The mansion's atmosphere was tense, thick with unspoken words. Zayan sat on his usual chair—an imposing throne-like seat with dark golden lining—commanding the room like a king. Everyone was already gathered in the massive living room when he spoke.
"I believe everyone is now present," he said, voice deep and final.
Heads nodded. Silence followed.
Mr. Byron, standing beside his wife and eldest son, shifted nervously. Zayan's eyes narrowed on him.
"Tell me, Mr. Byron," Zayan began, his tone sharp. "Did you teach your daughter proper manners and discipline?"
Nathaira, standing near her father, looked terrified.
Mr. Byron cleared his throat, clearly unsure. "Well, uh… Mr. Zayan, I raised all my children to be well-mannered and disciplined…"
"Then why," Zayan interrupted coldly, "did your daughter send a child to the hospital?"
Mr. Byron's eyes widened. "What?"
Zayan turned toward the maid standing quietly at the corner—Nora.
"You see that maid over there?" he asked, gesturing. Byron nodded, slowly.
"She's been raising a little boy since he was a baby. He's her entire world. And thanks to your daughter, that boy hasn't woken up since yesterday."
Gasps filled the room. Mr. Byron turned to his daughter in shock.
"I-I… I don't understand," he stammered.
"Let me help you understand," Zayan said coldly, standing and walking over to Nathaira. His presence towered over her. "Start talking, Nathaira. Or I swear, your family will lose everything. I'll ruin every deal, shut down your company, and make sure your name disappears from every elite circle."
Nathaira broke down in fear. "I-I didn't mean for it to happen that way! I set a trap… I wanted the maid to get hurt, not the kid! I was angry… I thought she was stealing you from me!"
Nora stepped forward now, fists clenched. "I told you before—I'm just a maid. I've never broken a single rule in this house. I work hard. I mind my business. And yet you put Ash—my baby—in danger. He's in the hospital because of you. And trust me, Nathaira, I may seem weak, but I swear, if anything happens to him, I will show you just how wrong you are."
"Hey, girl!" Nathaira's mother snapped. "Don't you dare talk to my child like that!"
Nora didn't flinch. She didn't need to.
Mr. Byron whispered under his breath, "Dumbass…"
Zayan returned to his chair, face hard with wrath. "I never want to see her in this mansion again. And you're lucky I didn't shut your company down today." His gaze locked with Mr. Byron's. "I suggest you keep your family on a tighter leash. The next mistake will cost you more than just pride."
Mr. Byron looked pale. Even his son looked terrified. Zayan's name carried weight—and fear.
But Nathaira wasn't done. She dropped to her knees, crying. "Zayan, please! She's just a stupid little maid! I love you! What does she have that I don't?"
Zayan's eyes were cold as steel. "I told you before—I have no emotions. I am a devil. Love? That doesn't exist in my world."
Nora stood frozen, heart pounding. Even she felt a flicker of fear around Zayan sometimes.
Then Mr. Byron turned to Nora, voice softer. "What is your name, child?"
Before Nora could speak, Aveline—Zayan's aunt—tilted her head, curious.
"Nora," she said. "Nora Lilith."
Aveline froze. "Did you just say… Lilith?"
Nora nodded. "Yeah, Lilith. Why?"
"As in Shaw Lilith?" Aveline asked sharply, holding onto Catalina for support.
"Who's that?" Nora asked, genuinely confused.
Zayan's gaze sharpened. He had seen Aveline's reaction. Something was wrong—very wrong.
"You mean your last name is Lilith, and you don't know who Shaw Lilith is?" he asked.
Nora shook her head. "I'm an orphan. My nana said she found me in a basket outside the orphanage with a note and that name: Nora Lilith. That's all I've ever known."
Aveline stepped back, visibly shaken. She shook her head at Zayan when he looked at her.
Zayan nodded slightly. "That's enough for today."
As Nora turned to leave, her anger still simmering, the name echoed in her head: Shaw Lilith.
She mumbled to herself, "Lilith… It's my last name. So what does that mean?"
She didn't know it yet—but her past was coming to light.
And it would change everything.