''Look, honey. Nishay''s finally letting her guard down. I did good, didn''t I?''


    Anneliese shot him a look of mock annoyance, but her lips betrayed her, curling into a soft smile.


    Their eyes met for only a second before parting, but when Jonathan turned again, Zacharias was staring at him with murderous fury.


    Zacharias had seen the entire silent exchange.


    He knew Jonathan was enjoying this. He''d not only earned Nishay''s trust but had also redirected all her anger toward him.


    Jonathan''s lips lifted again, this time into a slow, dangerous smirk.


    The warmth was gone. What reced it was sharp and predatory, like a beast finally baring its teeth.


    Zacharias was so furious he nearly choked on his own rage. "Nishay, even if my mother was wrong, Mr. ude died saving Jonathan first! You can''t hate me and then suddenly ept him!"


    He couldn''t stand it. Watching Nishay turn toward Jonathan felt worse than dying. It was like she was crushing his bones just to lift that man higher.


    Anneliese saw through him instantly. Even now, he was trying to pit them against each other. Fury burned through her as she stepped forward, but before she could speak, Nishay''s rough, trembling voice cut through the room.


    "I must''ve been blind back then. How could I ever have let Anne marry someone like you? A man with the face of a human but the heart of a monster. I handed her to a pack of greedy leeches."


    She clutched Jonathan''s hand tight. "He''s ten times the man you''ll ever be."


    Zacharias froze. The words hit harder than any blow. He had tried to manipte her and ended up hearing her praise his enemy instead. His knees nearly buckled as he staggered back.


    "Nishay..."


    "Keep my name out of your mouth!" she snapped. "I feel sick hearing it from you!"


    Her fury red, and her body swayed. The color drained from her face as her knees weakened.


    Jonathan caught her before she fell. Anneliese hurried to support her other side, her voice shaking.


    "Grandma, please. You need to lie down." She tried to take Nishay to her bed. Nishay could barely move. Her vision blurred, and her steps faltered.


    Jonathan didn''t wait. He bent down, lifted her into his arms, andid her gently on the bed. Anneliese quickly tucked a pillow behind her to steady her.


    Zacharias watched them, frozen in ce. The way they moved together, in sync and protective, made his stomach twist. They looked like a real family—united, solid, untouchable. His heart sank as he stumbled back a step.


    When Nishay caught her breath, she red at him again, her voice raw with pain.


    "Melody fooled my daughter years ago. My sweet, kind girl helped your family again and again, and what did you alt do? You turned on her. You dragged wolves into our home and tore her apart unti nothing was left.


    1.n


    "Your mother killed her. And yet you still have the audacity to feed off us-to bleed the weak dry! You even conned me into handing over Frederick''s pension to clean up your family''s mess. If you had even a shred of decency you would''ve


    treated Anne right. But what did you do instead? You acted like an animal."


    Nishay''s voice cracked, her breathing uneven.


    Anneliese reached for her, trying to calm her down. "Grandma, don''t waste your


    breath on someone like him. He''s not worth it. We''ll settle this in court."


    Cold sweat ran down Nishay''s face. The truth had drained every ounce of strength she had left.


    She shut her eyes as tears slid down her cheeks.


    Anneliese turned to Zacharias, her voice sharp. "Get out."


    He hesitated, taking one slow step forward, but Jonathan didn''t give him the chance.


    He grabbed Zacharias by the cor and yanked him out of the room.


    Outside, Jonathan''s fist came fast and hard.


    The crack of the hit echoed down the hall as his knuckles mmed into Zacharias'' face—a clean payback for the blow Zacharias had thrown earlier.


    Zacharias mmed against the wall and dropped to the floor, limp and trembling, blood spilling from his mouth.


    He sat there in a daze, leaning against the wall, his head hanging low.


    Nishay''s words reyed in his mind over and over. They cut deeper than Jonathan''s punch ever could. Shame and regret ate at him until there was nothing left inside but emptiness.


    The memories hit him all at once. His father, drunk again, staggering through the door while screams filled the house.


    He saw Melody rushing him and Lenora to the udes'' home, where the air always smelled


    and safety Anneliesefort


    slip candy and cookies into their hands, her voice soft as she whispered, "Zacharias, try these. They''re sweet. You''ll feel better after you eat them."


    Nak would hold a cold towel to his swollen cheek, her voice trembling with anger and pity as she urged Frederick to confront Zacharias'' father.


    From the kitchen, Nishay would emerge with a steaming te of tiny pies, muttering that it was a shame, and join Nak in begging Melody to find a way out.


    Back then, the udes'' home had felt like the only ce in the world that was warm and safe.


    He had sworn to himself that one day, he would repay their kindness. That he would treat Anneliese better than anyone ever could.


    So how had everything fallen apart like this?


    He never thought it would end this way between them.