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.