The grand hall was silent except for the gentle clatter of porcelain. Nora, dressed in her maid uniform, was cleaning the long dining table. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the cups. The calm before the storm was brewing in her chest. She felt it.
Suddenly, the doors burst open.
Nathaira paused at the top of the staircase, her heels clicking against the marble as she descended. "What the hell?" she whispered when she saw the unexpected guests entering. Her entire family was there—Lady Dabira, Lord Mercan, her younger brother, and even… Asher.
She turned sharply to her mother. "What are you doing here?"
Lady Dabira gave no direct answer, only muttered to her husband, clearly uneasy. Shaw stepped forward, calm and composed, placing a silver pistol on the table with a loud thud. The room fell into stunned silence.
He turned to Lady Dabira. "Your daughter is the most precious to you… am I right?"
"Yes," Lady Dabira answered carefully, unsure of where this was going.
"Good," Shaw nodded. Then he stepped back.
Nora, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke, her voice cold but clear. "Ash."
Asher turned toward her.
"Yes, Nora?"
"Get me that gun, please."
"Gun?" Nathaira gasped. "Are you mad?!"
But Nora didn't flinch. She didn't smile. Her eyes were dead calm.
Then Asher exploded. "YOU KILLED NANA! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S FUCKING MAD, YOU DUMBASS BITCH!"
"Shhh…" Nora whispered, her gaze still fixed.
Zayan, standing near the window, felt a chill run down his spine. How did he know? Then it hit him. That's why she asked for their parents to come.
Shaw nodded gravely, his Polish accent thick. "Your daughter is going to pay."
Nathaira flinched. "What… what is he talking about?"
Lady Dabira's expression cracked. "The plan was simple—get Zayan in bed, get pregnant, secure the marriage."
Then Lord Mercan thundered, "What exactly did you do?!"
Asher didn't hold back. "She hired men. They set the orphanage on fire. Nana died in that fire."
Nora turned to Lady Dabira. "Now, look at your daughter… for the very last time."
She slowly picked up the pistol.
"Nora!" Zayan called out, stepping forward. "Drop the gun. It's not a toy."
But the guards in the room had already raised their weapons. Everyone scattered. Zayan's mother and Aveline ducked behind a pillar. Shaw's men quickly formed a shield around Nora.
"Asher," Nora said softly, "go hide. Cover your ears."
The boy obeyed.
Nora looked down, aimed carefully, and shot a guard in the arm.
Screams erupted. Another guard lunged—Shaw fired. The room was chaos.
Nathaira tried to run.
A loud bang. A scream.
Nora had shot her in the knees.
Nathaira collapsed, crying and crawling away as Nora approached. She was calm. Scarily calm.
"You know," Nora said, crouching beside her, brushing her hair back gently, "I'm just a maid. Just trying to be happy. Even when times were hard… Nana always believed in me. You took that away."
She placed the gun against Nathaira's forehead.
"You took Nana away from me and the kids. All for a man who doesn't even love you. There are people out there who love more fiercely than anything else…"
The room was holding its breath.
Then, in a small, childlike voice, Nora whispered, "Now say bye."
"Nora…" Zayan stepped forward, his voice trembling. "Please… don't."
"Why not?" she said, eyes welling with tears. "My home's gone. My Nana is gone. CAN THEY BRING HER BACK?!"
No one answered. Not even Zayan. The rage in her voice made even Shaw stiffen.
"Nora," Asher said softly from the floor, tears in his eyes, "just leave her. Please. Nana's soul won't be happy if you do this…"
Nora's hands trembled.
Zayan moved closer and gently reached for the gun. "Come on," he said. "Let her go."
She slowly lowered the weapon, her arms going limp. Nathaira lay in a pool of her own blood, sobbing.
Lord Mercan stormed forward. "YOU ARE THE GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT! HOW COULD YOU?!"
Lady Dabira couldn't even look at her daughter. She turned away.
"Guards," Lord Mercan ordered. "Take her away."
As they dragged Nathaira, she looked at Nora. "I… I'm sorry."
But Nora turned her face away. She said nothing.
Asher took Nora's hand and led her out. Shaw followed behind, silent.
Later that night, in her room, Nora sat on the bed, drained. Her eyes were heavy, her soul heavier.
Zayan entered quietly. He didn't speak. Just laid beside her, holding her close.
"You're safe now," he whispered, brushing the hair from her forehead.
She fell asleep in his arms, her dreams filled with ashes and Nana's warm smile.