Simon staggered home, his mind in a fog. Before he even reached the door, Ada''s sobs echoed in the hallway.


    "What does she want from me?! How long is this torture going tost?! I''ve had enough!"


    Ada had been on edge for weeks, overwhelmed by the whispers and snide remarks from everyone around her. Her husband had run off with her sister, and it seemed like the whole world was mocking her.


    Michael, her husband, couldn''t handle her meltdowns and had stoppeding home altogether. Ada tried to take herints to Walter, but after a few visits, even the old family estate turned her away.


    All she could do was stay home, caught in an endless shouting match with Sonya, losing her mind.


    Simon, soaked to the skin, walked into the living room just in time to catch an ashtray Ada had hurled, hitting him squarely.


    The pain didn''t even register as he stumbled back, watching blood trickle down his face.


    Ada gasped, rushing over. "Simon, are you okay?"


    Simon absently touched his wound, memories flooding back to the day Sonya was caught with his father. He''d suspected ra then, but dismissed it, thinking she loved him too much to do something like that.


    Now, looking at the chaos in his home, he couldn''t help butugh.


    ra, with her impressive credentials, was anything but a fool. The way she''d pursued him, her act so convincing, proved she was shrewd.


    Back then, Ada had given ra a hard time, wanting to marry her off to Uncle Nate. And so Ada''s picture-perfect marriage fell apart, and Uncle Nate faced his downfall.


    Piece by piece, as everything clicked in his mind, Simon began tough.


    Ada was terrified by hisughter, fearing he''d lost his senses.


    "Simon, don''t scare me. I''ll take you to the hospital right now."


    Her voice shook with fear as she tried to lead him outside. But Simon stood firm, casually wiping the blood from his forehead.


    "I''m fine, Mom."


    Ada''s eyes welled up. "This is all my fault. And Sonya''sing back soon. I can''t take it anymore!"


    Simon leaned in slightly, cing his hands on her shoulders. "I''ll take care of it."


    Simon had never been the kind to take charge. He waszy, used to a life of ease andfort.


    Ada thought her son had changed, but she couldn''t quite pinpoint how.


    Simon turned to leave.


    Worried, Ada held him back. "Simon, are you sure you''re alright?"


    He startedughing again, though with blood on his face, it looked rather menacing.


    "Really, I''m fine."


    He walked out slowly, smoking a few cigarettes until he saw Sonya approaching.


    Sonya had been livingrge, extorting millions from Michael. But she wanted more —Ada''s ce, to be thedy of the house.


    Just as she was about to step inside, she noticed Simon standing there, smoking, his clothes drenched, water dripping off him like a ghost.


    Sonya was startled, almost cursing out loud, but held back.


    "Simon, what are you doing?"


    Simon dropped his cigarette, stamping it out.


    "Aunt, I need to talk to you. Come with me; let''s go over there."


    Sonya and Simon had gotten along fairly well. Despite her antics, Simon hadn''t made things hard for her.


    So she followed him without hesitation.


    "Simon, don''t me your aunt for being ruthless. People are selfish. I just want a good life. Don''t worry, once your mom''s out of the picture, I''ll treat you like my own son. You''re your father''s only son, after all. Everything in this house will still be yours. Even with money, people see me as just a mistress. I just want a legitimate ce. Is that too much to ask?"


    She thought her words would sway Simon. They walked to a quiet corner of the garden, away from any cameras, near arge pond.


    Simon stopped, turning to her with a calm gaze.


    Sonya, hands on her hips, was about to try a new angle when Simon suddenly grabbed her hair and shoved her head into the pond.


    Sonya didn''t even have time to scream, water filling her nose and mouth, silencing any cries for help.


    Simon held her down with a fierce grip, submerging herpletely.


    Sonya struggled for several minutes before finally going limp.


    Simon let go, watching her crumple to the ground, her face twisted in agony, clearly having suffered greatly before the end.


    He lit another cigarette, eyes full of resentment. "Wanting more isn''t wrong, but greed has its limits."


    You can''t have everything.


    He finished his cigarette, and suddenly Ada''s scream shattered the air.


    Unable to rest easy, Ada had followed them, only to witness the scene.


    She had resented Sonya, wished her gone, but now that Sonya truly was, panic set in.


    "Simon, what... what have you done?"


    Her voice trembled. To her, Simon had always been the obedient, well-behaved son, prone to minor mischief but nothing serious.


    But now, he had killed.


    Her instincts had been right; Simon had changed.


    Ada was terrified, her scalp tingling, stepping back, contemting calling the police. But he was her only son.


    She bit her lip, finally conceding, "We''ll say she identally fell into the pond." Simon, cigarette in hand, brushed past her, a chill in his wake.


    Ada pressed her lips together, tears welling up, quickly calling for someone to clean up, then hurried after him.


    "Simon, if you ever need anything, tell your mother."


    Simon paused, looking down at the cigarette burning his fingers, blistering his


    skin, yet he felt nothing, smiling as he spoke.


    "I just don''t want to be the fool anymore."