Chapter 2 Burnt her efforts

Zara changed direction immediately. She didn't want her daughter to see her father hugging another child a child who received the affection Lilly had never known, not even a simple hug. Nor was she willing to run into Dante.

Inside the taxi, Zara's thoughts spiraled. She wondered about the relationship between the woman and her husband, but she forced herself not to dwell on it. She didn't even know how she would ask Dante if she dared to ask at all. They no longer spoke like normal married people.

To make matters worse, Dante had chased her out of their matrimonial bedroom.She now slept in the guest room.

Maybe she's just a coworker, Zara told herself, clinging desperately to the thought as she gently patted Lilly's head.

Before she realized it, the taxi had already pulled up to the house.

Zara sighed deeply and stepped out, carefully lifting her sleeping daughter into her arms. With heavy steps, she carried Lilly back inside.

As Zara stepped inside, she saw her mother-in-law seated on the couch beside her sister-in-law. For a brief moment, hope flickered in her chest. Maybe when they see Lilly, they'll finally ask what's wrong.

"There you are," her sister-in-law said, her eyes sharp with provocation. "I needed someone to run errands for me, but you were nowhere to be found. Where have you been?"

Before Zara could answer, her mother-in-law spoke with biting sarcasm. "She went to check on her sick child."

The words were delivered as though Lilly were a stranger someone with no connection to them at all.

Zara swallowed hard.

"I don't care whether the child is sick or not," her sister-in-law said coldly. "She's not mine. Anyway, you can leave now."

Zara stared at them, her arms tightening around Lilly. She had no words left.

Noticing that Zara was still standing there, her mother-in-law snapped, "What are you waiting for? Go to your room. Don't ruin our day by standing there with your child."

Zara lowered her head and turned away, her heart aching as she carried Lilly down the hallway.

Zara laid Lilly down and felt a small sense of relief that her daughter had slept through everything. Lilly had seen enough already too many moments of her mother being mistreated, moments Zara always tried to hide and soften for her sake.

She tucked the blankets around her gently, her heart heavy.

"I'm doing this for you, Lilly," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I should have left this marriage long ago. But I don't want you to grow up in a broken home. I want you to have a father's presence in your life."

She brushed a kiss against Lilly's forehead.

"Maybe one day he'll come around," she continued softly. "Maybe he'll accept that you are not the son he wanted and love you the way you deserve."

Her voice cracked, but she swallowed the tears. There was no time to cry.

She had to find a way to survive in a house where neither she nor her child was loved.

"I need to start working again," she whispered, finally mustering the courage to say it aloud. "If I talk to Dante, he will agree. Lilly is old enough now."

She wasn't willing to wait for him to return home that night. Exhausted, she fell asleep with only one thought in her mind speaking to Dante in the morning.

That night, no one even asked her to prepare supper, which almost felt like a blessing. She slept lightly, clutching that single hope.

Early the next morning, Zara stood outside her former matrimonial bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

She was afraid, but she had no choice. She had to try.

"Come in," a voice replied from inside.

When Dante saw her, his expression darkened. "Oh... it's you," he said, his tone making it painfully clear that had he known it was her, he wouldn't have opened the door.

"What do you want?" he asked, breaking the silence.

Zara swallowed hard. "I I ,need to start working again."

Dante stood before the mirror, adjusting his tie. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet hers, his gaze cold and unreadable.

"Are you serious?" he asked flatly.

Fear crept into Zara's chest, but she forced herself to continue. "You asked me to stop working because Lilly was still young. But now she's older. We can hire a maid, Dante... Please let me work."

Her voice trembled. "The allowance you give me isn't enough. And even if it's not with your company, I can look for another job "

"So why did you come into my room?" Dante cut in sharply.

"I came to get my qualifications," she replied softly. "So I can apply."

For a moment, Dante said nothing. Then, unexpectedly, his voice softened.

"Come," he said calmly. "Follow me downstairs."

The sudden shift sent a chill through Zara. Her heart skipped a beat.

Something told her this was not going to end well

Still, Zara followed him in silence, her fingers crossed, praying he wouldn't do anything cruel.

She was terribly wrong.

When they reached the dining room, her heart dropped. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were already seated at the table, sipping tea as though they had been waiting for a show.

Dante slipped his hands into his pockets and spoke casually. "Mum, look who says she wants to start working."

Zara froze.

"She's even suggesting we hire a maid to handle the chores," he added calmly, "so she can go back to work."

"A maid?" her mother-in-law scoffed. "When we already have you? Who do you think eats for free in this house?"

"As if that would ever happen," her sister-in-law laughed.

Both women chuckled, enjoying the humiliation as they sipped their tea.

"Oh," her sister-in-law mocked, "so she wants to work now."

Dante turned to his sister. "Ann bring her documents," he said evenly.

She looked at him with curious eyes.

"They're in drawer two," he continued, pulling out a key. "Here take this."

Zara lowered her head, silently praying for mercy.

Moments later, the documents were placed into Dante's hands.

To everyone's shock, he flicked open a lighter.

The flame caught the paper instantly, curling the edges as fire devoured her certificates years of effort, sacrifice, and dreams reduced to ash before her eyes.