcing the memory away, finishing her bath despite the chill. When she stepped back into the room, relief instantly shattered into panic.

Lilly was shaking.

"Lilly?" Zara rushed forward, her voice trembling. "What's wrong?"

She touched her.

Her skin was burning.

"No... no, no," Zara whispered, panic flooding her chest. Lilly had only just begun recovering and now the rain had made everything worse.

Heart pounding, she frantically searched through their bag for medicine.

Nothing.

They hadn't brought any.

She tucked Lilly back under the covers and stroked her hair. "Stay strong for Mommy, okay? I'm coming back. I promise." Her voice cracked as she forced herself to move.

She burst out of the room and sprinted into the night like a madwoman, the world around her blurring as she desperately searched for a pharmacy. At last, she found one, breathlessly buying the medication before racing back as fast as her legs could carry her.

She dropped to her knees beside the bed the moment she reached Lilly, gently helping her take the medicine. Then she wrapped her arms around her, holding her close, praying silently.

"Please... please get better."

Lilly wasn't just her daughter.

She was her hope.

Her strength.

Her reason to live.