The scent of saltwater and sun-kissed sand filled the air as Darwin and I stepped onto the private resort’s dock. The sea stretched endlessly before us, a serene contrast to the storm of emotions brewing within me.

This vacation was supposed to be a chance to clear my mind—to let go of the doubts that had taken root in my heart. Yet, despite Darwin’s attempts to make things right, the memory of that night—the almost-kiss between him and Lillia—still haunted me.

Lillia had insisted on bringing a friend, someone she claimed to be an old classmate. I hadn't objected. In fact, I welcomed it. If she had someone else to keep her company, then Darwin and I could focus on each other.

And that’s exactly what he did.

For the past three days, Darwin had been nothing but attentive. He planned private dinners, sunset walks, and whispered sweet reassurances in my ear. He even went as far as apologizing over and over, making it clear that what had happened with Lillia was nothing more than an accident.

"Iris," he murmured one evening as we lay beneath the stars. "I love you so much. I can't live without you."

I smiled and let him kiss me. His lips pressed against mine, slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment. His hands found my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies were flush, heat radiating between us. My breath hitched as his fingers traced a path up my spine, sending a shiver through me. I clung to him, my hands sliding beneath his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin. He exhaled softly against my lips as I lifted the fabric over his head and let it fall to the floor.

He met my gaze, something unspoken passing between us before his lips found my neck, pressing soft, lingering kisses down to my shoulder. My own hands explored the contours of his body, feeling every dip, every muscle beneath my fingertips. Clothes slipped away, piece by piece, until there was nothing left between us but the quiet hum of anticipation. The world outside faded, time slowing as we sank into each other, lost in the heat, in the moment, in us.

When we returned home, I almost felt normal again. Almost.

Darwin had barely unpacked before he was already preparing for an international business trip. I should’ve been used to it by now—he traveled often—but this time, his absence left me uneasy. We had only just made up, and now we were about to be apart again.

---

Left alone in the house with only Lillia and the staff, I made the decision to keep my distance. Lillia was polite, almost too polite, and I wasn’t sure if it was an act or genuine. Either way, I didn’t want to deal with her.

I let the staff accommodate her. If she needed anything, they would handle it. I had no reason to interact with her more than necessary.

I thought this would keep things peaceful.

I was wrong.

The first sign was subtle—so subtle I almost missed it.

One evening, as I passed by the main hall, I heard hushed voices. The maids were whispering among themselves, their expressions grave.

"She barely speaks to her…"

"I heard she hasn’t even had a meal with Miss Lillia since Sir Darwin left."

"It must be difficult for her. Being in a house with someone who doesn’t want her."

I clenched my jaw but kept walking. It was just idle gossip. Nothing more.

But it didn’t stop there.

Another day, I found Lillia sitting alone in the garden, gazing down at a fading bruise on her wrist. A passing housekeeper noticed and gasped.

"Miss Lillia, what happened?!"

Lillia looked up, startled, then shook her head quickly. "It’s nothing! I just—" She paused as if debating whether to continue. "Iris was in a bad mood yesterday. I think I upset her…"

My blood ran cold.

She was lying. I hadn’t even spoken to her the day before.

The housekeeper’s face darkened. She whispered something to another staff member. I turned on my heel and left before I could say something I would regret.

The incidents continued.

Small things. Things I couldn’t directly confront her about.

She would flinch when I walked by—just enough for people to notice. She would glance at my hands as if expecting me to hit her. She would sit at the farthest end of the dining table, picking at her food like a mistreated child.

It was all so carefully orchestrated, and I realized too late that she had set the stage for something bigger.

The breaking point came a week later.

I was in the kitchen, stirring a pot of noodles, when Lillia strolled in. She took a seat at the counter, watching me with an almost amusing expression.

"You must be happy now that Darwin has been ignoring me," she said suddenly.

I didn’t bother looking at her. "It’s ‘Father’ for you."

She laughed, a slow, taunting sound. "I’ll call him whatever I want. Because soon, he’ll abandon you for me."

I finally turned to her, my grip on the ladle tightening. "So, you really are a wolf in sheep’s clothing," I said with a smirk. "I had a feeling, but I didn’t expect you to be this bold."

She tilted her head, studying me. "I’ve liked Darwin since we were kids, you know," she mused. "Although he only thinks of me as a little sister or daughter right now. I’ll make sure that changes."

I chuckled darkly. "You're going to be out of this country before you even have a chance to do something."

Lillia’s expression twisted. "No, I won’t let you separate me from Darwin!"

In an instant, she grabbed the pot of boiling noodles and lifted it. My body reacted before my mind did—I raised my hand to stop her. But just as I moved, she suddenly let go, redirecting the steaming hot broth toward herself.

She screamed. Loudly.

A housekeeper burst into the kitchen, her eyes widening in horror at the sight of Lillia clutching her arm, red skin peeking through.

Lillia looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"I’m sorry, Iris… I didn’t mean to upset you!" she wailed, her voice cracking.

The housekeeper's gaze snapped at me, judgment clear in her expression.

I opened my mouth to explain, but stopped myself.

What was the point?

"Treat her burn," I said coldly before turning to leave.

I didn’t know that this was only the beginning.

---

For the next few days, I noticed how the staff started to act differently around me. They were more distant, their greetings colder.

Then I heard it.

"Miss Lillia has been suffering… bruises, small cuts… She’s always running to us, trembling. I think she’s scared."

I gritted my teeth. It was working. She had successfully turned them against me.

The final blow came on the day Darwin was set to return.

I was passing through the hall when Lillia suddenly appeared. Her face streaked with fake tears. She stepped close, just enough so only I could hear.

"I know you hate me," she whispered, voice trembling. "But stop hurting me… or I’ll have no choice but to sue you."

I clenched my fists. "You’re delusional."

She leaned closer, a sinister smile curling her lips. "Tonight, Darwin will choose. Watch how he fucks me in this very house."

I slapped her before I could stop myself.

The moment my hand met her cheek, the staff rushed in, shouting. The house erupted into chaos.

And then—Darwin arrived.

His eyes flickered to the red mark on Lillia’s face, then to the wounds on her arms.

I exhaled slowly.

Shit. I had walked straight into her trap.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the door as Darwin’s voice echoed through the room.

"Iris, talk to me. Let's talk this out—"

I pulled the comforter over my head, my nails digging into the fabric. My heart pounded in my chest. Maybe… maybe he had come to apologize. Maybe he had finally seen the truth. After all, I had told him to check the CCTV. That should have been enough to prove I never laid a hand on Lillia.

I sat up, my breath catching in my throat as I waited for his next words.

But what he said next made my stomach twist.

"Iris, I don’t know what’s going on in your mind right now, but I already told you that what happened back then was just a mistake. So why must you hurt the child, huh?"

My body went cold. "W-What? You still don't believe me after I told you to check the CCTV?"

Darwin let out a frustrated sigh. "I did. And what I saw… I just don’t understand. The footage shows Lillia entering the library, and then you follow. After you leave, she comes out with bruises and tears. It all happens for weeks now. And then the kitchen—maybe I could overlook that one incident, but the rest, Iris… it all points to the truth she’s been saying."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. No. This wasn’t real. This wasn’t happening. But Darwin's face was set in stone, his eyes heavy with disappointment.

"You really think I would do something like that?" My voice was barely above a whisper. "You think I’m some kind of monster?"

He didn’t answer. And in that silence, my heart shattered.

I wanted to scream, to shake him, to make him see that Lillia was playing with him. But I could see it now—no matter what I said, he had already made up his mind.

So I laughed. A bitter, broken laugh. "You're a fool, Darwin. A goddamn fool."

His jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "And you… you've become someone I don’t even recognize."

He turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give him—or her—the satisfaction of breaking me.

---

The next morning, Darwin came to me, his expression softer than last night, his hesitation palpable. "Iris... about last night. I—"

He sighed, placing his black card on the bedside table. "Take this. Go out, unwind. Do something for yourself."

I looked at the card, then at him, my heart clenched tight. Was this an apology? Guilt flickered in his eyes, but before I could grasp it, he shattered the moment.

"Take Lillia with you. Apologize to her, and try to get along."

I scoffed, a bitter laugh slipping past my lips. "Get along? After what you accused me of? You think throwing money at me will make me play nice with her?"

Darwin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Iris, I just want things to work. I don’t want to keep fighting."

Lillia, standing behind him, clutched her hands together, her voice small. "I understand if you don’t want to, Mom... I don’t want to force you."

Mom. That single word, spoken so delicately, tightened the noose around my neck. She knew exactly what she was doing, making Darwin look at me like I was the cruel one.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "No. If you want to believe I mistreat her, believe it. But I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do."

Darwin exhaled heavily, rubbing a hand down his face. "Iris—"

I snatched the card and walked past him, my chest burning with unspoken words. Let him feel guilty. Let him stew in it.

---

I met my friends at the mall, needing an escape. Maxine, my best friend, listened intently as I told her everything. Her sharp eyes darkened with understanding.

"That girl is dangerous," she murmured. "You need to be careful."

The others arrived soon after, and I didn’t feel comfortable talking anymore. I knew how easy it was for rumors to spread, and I wouldn’t risk the family business because of Lillia’s games.

And then I saw her.

Lillia with my brother.

They strolled past the storefronts, Elias laughing as if nothing in the world could touch them. Lillia’s gaze caught mine, and her eyes widened in mock surprise, a perfect picture of innocence.

“What the hell are you two doing together?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

Elias raised an eyebrow. “What’s your problem? I bumped into Lillia, and we’ve just been hanging out. Chill.”

“Yeah,” Lillia added softly, her lips quivering just enough to suggest vulnerability. “Dad told me to unwind, and I ran into Elias. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

My friends glanced between us, uncomfortable with my outburst. One of them tried to lighten the mood. “Iris, you know your brother even he's playboy he knows his boundaries. Relax.”

Elias isn't my concern, I'm more concern at what this little bitch is planning again.

Lillia lowered her gaze, the perfect picture of a wounded angel. “I’m sorry if I upset you, Mom. I just... I thought it would be nice to get to know your brother. Family’s important, right?”

My jaw clenched. The way she said “Mom” twisted the knife deeper. Every time she used that word, it was like staking her claim over something precious to me.

“Go home,” I bit out. The command was sharp, brutal.

My friends recoiled. “Iris, you’re overreacting.”

Another of them patted Lillia’s shoulder. “Don't be like that, Iris. Here, have a seat.”

“Take another seat,” Maxine interjected, her disdain evident as she pushed her chair back.

The others chuckled awkwardly. “Max is just grumpy. Sit here, Lillia. Don’t mind her.”

Lillia slid into the offered seat, her shoulders drawn inward, her eyes glassy like she was holding back tears. It was such an act—perfectly curated to paint me as the villain.

She played the role so well that by the time we left the café, my friends were singing her praises. I forced a smile as they departed, but my nails dug into my palms so hard I drew blood.

Maxine remained at my side, her gaze burning with intensity as she muttered. “You’re right about her. And if I were you, take her away from your life immediately.”

Before I could answer, Elias approached, arms folded. “By the way, Iris, you should visit Mom soon. She’s been asking about you.”

I sighed, rubbing my temple. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Can I come too, Mom?” Lillia asked sweetly, her voice a little too hopeful. “I want to meet Grandma.”

I opened my mouth to refuse, but Elias cut in, his tone dismissive. “That’s a great idea. It’s time she meets the family.”

“No.” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “You’re not coming.”

Lillia’s lower lip trembled, her shoulders slumping. “It’s okay. I understand.”

Elias scowled. “Why are you being so cruel? If you don’t want to take her, then I will. I’ll introduce her as my friend.”

He grabbed Lillia’s wrist and stormed off, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding with rage and frustration. She’d turned him against me, too. I click my tounge angrily and follow them.

After I visit my parents, I went home alone. Darwin asked about Lillia, but I ignored him. I could hear Elias and Lillia’s voices entering the house as Darwin welcomed them. I didn’t stop, heading straight to my room, straight to the shower. The cool water barely helped.

Just as I wrapped myself in a bathrobe, Darwin entered the room. He cleared his throat.

"L-Let’s talk..."

We talked calmly. I explained everything, every last detail. Darwin listened, really listened. I could see him trying to piece it together, trying to believe me. But then he brought up the CCTV footage—the supposed evidence that showed me hurting Lillia.

"I don’t know anything about her being there," I told him honestly.

He was quiet for a long moment before nodding. "I’ll trust you. Because you’re my wife. But this can’t happen again. To avoid any more problems, I’ll send Lillia abroad to study."

I was stunned. He was choosing me.

The next morning, Darwin had already left for work when I stepped downstairs, feeling lighter than I had in days. But then I saw her.

"You look happy," Lillia said, her voice sickly sweet.

I smirked. "I am. Because tomorrow, your little bitch ass will be gone."

Lillia’s expression darkened. "That isn’t true. You’re lying. Say you’re lying!" She grabbed my wrists, desperation in her eyes.

I was about to bask in my victory when her lips curled into a smirk.

"That’s what you expect me to say? Hahaha, naive." Her voice was cold. "I still have one last card. Let’s see how long Darwin’s love lasts."

Then, before I could react, she yanked my hand and threw herself backward.

She tumbled down the stairs.

A scream ripped through the house. The staff rushed to her, their panicked voices echoing off the walls. My breath caught in my throat.

---

"She’s fine," the doctor said.

Darwin nodded but then turned to me, eyes cold. "Follow me. We need to talk."

Inside the car, his hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Seriously, Iris? What the hell is wrong with you? First, I try to believe you about the bullying, and now you nearly kill her? We already agreed she’d go abroad! So why the hell would you do this?!"

"I-I didn’t do anything."

"Like you always say! But there’s a witness this time!" His voice cracked with anger. "I let the bullying accusations slide, but this is my last straw. You will apologize to her."

"I said I didn’t do it! I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do!"

"Iris! Apologize to Lillia right now, or I will take you to the police! Because if she doesn’t accept your apology, that’s exactly where you’ll end up!"

I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. Darwin dragged me to her room.

Lillia was awake, being fed by Darwin’s mother. When Mrs. Richards saw me, she slapped me across the face.

"How dare you?" she spat.

I clenched my fists, swallowing my pride. Darwin let it all happen. Then he looked at me. "Apologize. Now."

I looked around the room—Darwin, his mother, the staff. All eyes on me.

"I’m sorry," I forced out.

But Lillia just stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, she smiled.

"I could accept your apology if this was just about me," she said, her voice trembling. "But what I can’t forgive is you trying to hide the truth."

"What truth?" Darwin’s eyes darted between us.

Lillia looked at me. I looked back, confused.

Then she started crying. "I’m sorry, Dad. But it seems Ms. Iris here has been deceiving you all along."

My stomach twisted. "What the hell are you talking about?"

She pulled something from her pocket. A bracelet.

My blood ran cold. That bracelet. The one I lost the night I saved Darwin.

"I just found out from the staff that your relationship with Iris started because she rescued you, right? But that wasn’t her." Lillia’s voice was shaking now. "It was me."

She held up a photo. "Elias told me everything. Iris was just an adopted daughter. She wasn’t even raised in Madelve. There’s no way she could have been the one who saved you."

I felt the ground slip beneath me. "That’s not true! That bracelet—!"

Darwin’s eyes bore into me. Doubt creeping in.

"That’s not all," Lillia continued. "I also learned that Iris has been transferring money to her own account. From the family business."

The room fell into silence.

Then, slowly, Darwin turned to me. His expression is unreadable.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but nothing came out.

Lillia smiled. "Check the accounts if you don’t believe me."

Darwin didn’t say a word. He pulled out his phone. The silence that followed was suffocating. Darwin’s fingers flew across the screen, checking the account logs. His jaw tightened. His face fell.

"Iris..." he whispered. "Everything matches. The transactions… they were routed through your credentials."

My mouth went dry. "No… That’s not possible. Darwin, I swear—this isn’t me. I don’t even have access to that account!"

Mrs. Richards scoffed. “Spare us the crocodile tears.”

Then Lillia sat up in bed, her voice suddenly trembling, fragile. “I didn’t want to believe it either. I thought… maybe it was just a mistake. But then I found this.”

She picked up her phone from beside the pillow and handed it to Darwin. "I was going to delete it. But I couldn’t… I just couldn’t hide it anymore."

Darwin hit play. The footage showed a dimly lit room. A woman sat across from a man in a hoodie, her face partially obscured—but the voice was unmistakable.

My voice.

“I don’t care how you do it. The Richards family is so gullible, it was ridiculously easy to get money from them. But Lillia’s starting to figure something out. Get rid of her before she destroys everything.”

I stumbled backward. “No, she's framing me up! That's not me! Darwin, you have to believe me!”

He stared at the screen, unmoving.

"Darwin... You know I would never say that. Believe me please..."

Lillia shook her head, eyes shining with tears. “I tried to give her a chance. I even kept quiet about the real bracelet. But… she left me no choice.”

Darwin’s hand dropped to his side. “You need to leave, Iris. Right now. Before I call the authorities myself.”

“N-No...” I whispered. “Please—Darwin, don’t do this.”

But he didn’t move. He didn’t even look at me.

Mrs. Richards glared at me and turned to the guards outside. “Escort her out. Make sure she doesn’t come back.”

Two men entered.

I screamed. “Don’t touch me! Darwin—look at me! You said you trusted me! You said you—!”

But he didn’t even flinch.

As I was dragged down the hallway, I heard Lillia's cries.

“I didn’t want it to end this way... I really didn’t.”

The doors slammed shut behind me.

---

Inside the room, the mood shifted.

Darwin let out a long breath and rubbed a hand down his face. Lillia sat propped against her pillows, the image of quiet heartbreak. Her lower lip trembled as she looked at him with wide, vulnerable eyes.

“I just… I didn’t know what else to do,” she said, voice shaking. “I didn’t want to believe it either. But it was all right there…”

“You did the right thing,” he said gently. “I know this wasn’t easy.”

Mrs. Richards approached and placed a hand on Lillia’s shoulder.

“You’re safe now,” she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Just rest, sweetheart. Darwin and I will handle everything else.”

Lillia nodded and leaned back into the pillows.

Darwin gave her one last look—part guilt, part gratitude—then turned and followed his mother out of the room. The door clicked softly behind them.

Silence.

Then, Lillia’s breathing evened out. The tears dried in an instant.

She slipped a hand beneath her pillow, pulled out her phone, and tapped a contact with practiced ease.

“It’s done,” she murmured. Gone was the fragile girl—her voice was cool, composed, with a smug edge sharp enough to cut glass. “They bought every word. Not even a flicker of doubt.”

She listened, eyes glinting as a wire transfer alert blinked across her screen. A smirk tugged at her lips.

“With the Richards family out of her way now, you’re free to do whatever you want with your dear sister—"

A voice cut in, cold and unmistakably in control. “Stop talking. You’ve done enough.”

The call ended.

Lillia sat motionless, phone still in hand. The smirk slowly faded.

---

Just outside the door, something shifted. A shadow passed beneath the slit of light at the threshold—then stilled.

Her eyes darted to the door. Someone was standing there. Listening.