It had only been minutes since Esther kicked Daniel out of their room. Now, she lay curled in bed, sobbing quietly. Not because of the attempted assault, though that had shaken her, but because the man she loved seemed bound to a past that refused to let her in. His silence had been louder than any denial. He was still clinging to Marian, and no matter what Esther did, it felt like she'd always be second best.
Her heart ached in the quiet.
Then came a soft knock at the door.
Esther stirred, lifting her head from the pillow. Her eyes drifted to the door, unsure if she was ready to face him again.
She inhaled deeply, bracing herself for the storm of seeing Daniel's face again… but when she opened the door, it wasn't him.
"Can I come in?" came a small, innocent voice.
Betty stood at the doorway, clutching a pillow in her arms. "I can't sleep," she said softly. "Can I stay with you tonight?"
Esther blinked back the tears and quickly wiped her face. "Yes," she whispered, her voice hoarse. She stepped aside. "Come in."
"Thank you," Betty said, padding inside and heading toward the bed. "I saw Dad outside. He was drinking and… smoking."
That stopped Esther cold.
"Smoking?" she repeated, eyes wide. She knew about Daniel's occasional drinking, but smoking? That was new.
"Yes," Betty nodded, climbing onto the bed. "He only does that when he's really stressed or hurt."
Esther sat down beside her. "Did… did something happen?" she asked carefully.
Betty tilted her head. "Did you fight with him?"
Esther hesitated. "No. Why would you say that?"
The girl gave her a knowing look. "Because that's the only reason he'd be like that. And your eyes are red. You've been crying."
Esther sighed and reached for her hand. "I'm sorry, sunflower. Your dad and I are just… having a small misunderstanding. We'll work it out. Eventually."
Betty studied her. "Okay," she said slowly. "But are you going to tell me what happened? What did Dad do to get kicked out of the room?"
Esther blinked, surprised. "How did you?"
"I might be a kid, but I can read people. And adults lie more than they tell us not to," Betty said seriously. She reached for Esther's hand again. "Did he do something bad?"
"Not exactly," Esther murmured, unsure how to explain. Was she supposed to tell her that it was about her mother's pictures? About the unspoken weight of Daniel's past?
"It's nothing, sunflower," she said instead.
"That's another lie," Betty said simply. "I overheard Mather talking. She said it's about Mom. Is that true? Are you upset because her pictures are still in the house?"
Esther's chest tightened, her throat going dry. "No, I mean yes," she admitted, voice small. "I know it sounds selfish… but I just wanted a space of my own in this house. In your lives. And everywhere I turn… it's like she's still here."
"It doesn't rest well with you," Betty finished for her.
"Something like that," Esther whispered. "I'm sorry. I know I sound unbearable. I'm not jealous. I just… sometimes it's hard. Really hard."
Silence fell between them. Betty looked away, quiet for a moment, and Esther feared she had said too much.
Then, the girl turned back and said gently, "I care about Mom's pictures, and I think your demand is kind of big… but I love you, Esther-mom. And if taking them down makes you happy, I'll accept it."
Esther stared. "You're… willing to do that?"
"Yes. You're my mom now, and your happiness matters to me. I'd feel bad if you replaced me with another kid. So I get it. You care about us, that's why it hurts."
Tears burned again in Esther's eyes, but this time they were different. She pulled Betty into a hug, holding her tight.
"Thank you, Sunflower," Esther whispered as she pulled Betty into a warm embrace. Maybe she wasn't just a replacement after all. Maybe she didn't need the pictures taken down to feel like she belonged. What truly mattered was the love within the walls of this home, and Betty had just reminded her of that in the most tender way.
"You know what?" Esther said softly, her decision now firm. "Let's leave them up."
Betty looked up at her, surprised. "But… don't you want them down?"
"I did," Esther admitted. "But now, I don't. You've given me something better than assurance. You've shown me that I do belong here, that this family is mine. I don't need to erase the past to feel seen or loved." She leaned down and kissed the top of Betty's head gently. "Thank you for that."
Betty smiled, snuggling closer. "I'm glad you feel that way," she smiled. "But I still think they should come down."
Esther laughed, light and genuine. "We'll talk about that tomorrow. Right now, it's bedtime."
She tucked Betty in, brushing hair from her face and planting a kiss on her forehead.
On the second floor, Daniel walked in after finishing his second cigarette, the smoke still lingering on his clothes. He popped two mints into his mouth, scrubbing the taste away as he headed for his study.
"Mather!" he called out when the door refused to open.
"Yes, sir!" Mather replied, rushing toward him.
Daniel glanced at her briefly. "Who locked the door?"
Mather froze, her posture stiff and eyes lowered.
"I said, who locked it?" His voice sharpened.
She swallowed hard before answering. "Ma'am Esther… she ordered it."
Daniel's jaw tightened. "Meaning?"
"She asked me to lock your study… and the other unused rooms too," Mather said, voice trembling .
She had been getting ready for bed when Esther summoned her and instructed her to secure Daniel's study and the unused rooms.
"Where is the key?" he interrupted, already growing weary of the explanation. All he wanted was to be alone in his study.
"She has them. All of them," Mather replied quickly, wringing her hands. "And she said to tell you… if you need a place to sleep, try the living room, or better yet, outside in the cold."
Daniel let out a long, tired sigh. "You can go," he said, dismissing her with a small wave.
He didn't blame Mather, she was just doing what she'd been told. Esther, however, was clearly trying to send a message. And she was doing it loud and clear. She had locked him out of his own space, and now, with nowhere else to go, the couch downstairs was his only option.
As he made his way down to the first floor, he pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Thomas," he said coldly when the call connected. "Find a way to get John out of prison. I want him out from under police protection."
His eyes darkened.
"And when he is… I'll make his life hell."
Morning crept in not with light, but with a biting chill that clung to the walls. The house, one of Daniel Lewis's lesser-known business outposts, sat tucked away in the forgotten edge of the eastern city. No neighbors. No noise. Just shadows and silence, and the low hum of cruelty settling into its corners.
Inside, the room smelled of cold, damp concrete, and old secrets. The blinds were half-closed, letting in thin stripes of pale light that cut across the cracked floor. In the center of the room, John sat slouched, bound to a steel chair. His wrists were chained, ankles too, head drooped from the weight of exhaustion. Blood crusted along his brow, a purpling bruise swelling his cheek. Whoever had handled him before Daniel arrived had made their point, with fists and fury.
The door creaked open.
Footsteps echoed, slow and deliberate.
Daniel Lewis stepped in, dressed sharp despite the setting, dark coat, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable. He paused in front of John, his cold gaze dragging over the battered man.
He said nothing at first.
Just looked.
Let John feel the silence stretch until it became heavier than the chains.
Then finally, Daniel spoke, his voice low and calm, but it was the kind of calm that carried danger.
"I'm going to ask this once," he said, eyes locked on the broken figure before him. "Who sent you to kidnap my wife?"
His tone was icy, each word slicing through the tension like a blade.
John's wrists, raw and bleeding under the cuffs, twitched as he tried to adjust his weight. His split lips trembled before parting.
"N–no one," he stuttered.
CRACK!
The guard beside him landed another brutal blow across his already battered jaw. John's head snapped to the side, blood spraying from his mouth.
"I swear!" he choked out, voice shaking. "No one sent me… I did it on my own. I,I just wanted to get back at you… for ruining my life…"
He coughed hard, tears stinging his eyes, mixing with blood and sweat. "I never meant to…"
Daniel didn't flinch. Didn't blink. He just turned away, slowly, as if John's words had bounced off a wall of steel.
He didn't believe a word.
John had vanished just as the investigation into the NeuroSpeech breach began, right when his name was flagged. He had help leaving the country. Someone powerful wanted him protected. Someone who later sent him after Esther.
And Daniel would bleed the truth from his flesh if he had to.
"Mr. Lewis, I'm sorry," John whimpered. "I never should've gone after your wife…"
"No," Daniel said, his voice a quiet thunder as he turned back around. His eyes burned now, not with rage, but with something far more dangerous: control.
"You shouldn't have."
He stepped forward, leaned in.
"And now, I'm going to make sure you regret not just what you did…"
"…but the very thought of it."
Meanwhile, Alhaji's private house was grand, silent, and cold in the morning light. The air hung heavy with the tension of what was about to unfold.
Sarah stood at the mini-bar, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Her heart raced. She hadn't touched the drink Alhaji had asked to be served, she couldn't. The news of John's arrest still echoed in her ears, and she was sure that was why Alhaji had summoned her so early.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Alhaji Jalloh appeared, walking slowly but with deadly precision. His robe swayed with each calculated step, his expression unreadable, until he got close.
"Alhaji, I.." Sarah began.
SMACK.
The sound of the slap cracked through the air like a whip.
Her head jerked to the side, and she staggered, one hand flying to her face. Her jaw throbbed, red and bruising fast. She looked up slowly, stunned, lips trembling, but her eyes didn't dare meet his.
"Who gave you the right to make decisions behind my back?" Alhaji thundered, stalking closer.
"I… I'm sorry. I should've told you," Sarah stammered, instinctively stepping backward. "I just wanted to help."
"Help me?" he spat. "We both know that's not true."
He slipped a hand into his pocket, his eyes narrowing with menace.
"Your stupidity might cost me everything I've spent years building," he hissed. "Do you even understand what this means?"
Sarah swallowed hard, her breath shallow. She had expected anger, but not this fury. Not this violence.
"I'll fix it. I promise," she whispered, voice barely holding together.
"Oh really? How?" Alhaji's voice rose again. "You think fixing this is that easy? Do you even know that John escaped police custody last night?"
Sarah blinked in confusion. "Isn't that a good thing?" she asked, cautiously.
Alhaji's face twisted into a look of pure disdain. "You really are a fool."
He shook his head, stepping even closer. "John didn't just escape. He was freed. Someone pulled strings to get him out."
"And guess who's behind it?" His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "Lewis. Daniel Lewis."
The name hit Sarah like ice water.
"I received word an hour after it happened," Alhaji went on. "Your little plan backfired, and now he has John. You think that man will let him go? No, Sarah. He'll break him, piece by piece, until he talks."
Sarah's legs wobbled. "But… Mr. Lewis wouldn't do that. He follows the law. I worked for him for years, he's never broken protocol, never done anything illegal…"
Alhaji laughed bitterly, short, humorless, dangerous.
"You really are stupid, Miss Cole."
His tone dropped into something dark, laced with contempt. "Daniel Lewis doesn't follow the law. He owns it. He makes the rules, controls the people who enforce them. On the surface, he's all clean hands and moral codes, but underneath? He's a monster. And you just gave him the one reason to show his teeth."
Sarah took another step back, arms wrapped around her trembling frame. "What do we do now?" she whispered, voice thin and terrified.
Alhaji stared at her for a long, cold second.
Then he spoke, calm as a blade being unsheathed.
"You better pray, Sarah," he said. "Because if John talks, if he tells Lewis what really happened…"
He stepped past her, muttering as he went.
"…you're dead."
Sarah stood frozen, eyes wide, blood rushing in her ears. She had thought she was playing a game of strategy.
But now, she realized, she'd stepped into a war. And Daniel Lewis was coming.
Back in the room, John was being treated like a human punching bag,his head shoved into a plastic bag filled with ice cubes, his face battered and swollen from repeated hits. The air reeked of blood, sweat, and fear.
From the corner, Daniel watched in cold silence. Minutes passed.
Then his voice cut through the room, low, composed, but chilling.
"Are you ready to talk?"
John coughed, gasping through bruised lips. "I swear… no one sent me. I did it all on my own."
His voice wavered, but the lie stayed intact. He was trapped between two devils, Daniel and Alhaji. If he spoke, Alhaji would make sure he never lived to see daylight. And Daniel… well, he still hoped the man had limits.
He was wrong.
"Alright then," Daniel said coolly, rising to his feet. "You want the hard way?"
He turned, speaking to the man beside him.
"Bullet, cut off his manhood."
John's eyes snapped open.
"Wait, what?!"
He thrashed in his seat, glancing wildly between Daniel's unreadable face and Bullet's steady hand reaching for a sterilized shear on the tray.
"You're bluffing… you won't… you can't be serious!"
Daniel stepped forward, leaned in until their faces were inches apart. His voice dropped to a whisper, lethal and calm.
"Aren't I?"
Then he turned to Bullet and gave a small nod.
"Do it."
Bullet moved without hesitation, grabbing the shears and yanking down John's trousers. The cold steel gleamed under the light, gliding into place..
"WAIT!!" John screamed, his voice raw and desperate. "WAIT, I'll talk! I'll talk, please!!"
Daniel raised a hand.
Everything stopped.
He looked at John, voice low and deadly.
"I'm listening."
"It was Sarah," John gasped, his voice ragged. "Sarah ordered me to do it. She paid me to assault your wife, said she wanted to ruin her, humiliate her. I swear I wasn't going to go through with it, but she forced me…"
The confession spilled out of him in desperation, his words tumbling over one another. He looked up, hoping for mercy.
But Daniel's expression didn't change. His jaw remained clenched, his eyes flat, but something in them shifted. Something darker. Something final.
"Sarah…" he echoed coldly, as if tasting the name and finding it bitter. Of course. He should have known. She hadn't changed. A woman driven by envy and poisoned by hate. To arrange an assault on her own sister…
"She wants to destroy Esther," John continued, coughing through the pain. "She said Esther stole her life… Please, Mr. Lewis. Let me go. I didn't touch her, I swear. I was going to, but I couldn't. Please…"
Daniel took a step back, inhaling slowly, fury controlled behind every breath. His hands flexed at his sides, his mind already reeling ahead.
"Alright," he said coldly. "Now tell me about the other job. Who ordered you to steal the NeuroSpeech prototype months ago?"
John's head dropped. His heart hammered in his chest. This was worse. Far worse. If he said Alhaji's name, he was a dead man. But Daniel… Daniel wasn't exactly sparing either.
"I… I… I.."
"Bullet," Daniel said calmly.
"JALLOH!" John screamed before the man could take a step. "It was the Jallohs! They wanted the tech, they said it was the future, said you didn't deserve to own something that powerful. They planned to sell it overseas. I just followed orders, Mr Lewis, I swear!"
Daniel stood there in silence, stone-faced. Then, slowly, he took out a handkerchief and wiped a spot of blood from his knuckle with meticulous precision.
"Remove the chains," he said to Bullet.
John blinked in confusion. "You… you're letting me go?"
Daniel's eyes locked on his.
"No," he said flatly. Then turned to Bullet.
"Have it cut off."
And with that, he walked out of the room, not once looking back.
Outside the room, Thomas stood by the door, arms crossed, his face blank but watchful. He didn't flinch when Daniel stepped out, blood still fresh on the cuffs of his shirt, the echo of John's final scream lingering in the air behind him.
Thomas straightened.
"It's done," he said. "The report you asked for… it's complete."
Daniel didn't speak. He simply looked at him, waiting.
Thomas nodded once and handed over a slim file. "We traced every leak, the client lists, trade secrets, insider contracts, all of it. Every breadcrumb led to one person."
Daniel opened the file, his eyes scanning quickly. His jaw tensed as he reached the final page.
"Sarah."
Thomas gave a small nod. "She's been selling intel for months now. Some to the Jallohs, some to outside firms. Everything, every loss we've suffered, was orchestrated through her access."
Daniel closed the file with a soft but ominous snap.
The hallway stretched quiet between them.
"Prep the car," he said, voice calm again, but carrying a storm beneath. "We're heading to the office."
Thomas hesitated for a beat. "You want me to alert security?"
Daniel didn't answer right away. His eyes were distant, calculating, already five steps ahead. He started walking.
"No. Let her feel safe… until I walk in."
And with that, he disappeared down the hall, the silence behind him thick with what was coming.