“Don’t ever come back here again!” Evangelia’s voice rang sharp, slicing through the silence of the room. Her jeweled fingers pointed at Andrea like a dagger. “I don’t want my daughter associating with a penniless man like you. Finally—finally—the day has come when we can erase this bad luck from our lives.” Her laugh was cold, echoing against the marble walls like a curse. Maria clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. Rage burned through her veins. She wanted to launch at Evangelia, to wipe that cruel smirk off her face. But before she could take a step, Andrea’s steady hand found her wrist, a silent restraint. His touch was gentle, firm—a reminder. Not here. Not like this. He didn’t want to fight. Not in front of Selena. Not in front of the family who looked at him like he was dirt on their expensive shoes. He only wanted to gather his belongings and leave with whatever dignity remained. “Let’s go,” Andrea said quietly, his voice even, though his eyes betrayed a

Chapter 13 Sofia’s knuckles whitened around her phone as she forced her lips into a thin, practiced smile. She turned to Nikolai, who was still watching her with that faint, knowing look. “It’s nothing,” she said coldly, her voice clipped, dismissive. Her tone was meant to be final, but the tremor in her fingers betrayed the storm roiling beneath her calm façade. Nikolai leaned back against the lounge chair, feigning indifference as he flipped a page of the magazine in his lap. But his eyes never truly left her. They glittered with quiet amusement, watching her unravel piece by piece. Sofia dropped her gaze to her phone screen. Her thumb hesitated for a moment before she pressed Andrea’s name in her contacts. The familiar name, the familiar photo—it had once been her lifeline, her comfort. She told herself he would answer. He had to answer. The call rang once. Twice. Then—nothing. Her heart sank. Frowning, she tried again. This time, the screen flashed a curt message: “This numb

Chapter 15 Nikolai’s smirk wavered only briefly before he leaned forward, his voice calm, persuasive, as if he had been waiting for this very accusation. “You misunderstand me, Sofia,” he said smoothly, his tone dripping with practiced sincerity. “Yes, I sent those messages to Andrea. But do you know why? It wasn’t out of malice. It was because I discovered something—something you deserve to know.” Sofia’s eyes narrowed, suspicion warring with curiosity. “And what is that supposed to mean?” Nikolai let out a slow sigh, his gaze heavy with feigned sorrow. “Andrea… cheated on you.” The room froze. Evangelia gasped sharply, her hands flying to her mouth. The word cheated echoed against the walls like a curse, filling the space with suffocating silence. Sofia’s heart jolted. “You’re lying,” she whispered, though her voice trembled. “Andrea would never—” Nikolai cut her off gently, shaking his head. “I didn’t want to tell you this way. I wanted to protect you. But when I caught him…

Chapter 17 Sofia’s hand shook as she lowered her phone. Andrea’s final words echoed in her head like a curse: “Truth doesn’t stay buried forever… and you’ll regret this.” Her chest heaved with anger. She had never—never—heard Andrea speak to her in such a tone before. Always, he had endured, explaining, apologizing, even when he had done nothing wrong. But now… he had spoken to her like a stranger. Cold. Detached. Almost as if she no longer mattered. Her jaw clenched, fury and humiliation twisting her beautiful face. Evangelia, who had been pacing impatiently, noticed her daughter’s dark expression and hurried over. “What did that penniless bastard say to you? Did he beg for forgiveness? Did he admit he stole from us?” Sofia bit her lip, unwilling to admit that Andrea hadn’t begged at all—instead, he had thrown his accusations back at her. She kept silent, but Evangelia’s sharp eyes caught the trembling in her hands. Then Evangelia suddenly asked, her voice shrill, “Sofia, tell

Chapter 19 Sofia stood in front of the mirror, fastening the delicate clasp of her necklace before smoothing the folds of her dress. Her reflection stared back at her, weary but determined. The woman in the mirror no longer looked as carefree as she once had; her eyes carried shadows, and her lips were pressed into a line of silent resolve. She picked up her handbag from the dresser and drew in a steadying breath. When she stepped out of her bedroom, she found Nikolai waiting patiently in the living room. The boy sat upright, hands folded neatly on his lap, but the restless tapping of his foot betrayed his nerves. He looked up as soon as she entered, his expression softening with relief. “You’re ready,” he said quietly. Sofia gave him a small nod. “Yes. Thank you for waiting.” Before they could leave, Evangelia emerged from the dining room, wiping her hands on a folded cloth. Her eyes swept over her daughter, worry etched deeply into her features. “Should I go with you?” she aske