Back at the Williams mansion, the living room felt unusually crowded, though one presence was glaringly absent.
Zach.
The old couple sat opposite Samy and Natalie, the air between them tight and uneasy, as though everyone was waiting for something unspoken to explode.
Imelda's eyes moved around the room before settling into a frown. "Where is Athena? I haven't seen her since I came back from my trip."
Samy didn't hesitate. "She packed out of the house already."
Scott's brows pulled together. "Why did she do that?"
Samy lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. "She said she wasn't comfortable here anymore. That she wanted to move somewhere better."
Imelda's lips tightened. "Did you try to stop her?"
"Yes," Samy replied smoothly. "But she refused to listen."
Imelda turned sharply to Natalie. "What about you?"
Natalie lowered her gaze. "I tried too. But she shunned me."
Imelda shook her head, disbelief etched into every line of her face. "I don't believe this."
She rose abruptly and headed for the stairs, her steps heavy with urgency.
Samy let out a short breath and glanced at Scott. "Dad, does Mom think I'm lying to her?"
Scott stood up slowly, his expression darkening. "I don't know about that." His eyes hardened. "But if I find out that you're lying to both of us, I won't take it lightly."
Without another word, he followed Imelda upstairs.
Natalie slid closer to Samy, lowering her voice. "Mom… are we safe?"
Samy nodded. "Yes. Of course."
Natalie exhaled deeply. "Thank God."
"But," Samy added quietly, "make sure you don't make them suspicious."
"Sure."
"I thought you said you were going to a birthday party today?"
"It's a night party," Natalie replied. "I'll be leaving by six."
"No problem." Samy stood. "Excuse me. I want to check up on something upstairs."
"Okay."
As Samy walked away, Natalie stretched out on the sofa, a slow, gleeful smile curving her lips—one that didn't quite match the tension lingering in the room.
Meanwhile, upstairs in Athena's room, the silence felt sacred—and violated.
Imelda sat on the edge of Athena's bed, her hand brushing against the empty space where a life had once unfolded. Scott stood opposite her, arms folded, watching carefully.
"Has your love for this kid gotten to this stage?" he asked.
"Yes," Imelda replied without hesitation.
Scott sighed. "What got you attracted to this girl in the first place?"
Imelda stared at him, stunned. "Is that even a question?" Her voice trembled. "She is my granddaughter, for God's sake."
"Just because she's your granddaughter," Scott pressed, "you think it's normal to doubt your biological child for her sake?"
"I'm not doubting Samy," Imelda said quietly. "I know Samy." Her fingers clenched into the bedsheet. "Athena would never leave this place willingly. Not unless someone forced her to." She looked up sharply. "And the only person capable of that is Samy."
Scott was silent for a moment. "So what do you want to do now? Disown your own child because of this?"
"I just want the truth," Imelda whispered. "I refuse to believe the daughter I raised could be this cruel to her niece."
Scott nodded slowly. "If that's what you want… I'll do it for you."
"Please," Imelda said, her voice breaking, "excuse me. I want to be alone."
"Okay."
Scott walked out, closing the door softly behind him.
Imelda lay back on Athena's bed, staring at the ceiling, surrounded by echoes of a girl who had been pushed out of her own home—and a truth that was clawing its way to the surface.