The grand mansion buzzed with preparations for yet another party. Glittering lights and luxury filled every hallway, but beneath the surface, something deadly brewed.
Nathaira's plan had grown darker—she planned to kill Nora.
Knowing Nora's daily routine, she poisoned a bottle of water that had been left for her in the kitchen. Just as Nora reached for it, Zayan, watching through the security cameras, moved fast.
He intercepted her on the staircase, bumping into her just enough to knock the bottle from her hand. It crashed onto the marble floor, water splashing everywhere.
"Oh no," Nora frowned, annoyed. "That was mine."
Zayan gave her a small, unreadable smile. "My bad."
She sighed, brushing it off. "It's fine," she said, and headed out to the orphanage.
Unbeknownst to her, Nathaira followed in secret, eyes sharp with hatred.
At the orphanage, Nora was greeted with warmth. Nana opened the door and instantly hugged her, while Asher ran into her arms.
Later that evening, Nora stayed behind to help clean up. The children were already in their rooms, and Nana was in the kitchen.
Her phone rang.
Her blood went cold.
The orphanage was on fire.
She dropped everything and ran out, heart pounding. Flames reached into the sky, and smoke painted the horizon black. The children were screaming. She charged into the blaze, coughing and desperate, and began pulling the children out one by one.
Twelve terrified children. And Asher.
She saved them all.
But Nana was still inside.
Zayan's car passed near the neighborhood as he and his mother returned from the airport. He saw the fire from the window—and something in his chest cracked.
"That's the orphanage," he muttered, then shouted, "STOP THE CAR!"
They jumped out and ran.
Zayan spotted Nora, dragging children out through the fire and smoke. "NORA!" he shouted.
Nora collapsed to her knees, wheezing. "Nana… Nana's still inside…"
Before Zayan could run in, the ceiling collapsed.
Nana was gone.
Nora screamed, a sound so raw it pierced the skies.
"NANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The fire crew extinguished the flames. Ash and silence filled the night.
Then, they brought out Nana's body.
Burned. Broken.
Her pocket held two things: a tiny bracelet with beads spelling NORA and a locket containing a photo of all the children with her, smiling. Nora's eyes fell to the picture. Her hands trembled.
The children gathered, sobbing. Asher clutched her arm.
"Whoever did this… will pay," he whispered.
Zayan stiffened. "What did you say?"
"Someone set our home on fire. And killed Nana."
Nora barely heard him—she was paralyzed by shock, her eyes locked on Nana's body. Her heart shattered as if it had been made of glass.
"Nana…" she whispered, her voice empty. "Look, I love the bracelet… it's beautiful, see?" She smiled faintly, her sanity slipping. "Wake up now… okay?"
Zayan knelt beside her. "Nora…"
"She's sleeping," Nora snapped. "Don't wake her."
A paramedic approached. "We need to take the body, ma'am."
"Body?" Nora turned sharply. "Who are you calling a body? SHE'S SLEEPING! MOVE BACK!"
The paramedic hesitated. Asher ran to her and hugged her tightly.
"No, no, no… don't take her… please…"
They took Nana's body.
Nora fought against Aveline and Zayan's mother as they held her back.
Her scream tore through the air—so loud, the nearby windows cracked.
Twelve children stood crying.
"NANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Zayan stepped forward, his face hard.
"Nora… please… pull yourself together. For the children."
Her breathing slowed. Her gaze dulled. She stood shakily, fell, then stood again.
"Come here," she whispered to the kids. They huddled close, tears streaming down their faces.
Shaw, who had just arrived, stepped forward. "They can stay at my penthouse."
Nora nodded weakly.
As the kids were taken away, Nora walked back into the burned orphanage. Everything was gone—except one thing: a photo of the whole family. Nana in the center. Smiling.
She picked it up, holding it like it was life itself.
Meanwhile, Zayan entered the security room of the orphanage. He demanded the footage. The guards complied and handed him the files.
He left in silence.
Back at the mansion, the maids whispered, the guards bowed their heads. Nora walked in, silent, with the bracelet and locket clutched in her hand.
Upstairs, Nathaira smiled.
"Hmph," she murmured, and walked away.
Nora changed into black pants and a black top. She lay on the cold floor of her room, staring at the photo.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Zayan entered quietly.
"Nora, love…"
She didn't look up.
"She's gone," she whispered. "My world is gone… My smile. My happiness. My mother."
She raised her head, her eyes empty, then suddenly filled with fire.
"And someone killed her." Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "I will kill them all."
She looked up at Zayan—no longer just broken.
But reborn in vengeance.