When Nishay heard that Melody had provoked her daughter and witnessed the fall, her mind exploded like static.


    Her mouth opened and trembled, but no sound came out.


    Anneliese held her tightly, calling her name over and over until she finally came to. Her clouded eyes locked on Zacharias.


    "Melody''s behind it all? That witch! Let her rot! She deserves to die!"


    Her voice rasped with fury.


    Zacharias felt the weight of her hatred like a punch to the chest, his breath catching. "Nishay, think about it. If that were true, why didn''t Roretha say anything back then?"


    Jonathan''s voice was calm but firm. "Because she lived upstairs from your family. She was afraid another death in that building would make it a crime scene. Everyone already knew your mother-inw had been killed. If another murder happened there, her apartment would lose its value. That''s why she stayed quiet." "That''s just your version!" Zacharias shouted, still grasping for denial.


    Jonathan let out a sharpugh and took out his phone. He tapped the screen and held it out.


    "Then listen to this, Mr. Shaw. Let''s see if you can still twist the truth after hearing it." The hospital room filled with the audio Jonathan had yed for Anneliese earlier that morning-the recording of Melody arranging the hit.


    Her voice was clear as day. Every word exposed the truth.


    Zacharias had always known his mother could be impulsive and thoughtless.


    But this level of stupidity stunned him.


    As the recording continued, his expression fell apart. The metallic taste of blood rose in his throat, and he forced it down.


    He knew it was over. Completely over.


    He should have seen iting. Jonathan neverid a trap without covering every detail.


    There was never going to be a way out.


    "Zacharias, what do you have to say now?"


    Anneliese held Nishay''s cold hands tightly, her re sharp and merciless.


    Zacharias met her eyes. He thought he was used to her disgust and distance. He thought he''d gone numb to it. But the pain hit him all over again, sharp and deep, like his chest was being split open.


    He opened his mouth. "I''m sorry. I... I made a mistake. I shouldn''t have doubted. I didn''t think my mom would do something like this. She swore to me she didn''t. I didn''t think she''d even lie to me. I—"


    Anneliese''sugh cut through his words, cold and scathing. "You didn''t think she would do something like that? That''s your excuse? She hired someone to kill, and you call that a misunderstanding.


    "You know exactly what kind of


    person your mother is. Don''t act like you don''t. Your tried to cover for her


    and now that you he caught, you call


    it a mistake? Do you really think I''m still the fool your family used to y?"


    Zacharias froze. Her words hit him like a p. His face turned pale, his shame burning under his skin.


    It felt like his pride had been stripped from him, leaving nothing but raw humiliation.


    Anneliese gave a cold, cutting smile. She was about tosh out again when she noticed Nishay trembling


    as


    The slowly pushed herselfup


    the chair.


    "Grandma?"


    Anneliese rushed forward, worry tightening her voice.


    But Nishay brushed her hand aside and took a shaky step toward Zacharias.


    He couldn''t move. His eyes followed her, his body locked in ce. He didn''t dare meet her gaze, not when those eyes burned red with rage.


    "Nishay, I—"


    A hard p broke through the silence. The sound was sharp and final, echoing through the room. She cut off his apology.


    Nishay had used every bit of strength she had left.


    Zacharias stumbled back from the impact, and her body swayed, losing bnce.


    "Careful!"


    Startled, he reached out on instinct to steady her.


    But she recoiled, shoving him away


    with disgust. Her body tilted, seconds from falling, when a pair of firm hands caught her and held her.. upright.


    She gripped the arm that supported her without even thinking.


    It was Jonathan.


    He looked down at her trembling hands clutching his sleeve. For the first time that day, the tightness in his chest eased.


    A small, triumphant smile tugged at his lips as he looked over at Anneliese.


    She was still shaken, her pulse racing from almost watching Nishay fall.


    As she stepped around the table, she saw Jonathan holding Nishay steady.


    Before she could catch her breath, his gaze met hers-warm, confident, and a little proud.


    She caught the unspoken message right away.