Chapter 7

“I’ve signed the divorce papers.”

The room froze. Shock rippled across every face. Before any of them could utter a word, she lifted her chin and continued.

“Don’t panic,” she said calmly. “I don’t want a single penny from either of you.”

They stared at her, confused, trying to understand what she was planning.

“Because I know,” her voice hardened, anger burning beneath the surface, “that money is exactly why you both tried to end my life… and my daughter’s. You shameless people.”

Their gazes dropped instantly, guilt tightening their throats.

“And in case you’re wondering how your plan failed,” she added sharply, “Ann insisted that was the car she wanted. She practically dragged us toward it. And since I’m already used to you all being cruel, I didn’t argue. But look where that decision led us.”

They sighed quietly, humiliation coating the air between them.

“But hear me clearly,” she said, eyes cold and unwavering. “You will not get away with this.”

“And what exactly are you going to do?” Margret snapped, her tone strong though guilt trembled behind it. “You’re an orphan. You have no one. And we are rich.” Dante nodded in agreement beside her.

A slow, dark smile touched her lips. “Maybe I have nothing now,” she said softly, dangerously. “But I will be back. And trust me… I’ll savor every second of my revenge.”

A chill swept through the room. The atmosphere turned heavy.

Without another word, she brushed past them, tightening her grip around Lilly’s small hand. And as she walked away, all they could do was watch fear silently settling in their hearts.

When Zara stepped out of the house, she glanced down at her baby. She expected the familiar sting of heartbreak… but instead, she felt free. For the first time in years, the weight pressing on her chest was gone. A faint smile tugged at her lips. That grand mansion behind her was nothing but a palace of wickedness and she was finally out of it.

They stood by the roadside, a little distance away from the estate. She had ordered an Uber, but it was taking longer than expected. Just then, the sky darkened out of nowhere and heavy rain began to pour.

“Oh, come on…” Zara muttered, staring up at the sky in disbelief. “It was clear a second ago.”

She looked around desperately and spotted a small shelter. She hurried there with Lilly, but the child was already shivering. Panic stabbed through her chest.

“Oh my God Lilly!” she cried, her voice trembling.

She quickly rummaged through her bag, pulling out a jacket and wrapping it around the little girl, but it was already too late. Lilly’s tiny body was shaking uncontrollably.

Guilt tore at Zara’s heart as rain splashed against her, soaking her completely. She stood in front of Lilly, shielding her with her own body. Fear clawed up her throat Lilly had only just recovered, and now here she was again, out in the cold, in the rain.

“Even if it means I get soaked… you’re going to be okay,” Zara whispered to her daughter, more like a promise than reassurance.

Just then, headlights appeared through the curtain of rain. The cab finally pulled up.

The drenched pair hurried inside.

“I’m so sorry for being late, ma’am the traffic was terrible,” the driver said.

“It’s okay,” Zara breathed, not even thinking about herself as she focused on drying Lilly. She dug back into her bag, pulling out warmer clothes and gently dressing her daughter while her own clothes clung to her skin.

Nothing in her life ever went the way she planned. The thought burned painfully in her chest.

“Ma’am… where should I drop you?” the driver asked gently.

Reality hit her.

Zara had nowhere to go.

She had grown up in an orphanage… besides that place, the world outside felt strange and unfamiliar. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Anywhere with a cheap hotel,” she murmured. “Somewhere we can stay tonight.”

The driver nodded, but as he drove, he kept glancing at the mirror. There was sadness in her eyes that spoke louder than any words.

When they arrived, Zara stepped out and reached for her bag, then pulled out money to pay him.

But the driver shook his head.

“Take it as my apology… for being late and making you get caught in the rain,” he said softly.

She tried to insist, but he refused with a kind smile.

Zara froze for a moment, staring at him. After everything she had endured… she wondered if people like him still existed.

The duo entered the small hotel quietly, their footsteps echoing softly against the dimly lit lobby floor. After booking a room for the night, they made their way upstairs. The room wasn’t big, but it was enough. It was warm. Safe. And for Zara, that was more than she’d had in a long time.

“Lilly, my love,” she whispered gently as she settled her daughter on the bed. “Let me cover you so you can get warm while I freshen up, okay?”

Lilly weakly nodded. Zara tucked her in carefully, wrapping the blanket securely around her tiny body. Then she headed toward the bathroom.

The moment the cold water hit her skin, a memory stabbed into her mind Margaret pouring freezing water over her simply because she’d made a mistake. Zara’s chest tightened.

They had always been cruel. Always.

She sighed, forcing the memory away, finishing her bath despite the chill. When she stepped back into the room, relief instantly shattered into panic.

Lilly was shaking.

“Lilly?” Zara rushed forward, her voice trembling. “What’s wrong?”

She touched her.

Her skin was burning.

“No… no, no,” Zara whispered, panic flooding her chest. Lilly had only just begun recovering and now the rain had made everything worse.

Heart pounding, she frantically searched through their bag for medicine.

Nothing.

They hadn’t brought any.

She tucked Lilly back under the covers and stroked her hair. “Stay strong for Mommy, okay? I’m coming back. I promise.” Her voice cracked as she forced herself to move.

She burst out of the room and sprinted into the night like a madwoman, the world around her blurring as she desperately searched for a pharmacy. At last, she found one, breathlessly buying the medication before racing back as fast as her legs could carry her.

She dropped to her knees beside the bed the moment she reached Lilly, gently helping her take the medicine. Then she wrapped her arms around her, holding her close, praying silently.

“Please… please get better.”

Lilly wasn’t just her daughter.

She was her hope.

Her strength.

Her reason to live.