The silence in the hospital room hung like a noose.
Stephanie's voice trembled as she pointed an accusing finger at Elena. "You're lying."
Elena's smile faltered, but she didn't look away. "I wish I was, Stephanie."
"No." Stephanie shook her head furiously. "Dad wasn't a murderer. He wasn't a saint, but he wasn't—he didn't kill anyone. He saved Nathan. He pulled him out of that fire!"
Elena exhaled slowly, eyes shimmering. "He only saved him because he was still breathing when he got there. He was supposed to make sure no one came out of that wreckage. But when he saw Nathan alive—just a child—he hesitated. I was there. I saw him."
Leo stepped forward, confusion clouding his face. "Wait—there has to be a mistake. Why would Dad… why would he even be involved in something like that?"
Elizabeth's eyes fell. Her lips quivered, the weight of years pressing down on her spine. "Because he was paid to," she said quietly. "Paid by Victor Voss."
An audible gasp broke from Leo. "Victor Voss? As in…Damien's father—Nathan's uncle?"
Anita gripped Leo's arm. "The same one who sent men to attack Stephanie and you?"
Elena nodded. "Yes. Victor hired him. And when I found out what he did… I couldn't stay.I blamed myself for it.I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye."
Stephanie stared at them all like they were strangers. "So, what—he just did it for money? Our father?!"
Elizabeth's voice cracked. "I don't know what else to say to make you understand. I didn't want you to grow up in a house built on blood that was why I wanted to take you and Leo with me but you chose to stay with your father."
Stephanie stepped back, shaking her head, eyes brimming with betrayal. "You're all liars. He wasn't a murderer. You just hate him because he chose us. He chose me."
"No," Elena said, her tone firm now. "He chose himself. He was never the man you thought he was, Steph. You think he loved us? Then where was the love when he took a contract to murder a family in cold blood?"
"Stop talking like you knew him better than we did," Steph snapped. "You left! You don't get to show up after eighteen years and tear down my entire life!"
Leo tried to step between them, but Stephanie flung his hand off her arm. "And you—" she turned to Elizabeth, eyes burning. "You don't get to tell me who to love. You didn't raise me. You weren't there when I needed you."
Elizabeth's voice shook. "I know. And I will never stop being sorry for that. But I left because I had to, not because I wanted to. I thought it was the only way to protect you."
"Well, congratulations," Stephanie hissed. "You left me with a memory of a father I adored… and now you want to rewrite that."
Stephanie turned sharply and stormed toward the door.
"Steph!" Leo called after her, his voice ragged with disbelief.
But Anita didn't hesitate—she ran after Stephanie, catching up with her just outside the hospital doors.
"Steph, wait!" she called, grabbing her wrist.
Stephanie yanked her arm back. "No, Anita. Don't. Don't try to stop me."
"You can't just walk away from this!"
"Why not? I've done it before. I've walked away from people who only wanted to hurt me."
Anita moved in front of her. "Because this isn't about hurt. It's about truth. And you know it."
Stephanie's breath hitched, but she didn't speak.
Anita softened, her voice lowering. "Are you afraid of what you'll hear? Or are you afraid that it might be true?"
Stephanie turned her face away, but Anita stepped closer. "I know you, Steph. You're brave. You face things head-on. But right now, you're running—from your mother, from Elena, from Nathan."
"You don't understand."
"Then help me understand," Anita pleaded. "You're scared that knowing the truth will break you… but living with a lie will break you worse."
Tears welled in Stephanie's eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "He was my father, Anita. My dad. And if this is true, if everything they said is true… then who am I? What does that make me?"
Anita wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly. "It makes you someone strong enough to hear the truth… and choose who you want to be after. That's what makes you who you are, not him."
Stephanie let out a ragged sob against Anita's shoulder.
"I'm here," Anita whispered. "No matter what. But please… come back inside. Listen to her. You've lived so long not knowing—don't keep carrying a weight that was never yours to begin with."
Stephanie didn't speak for a long time. Then, with a shaky nod, she pulled away and wiped her tears.
They walked back into the hospital room. The tension was thick as Elizabeth looked up from her seat. Leo was pacing, eyes unfocused. Elena sat with her arms crossed, staring out the window.
Stephanie stepped in slowly, her voice hoarse but clear.
"Tell me," she said to her mother, "everything. No lies. No secrets. Just… the truth. Please."
And the room fell into silence again—only this time, it was the kind that came before a storm.