Daniel?
He finally decided to show up.
Esther blinked, still unsure if it was a dream. Her body felt foreign, bruised, aching, exhausted, and yet her heart was heavier than anything else. Her eyes shifted to the IV drip feeding into her arm. It was surreal. She was safe, yes… but the fear hadn't left her bones.
"Are you alright? How are you feeling now?" the nurse asked softly as she adjusted the monitor beside the bed.
Esther nodded weakly, not trusting her voice yet. She glanced down at her hands, her wedding band still on her finger. It felt heavier now.
"Esther," Daniel's voice came, tentative and low. He stepped to her side, laying a trembling hand over hers. "I'm… I'm so sorry. I was.."
The door opened.
Steven stepped in.
His hands were tucked into the pockets of his jacket, his posture composed but his eyes sharp.
"I see you're here," Steven said, his eyes settling on Daniel. After bringing Esther to the hospital, he had called him, brief, direct, and seething. He'd told him everything. And in that call, he hadn't hidden his anger.
The tension in the room thickened instantly.
Steven walked closer to the bed but kept a respectable distance. "The police have arrested them. John, the others, everyone involved. They'll face the law. I made sure of that."
He turned to Esther, his expression softening. "And I promise, I won't let him or anyone else come near you again."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
He stepped forward. "Steven, I appreciate what you did. I really do. But this is my wife, and I need a moment alone with her."
There was no warmth in his voice. No gratitude. Just an edge. Sharp and defensive.
But before Steven could respond, Esther spoke.
"Why should he leave?"
Daniel turned, startled. "Esther.."
"He saved me. If he hadn't arrived when he did, I would have been…" She paused, her breath hitching in her chest as the weight of the memory closed in. Her world would have ended right there, if they had succeeded.
"I needed you, Daniel. I tried to call. Over and over. And you didn't pick up."
"I was in a meeting.."
"I know," she snapped, her eyes finally meeting his. "You were too busy to care, and I was out there, fighting for my life."
Daniel looked down, ashamed. The lines on his face were deeper than ever. Guilt crawled across his features like something alive.
"You really want him to stay?" he asked, voice cracking.
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "Because when I thought it was the end… it wasn't you who came through that door."
Daniel flinched.
He turned to Steven, resentment rising in his throat like bile. "And how convenient that you got there just in time. Without even getting a call from her. Makes you wonder."
Esther hesitated. That thought hadn't escaped her either.
Steven let out a quiet sigh, slipping his hands from his pockets as he caught the doubt reflected in both their eyes.
"You did call me," he said calmly, holding up his phone and turning the screen toward them. The call log glowed with proof. "I heard your voice… and theirs. It was enough to know you were in danger. I took the recording straight to the police. With their help, we were able to track you down."
Esther exhaled slowly, a wave of relief softening her features. Her chest rose and fell with the realization, she must have dialed his number by accident when she'd dropped the phone in panic.
Thank God she did
But then..
Steven turned back to Daniel. His voice sharpened.
"You know, I don't just answer phone calls. I listen to them. Especially from people I care about."
The silence that followed was brutal.
Esther looked away, her throat tight.
Daniel stared at Steven for a long moment, his jaw clenched, breath shallow.
And then, a bitter laugh escaped his lips. "You think this is your chance, don't you?"
Steven didn't deny it.
"I think this was your moment to show up, and you didn't," he said coldly. "And I think the moment she needed you most, you chose work. Again."
Daniel's fists balled at his side.
Esther spoke softly, cutting through the room like a whisper of wind through broken glass. "Don't make this about the two of you."
They both turned to her.
She looked small in that bed, but her voice carried weight. "This isn't about rivalry or timing. It's about trust. About knowing that the person I married would do everything to protect me. And Daniel…"
She paused, swallowing the pain like poison.
"…you didn't."
Daniel felt like the air had left his lungs.
"I know you're sorry," she continued, quieter now. "But sorry doesn't erase the fear. Or the fact that I called, and you didn't pick up."
She turned to Steven. "And thank you… for being there."
Steven nodded.
The room sat heavy in silence again.
"I need time," Esther said finally. "Time to process. To breathe. Alone."
"Esther," another voice broke through as the door creaked open.
It was Zianab.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw her sister, pale, bandaged, bruised but alive. "My God… Are you okay? I just heard what happened."
She rushed to Esther's side, her voice thick with concern as she gently took her hand.
Esther didn't speak right away. Her eyes flicked between Daniel and Steven, both standing there, both waiting, both offering to take her home. But in that moment, their presence felt heavy. Confusing. Claustrophobic.
She needed none of them.
Just… peace.
"I want to go home," Esther said softly, her voice barely rising above a whisper. She didn't look at either of them, just stared down at the blanket, fingers curling slightly around the edge.
"I'll take you home," Steven offered immediately, stepping closer to the bed, his tone gentle, concerned.
But Esther shook her head, still avoiding his gaze.
"Thank you," she said politely, her voice steady but distant. "But I think it's best if you head home."
The words were kind, but final. Steven's jaw tightened slightly, and he nodded, reading between the lines.
Daniel stepped forward next, his movements hesitant, hopeful. His hand reached out, an instinctive gesture to help her sit up, to carry some of the burden he had failed to catch before.
But Esther recoiled, not dramatically, just enough. Enough to make the rejection clear. Her eyes didn't even flicker toward him.
Instead, they landed on the quiet figure sitting by the door.
"Zee," she said, her voice cracking just a little, "please take me home."
Zianab blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected to be called on, not in the presence of the two men vying to fix what was broken. But she saw the plea in Esther's eyes, and that was all she needed.
"Of course," Zianab replied softly, already rising from her seat. "Whatever you need."
She gently helped her sister off the bed, wrapping an arm around her back with quiet care.
Behind them, the room felt suspended, Daniel's hands still hovering in the air, Steven standing stiffly by the wall. Neither of them moved. Neither of them followed. And as Zianab led Esther out of the room, the silence they left behind was thick with everything unspoken.
"You don't deserve her," Steven said, breaking the silence, his voice low but cutting. "If she were mine, I'd never have let this happen. Her safety would've been my top priority."
Daniel's head snapped toward him, his eyes narrowing. "Don't stand there and act like you know anything about what it means to be her husband."
"I know enough to see you failed her," Steven shot back. "She called you. You. But you didn't pick up. You were too busy drowning in your empire while she was out there fighting for her life! And let not forget it your fault she was attacked in the first place"
Daniel took a step forward, voice sharp. "I admit I should've paid more attention. I should've protected her. I failed her, yes, but that doesn't mean she's yours to claim. She's my wife. And I'm warning you, Steven, stay away from her."
"I can't," Steven said, unapologetic. "Not after seeing how little you cared when she needed you most. If you truly loved her, you'd let her go, let her find peace and happiness, even if it's not with you."
Daniel scoffed. "And you think you're the man for that job?"
"Yes," Steven said without hesitation. "I can give her the happiness she deserves. I'll protect her, see her, really see her, not just as a replacement or a caretaker for your daughter. She's not a fill-in for the life you lost. Esther is her own woman, and you're keeping her trapped in your grief."
Daniel's voice dropped, dark and deadly. "Careful, boy. You're crossing a line."
"Then draw a clearer one," Steven snapped. "And I'll cross it again."
The two men stared at each other, fire meeting ice. A standoff.
"Esther is my wife, stay away from her? You might be her old class mates but don't think that makes you her savior?"
Steven stepped forward, no longer smiling. "No, not her savior. But maybe… her escape. I was stupid to have let her slip away but now, am going to fight for her. I'll get her away from you. I'll free her"
Daniel's fists clenched. "What did you just say?"
"I said maybe I'm the way out she's been looking for. The way out of this marriage that feels more like a sentence. You think your wealth and power can hold her? That loyalty will chain her to a life half-lived? You think your love, or whatever version of it you practice, is enough?"
"I gave her a home," Daniel growled.
"Home is not enough to protect your wife" Steven challenged
Daniel's voice, when it came, was a slow burn. "If you take another step toward my wife, Steven, I will destroy you. I don't care how smart you think you are, or what you feel for her. I will ruin every corner of your life, brick by brick."
Steven held his ground. "I'm not afraid of you, Mr. Lewis. The rest of the world might be. But I'm not."
Daniel's eyes flashed. "Then you're a fool."
"No," Steven said, turning for the door. "I'm just done watching her suffer in silence while you act like she's lucky to have you. You lost her long before tonight. You just didn't realize it."
He paused at the doorway, looking back one last time.
"You want to fight for her?" Steven said, calm now, but deadly sure. "Then fight. But understand something, Daniel, this isn't a boardroom. You can't bully your way through this. You'll have to earn her. Really earn her. And from where I stand… you're already losing."
He walked out, leaving the door open behind him.
Daniel stood still, the silence loud in his ears, Steven's words sinking into him like thorns. He wasn't used to being challenged, not like this. Not in the one place where he thought he held control.
Not over Esther.
But now… even that was uncertain.
And uncertainty, for Daniel Lewis, was the deadliest game of all.
The night clouds had swallowed the sky whole, cloaking the city in a heavy stillness. The house, dim and too quiet, felt colder than Esther remembered. Zianab's heels echoed softly behind her as they entered, but Esther didn't wait. Her bare feet carried her through the familiar corridors like a ghost, her fingertips grazing the edges of the walls as though they might have changed.
But they hadn't.
Everything remained exactly as it had been. The framed photos, the elegant vases, the heavy curtains, and worse, the memories.
The scent of Daniel still lingered faintly in the air. And her, the late wife. Her shadow was everywhere. The muted portraits still hung in the hallway like silent sentinels, watching Esther's every step.
She stopped at the foot of the stairs, exhaling slowly.
"It's like she never left," Esther said bitterly. "You'd think after everything… he'd have at least moved the portraits."
Zianab came up beside her, hands tucked into her coat pockets. "I noticed. It's… a lot."
Esther turned to her, arms folded. "He says he's moved on. But how? With her eyes still staring at me from every wall?"
Zianab stayed quiet for a beat, then nodded slowly. "He should have taken them down. Or at least asked how you felt about it. That's fair."
Silence settled between them.
Then Zianab gently touched her arm. "Esther… I know you're hurt. I know that night broke something. And trust me, I wanted to slap Daniel when I heard what happened." Her voice softened. "But you're both bleeding and too proud to admit it. That's not going to end well for either of you."
Esther looked away, her jaw tight, voice clipped. "I don't want to talk to him, Zianab. Nothing I say seems to get through. It's like I'm speaking to a wall."
"I'm not saying forgive him," Zianab said gently, moving to lean beside her on the banister. "And I'm definitely not saying forget. But you do need to talk. Even if all you say is, 'I'm done.' Whatever you're carrying, hurt, anger, love, whatever it is, you've got to let it out, Essie. If you bottle it up, it's going to eat at you."
Esther sighed, her eyes drifting upward to the ceiling as if it might offer answers. "I'm tired, Zee. Really tired. I never imagined marriage would be this… exhausting. And what hurts most is feeling like I'm the only one fighting to make it work."
"I get that," Zianab said, her tone shifting, voice quieter. "And what happened to you, no woman should ever go through that. But I saw Daniel's face today. He looked wrecked, Esther. Not just sad, gutted. Like he finally realized he's losing you. Maybe he just doesn't know how to fight for you the right way."
Esther shook her head, slowly, painfully. "He's used to control. Used to having life bend to his will. But I'm not one of his projects or something broken to fix, I'm his wife. When I needed him most, he wasn't there. That's not something flowers and apologies can fix."
Zianab nodded, her expression softening. She reached for Esther's hand. "Whatever you decide, I've got your back. If you want to stay here, then you stay. If you want to come back home, I'll clear out your room, yes, the one I converted into my walk-in closet."
Esther cracked a tiny, reluctant smile.
Zianab grinned wider. "What? Don't look at me like that. The lighting in that room is perfect for mirror selfies."
She squeezed Esther's hand. "But seriously, whatever you choose, you'll be welcomed home with open arms. Just… know the bride price isn't going to be refunded."
Esther turned, blinking. "What?"
"Oh yes," Zianab said with mock solemnity. "Your uncles already chopped it. One used his share to buy a car. Another built a new porch. It's a full-on economic stimulus package out there, thanks to your marriage."
Esther let out a dry, but genuine laugh. The kind that came from somewhere buried beneath the pain, a small spark that hadn't gone out.
Zianab smiled at her, the teasing fading into something more tender. "You'll be okay, Essie. Whatever you decide. Just make sure it's what you want, not what anyone expects of you."
"Thank you" Esther whispered
They sat there for a moment, two sisters, one bruised by love, the other holding her up as best she could.
The door had barely clicked shut after Zianab's exit when another one opened, quietly.
Esther turned at the sound. Her heart sank.
Daniel stood there in the hallway, hesitant. He took a step forward.
"Esther…"
She straightened slowly, her face unreadable.
"You shouldn't be here," she said coldly.
"I needed to see you," he replied, voice low. "We need to talk."
She gave a short, bitter laugh. "Now you want to talk?"
He flinched slightly.
"You have to stay away from him," Daniel said firmly, stepping closer. "That man, Steven, he doesn't mean well. He's not who you think he is."
"Are you serious right now?" Esther's voice cracked with disbelief. "I've just been through hell, Daniel. I was kidnapped , almost assaulted. And the thing you care about most is Steven?"
She shook her head, fury rising to the surface.
"My world almost came to an end, Daniel. I was cornered by men who wanted to ruin me, and do you have any idea what that feels like? To be nothing in that moment? To cry out for someone you love and get silence in return?"
"I'm sorry," Daniel said, guilt etched across his face. "I was in a meeting and..,"
"There it is." She cut him off. "Always something. Always an excuse. A boardroom was more important than me. I called you, multiple times! But you didn't care, did you?"
"I did care, Esther," he said, stepping closer. "The second I saw those missed calls, I called back. I swear to you. But you're right. I wasn't there when it mattered. And that's on me."
Her lips trembled.
"I was so stupid," she whispered, blinking back tears. "Thinking I could be loved by you. That maybe… just maybe… I wasn't a second choice." She lifted her eyes to his. "Daniel… do you even love me?"
"Yes." The answer came instantly, without pause, without hesitation. "You know I do. I know I hurt you, and I know I failed when you needed me most. But I love you, Esther. I don't want to lose you."
She stared at him for a moment, her voice barely audible when she spoke again.
"Then tell me something…" Her gaze flicked up to the hallway beyond him, the walls lined with frozen memories. "Why are her photos still up?"
Daniel's mouth opened slightly, but nothing came out.
"Let me rephrase that," she said, a bitter edge creeping in. "Do you still love your late wife?"
He stood frozen, eyes refusing to meet hers, lips pressed shut. Not because he didn't want to speak, but because he didn't know what to say. Or worse, because he wasn't sure how to explain what he felt.
Esther was his wife. He loved her, deeply, surely. She had brought light into his life after a long stretch of grief and loneliness. She had become the heartbeat of his home, and the last thing he wanted was to lose her.
But Marian… Marian had been his first love, his anchor through the early storms of life. She was the mother of his child, a woman whose memory still lingered in the very walls of this house. And as much as he wished it weren't true, a part of him didn't know how to let go of that past, how to separate grief from loyalty, memory from guilt.
He couldn't speak. And that silence said everything.
"Right," Esther breathed, the word catching in her throat as she shook her head slowly. She didn't need him to answer anymore. His silence was a dagger, sharper than any word he could have spoken. Every second of it cut deeper.
In that moment, she saw it clearly, no matter what she did, no matter how much she gave, she would always be chasing a ghost. Always standing in the shadow of a woman no longer here.
To him, she wasn't a partner, just a placeholder. A living memory of something he'd already lost.
"Get out," Esther said, her voice low but sharp, each word cutting like glass. She pointed toward the door, her hand trembling with rage. "Leave. Now. I don't want to see you."
"Esther, please… can we just.."
"Out!" she screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of everything she'd bottled up. She shoved him hard, the force of her pain behind her hands. "I said get out!"
Daniel staggered back a step, stunned, not by the shove, but by the finality in her eyes.
"Don't come back," she added, her voice breaking, before slamming the door shut in his face.
The door slammed before he could say anything more.
Daniel stood on the other side of it, breathing hard, his chest hollow.
Inside, Esther slid to the floor, the strength drained from her limbs. Silent tears spilled as she buried her face in her hands.
And for the first time, they were both truly alone.