Chapter 6. The Secret Will Be Revealed.

After Amora’s departure, the party resumed as if nothing had happened. Glasses clinked, music thumped once more, and the guests’ laughter filled the room. Vicktor stood with a blank expression, not even considering chasing after the woman who had stood by him long before he became anyone of importance.

Lucy, who had been sitting sweetly at his side, smiled in satisfaction. Her shame had long vanished, replaced by a swelling sense of triumph. This is the moment. My revenge has finally begun, she thought, gazing at Vicktor with eyes brimming with smug delight.

As the music took over the room again, people gradually began to forget the commotion from earlier. Laughter echoed once more, and the beat grew louder. But the calm didn’t last long.

Suddenly, the sound of the large doors creaking open thundered through the hall. A middle-aged woman with piercing eyes stepped inside.

“Turn off the music!” she commanded loudly.

The melody was cut short. Silence fell instantly, thick with tension. Every pair of eyes turned toward the figure standing at the threshold.

“M—Mother…?” Vicktor’s voice caught, his shock clear at the sight of Bella Gracelyn, his mother.

Bella’s gaze was sharp. “You’ve lost your mind, Vicktor! Who is that woman?” she demanded, pointing directly at Lucy.

Lucy, who moments ago had felt on top of the world, froze in place. Her heart pounded violently. Bella’s penetrating stare seemed to strip away every mask she had ever worn.

“Mother… I can explain,” Vicktor said, stepping forward, his voice low, fearful that the party would truly collapse.

“Explain?!” Bella snapped. “Where is Amora, my daughter-in-law?”

Vicktor swallowed hard, his voice trembling. “Mother, I… Amora and I are getting a divorce.”

Bella’s face flushed crimson, fury boiling inside her chest. She glanced briefly at Lucy, her eyes filled with accusation.

Lucy held her breath, too afraid to make a move.

“Call this party off right now!” Bella’s voice boomed. “I want to speak with the two of you!”

Without waiting for a reply, she stormed up the stairs. The hall below descended into chaos; the guests whispered among themselves, too afraid to stir.

Bella stopped in front of Amora’s room. She flung the door open, expecting to find her daughter-in-law. But Amora wasn’t there.

Her eyes widened when she saw a beautiful little girl lying on the bed.

“Who is this child? Don’t tell me… they’ve….” Bella’s words faltered, her mouth agape. Her mind had already drawn its own conclusion—this girl might very well be the child of the woman downstairs with her son.

Not long after the guests had finally left and silence settled over the house, Vicktor and Lucy dared to face Bella. But just as they were about to step into the room, her commanding voice stopped them.

“Stay right where you are!” Bella ordered, her gaze cutting like a knife.

Both froze. Vicktor lowered his head, his face pale, while Lucy’s nerves frayed, her heartbeat erratic. Bella approached slowly, her eyes blazing with anger and disappointment.

“I will never allow any woman to destroy my son’s marriage!” Bella declared firmly. “So… you should know exactly what you must do.”

Lucy clenched her hands. No, this is not the time to give up. The game I’ve built is almost at its finish line.

“Aunt,” Lucy’s voice trembled as she tried to soften it. “I love your son, Vicktor. I—”

“I don’t want to hear any excuses!” Bella cut her off sharply, her tone slicing through the air.

“But Vicktor and I already have Kelly. She’s your granddaughter, Aunt—”

“Nonsense!” Bella barked. “I refuse to acknowledge that little girl as my grandchild!”

The words tore through Lucy’s chest. Her heart ached, her face tightened with pain. Yet she refused to give in. With tear-filled eyes, she dropped to her knees, bowing at Bella’s feet.

“Aunt, please… accept Kelly and me. I’ll do anything, as long as we can stay with Vicktor…”

But her plea only ignited Bella’s rage further.

“Lucy!” Bella’s voice thundered. “Nothing you do will make me pity you! Take your daughter and leave this house immediately!”

She stomped her foot hard, then grabbed Vicktor’s arm, preventing him from interfering.

Lucy froze, her eyes full of desperate hope as she looked at Vicktor. He’ll defend me, right? she thought. But reality slapped her cruelly. Vicktor stood motionless, his lips pressed shut, unable to defy his mother.

Slowly, tears streamed down Lucy’s face. With a heavy heart, she picked up Kelly and walked out of the house, her steps unsteady.

It felt like karma. After she had managed to drive Amora away, now she herself was suffering the same fate.

Several days passed.

Amora and her mother, Jessica, finally settled into their new home. Simple, far from luxurious, yet it was there that a new spirit began to grow. Amora made a promise to herself—she would rise again.

But that day weighed heavily on her. From morning until late at night, she didn’t leave her room. Her eyes stayed fixed on her laptop screen, fingers busy sending job applications to countless companies. Each time she hit “send,” her heart hoped for a positive reply. But all that came back were rejection letters without explanation.

“I know this is your doing, Vick…” she muttered bitterly. “You shut down every opportunity, just because you want me destroyed.” Her breath quickened, her chest tight with anger and despair.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. A message appeared from an unknown number.

[ Mr. Robert Shane’s death was no accident. He was deliberately murdered by someone! ]

Amora’s eyes widened. Her hands shook as she read the words. “What does this mean? Father… murdered?” She frantically tried to call back, but each attempt returned the same response: The number could not be reached.

“Who are you…?” she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears.

A knock at the door startled her. The door creaked open, and Jessica entered carrying a cup of warm coffee. Her gentle smile eased Amora’s heart just a little.

“Amora, Mommy made you coffee,” Jessica said softly.

“Thank you, Mom,” Amora replied, trying to sound calm.

“Any company replies yet?” Jessica asked, hopeful.

“Not yet, Mom…” Amora forced a smile.

Jessica studied her daughter, hesitant. “Do we need Uncle Glenn’s help?”

“No!” Amora snapped instantly. “Have you forgotten what he did to Daddy? He’s not someone we can count on.”

Amora could never forget the past. When Robert’s company was on the brink of collapse, and Robert sought help from Glenn—Jessica’s only brother—instead of the support he expected, Robert received nothing but humiliation.

The room fell into silence until a sharp smell cut through the air. Thin smoke seeped through the door crack.

“Mom…” Amora gasped. “The house is on fire!”

She immediately pulled Jessica back into the room, their bodies pressed close. Flames spread quickly, devouring every corner, igniting the walls until they blazed.

“Did you forget to turn off the stove?” Amora’s voice rasped, her nose already stinging with smoke.

“No, Amora! I swear I didn’t light anything!” Jessica clutched her daughter tightly.

The heat grew unbearable, the fire raging mercilessly. Amora shut her eyes, trying to shield her mother, as the red flames drew closer, ready to consume them both.