The grand living room was cloaked in thick silence, tension curling through the air like smoke. Zayan sat with the rest of the boys and Asher, his face cold, unreadable—dangerously calm.
Leon was shoved to his feet, bloodied and bruised. His father, Abe, stood nearby, summoned by Zayan's orders. The older man looked broken, weighed down by shame. He knew why he was here. He had always known what kind of son he had raised.
"Mr. Kai," Abe began, voice trembling with guilt, "I know you don't forgive easily…but I beg you, let me deal with this. I will make it right."
Zayan's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening with pain and rage.
"Abe," he said coldly, rising from his seat, "let me show you what your good-for-nothing son did to my wife."
Upstairs, Nora was unaware of the storm below. She was counting steps, her toy in one hand, jumping from one step to another.
"One… two… five—oops!" she giggled, then ran back up again to start over. Her innocent joy was a sharp contrast to the chaos brewing downstairs.
Rex, sensing what was about to unfold, quickly went to her.
"Hey sis," he said gently, "wanna see something beautiful?"
Nora nodded happily, hugging the soft toy Zayan had gifted her. Rex placed headphones over her ears, shielding her from the noise, and led her to the kitchen. There, he began cooking something special just for her.
Back in the living room, Zayan stood before Leon, his eyes a storm of fury.
"I'm going to send you to a place you'll never return from," he said coldly.
Abe swallowed hard. He had spent years cleaning up after his son's arrogance and cruelty. But this time… this time, even he couldn't save him.
He exhaled shakily. "Do as you please."
Zayan smirked, turning to his men. "Hang him outside."
"No—no! Please!" Leon screamed. "I beg you! Please don't!"
But it was too late.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Rex had finished cooking. Nora smiled, eating happily and even trying to feed her toy.
"Here, Zayany," she said sweetly, holding up a spoon. "Eat. Yum yum!"
Then her eyes lit up. "Can I call Nana? I wanna call Nana now! Now now now!" she squealed, excitement quickly turning into distress when she couldn't.
She suddenly burst into tears and bolted out of the kitchen. Rex called after her, but she was already gone.
Downstairs, just as Zayan delivered the final shots, ending Leon's life, Nora arrived—her small form framed at the base of the stairs. The men burned the body as Zayan turned and saw her standing there, wide-eyed and trembling.
He quickly signaled for the men to cover the scene.
Nora marched up to him, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"I wanna call Nana… Please… Pretty pleaaaaase," she cried, her voice quivering with emotion.
Zayan knelt before her, softening.
"Love," he said gently, "Nana travelled… She left. She's not coming back. But I'm here. I promised Nana I'd take care of you."
Nora sniffled, still crying. "Y-y-y-you pinky promise?"
He smiled and held out his pinky. "Yes, baby. I pinky promise."
"Okay…" she whispered, rubbing her eyes. "Let's go finish my food. Can you feed me?"
"Of course," Zayan said softly.
He turned to Abe one last time. "This—" he gestured to Nora, still shaking in his arms, "is what your son did to my wife. I hope he rots in hell."
Abe looked at the broken child in Zayan's arms and closed his eyes in shame. "I sincerely apologize. I failed as a father."
Later, in Zayan's room, Nora sat beside him, spoon in hand. She tried to feed him too, and he smiled, playing along. They ate together—just the two of them.
After her second cup of warm milk, she began to drift off, curling into the bed. Zayan gently tucked her in, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Once she was asleep, he moved to his desk, his expression growing serious again.
He still had work to do.
He opened his laptop and dove back into his research.
He had to find a way to bring her memories back.
No matter what it took.