As soon as Marielle finished the phone call in her bedroom, she took a deep breath and placed the phone on the bed.For a moment, she remained seated.Something about the conversation had left her uneasy, although she couldn't quite explain why.She knew Cynthia had already left.She knew the dinner had not gone according to the plan she had agreed to.But she still hadn't considered what might have happened to the food.Then she suddenly remembered.The dining table.The food.She had left everything downstairs.Marielle's heart began beating faster.She immediately stood up and hurried out of the bedroom.She rushed down the stairs.The moment she entered the living room, she froze.Her eyes went straight to the dining table.The plate that had been prepared for Cynthia was no longer untouched.A significant portion of the food was gone.Her son's chair was pulled out.Her son was still sitting there.Marielle's face went pale."No!"The scream escaped her mouth before she could sto

Elias stood by the wide glass window of his study, his hands clasped firmly behind his back as he stared out at the sprawling estate below. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawns, but there was no warmth in his eyes. His expression was hard, set, as though he had already made a decision that could not be undone.Behind him, Cynthia stood near the door, her fingers nervously gripping the strap of her handbag. She had been summoned, not invited—that much was clear. And whenever her father used that tone, it never meant anything good.“Come closer,” Elias said without turning.Cynthia hesitated for a moment, then walked forward. Each step felt heavier than the last. She already knew what this was about. It had been the only thing they had argued about for days now—Antonio.When she finally stopped a few feet behind him, Elias turned slowly. His eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unyielding.“I will not repeat myself too many times,” he began, his voice low but firm.

The following morning, Antonio woke before Cynthia.For several minutes, he simply lay beside her, watching her sleep.The events of the previous day had changed everything.Before, he had worried about Cynthia's jealousy, Elaine's bitterness, and the tension created by his decision to marry Elaine as a second wife.Now, none of those things seemed important.Someone had deliberately tried to take Cynthia's life.And their newborn son had nearly become a victim of the same plan.Antonio quietly got out of bed.He walked into the nursery and found the baby sleeping peacefully.He stood beside the crib for a long time.The sight of his son filled him with an overwhelming sense of responsibility.He had fought enemies before.He had survived blackmail.He had been publicly accused of things he had never done.But this was different.This time, the person he loved most had been placed directly in danger.His phone rang.Antonio stepped out of the nursery before answering.“Hello?”It was

Antonio remained motionless after the phone call.Cynthia watched him carefully.“Who is it?”Antonio did not answer immediately.He seemed to be trying to convince himself that what he had just heard could not possibly be true.“Antonio?”He finally looked at her.“The police found evidence that someone else helped Elaine.”“Who?”Antonio swallowed.“Daniel.”Cynthia's eyes widened.“Daniel?”“Yes.”She remembered him immediately.Daniel was the man who had once accompanied Elaine to Antonio's mansion, begging him to take her back.“He helped Elaine?”“That is what the police believe.”Cynthia stared at Antonio.“But why?”“I don't know.”Antonio picked up his phone again.His lawyer was still on the line.“Tell me exactly what they found.”“We don't have the complete picture yet,” the lawyer replied. “But investigators discovered communications between Daniel and Elaine. They have also found financial transfers.”“Transfers?”“Yes.”“How much?”“Several payments. Not all of them are

For several months, peace finally returned to Antonio's household.The scandal surrounding Elaine slowly faded from the headlines.The court proceedings continued, but Antonio deliberately kept his distance from the media. He refused to give interviews about Elaine or discuss the death of Marielle's son publicly.As far as he was concerned, there was nothing left to say.Elaine had made her choices.Daniel had made his.The former executive assistant had made hers.And each of them now had to live with the consequences.Antonio focused on Cynthia and their son.He spent more time at home.He occasionally took Cynthia out for dinner, and on weekends, the three of them would spend hours together in the garden.For the first time since his marriage to Elaine, Antonio felt that his home was truly peaceful.But peace did not mean that everyone had forgotten.One afternoon, Cynthia was sitting in the living room with the baby when Antonio walked in.He looked unusually cheerful.She immedia