After Ada left, Ken sat still, staring at the sealed envelope on his desk like it might explode.
His heart thudded as he slowly tore it open. The sound of ripping paper filled the silent room.
He pulled out the crisp sheet inside and unfolded it with shaking hands, scanning the neatly typed words and figures.
Then he exhaled.
A small, relieved smile formed on his lips.
Marvin and Marius Duru – Paternity Confirmed.
They were his.
Despite all the chaos, despite the doubt that had eaten at him for days, at least one thing was certain now: those boys were truly his sons.
But the relief only lasted a moment.
Another wave of worry crashed over him.
Lina. Four days missing.
Where are you?
He stood up suddenly, shoved the report into his desk drawer, and left the study with purpose.
It was time.
He had to confront Mara again. Something was wrong, and he couldn't ignore the fear twisting in his gut anymore.
Ken walked quickly down the hallway toward the sunroom, Mara's favorite space in the house, the place she called her sanctuary.
As he neared the door, his steps slowed.
The door was slightly open.
Golden sunlight streamed through the glass, casting warm light on Mara's figure.
She stood with her back to him, holding her phone tightly. Her voice was low but filled with panic.
"…how could she have escaped?" she hissed. "That wasn't the plan. You told me…"
Ken froze.
Escaped?
His breath caught in his throat.
He stepped back quietly, not wanting to be noticed.
His heart pounded.
Who had escaped? Lina?
Mara kept pacing, unaware he was there.
Her voice dropped, but Ken still caught parts of it.
"…I paid you. I trusted you… I want her gone before he finds out anything…"
That was all he needed to hear.
Ken stepped into the sunroom. The wooden floor creaked beneath his shoe.
Mara spun around, startled. She almost dropped her phone.
"Ken! You scared me…" she said quickly, trying to compose herself.
But Ken didn't say a word.
He stared at her, his wife, the woman who had just asked someone how another person had escaped.
And his silence said more than words.
He stepped closer, his eyes locked on her.
His voice was calm, far too calm.
"What did you do to her?"
Mara blinked. Then straightened. "Who?" she asked, pretending not to understand, though her hand trembled around her phone.
"Lina," Ken said coldly. "Don't play games."
Mara gave a fake laugh and folded her arms. "I wasn't talking about her."
Ken moved a step closer. "Don't insult my intelligence. I know you too well. I knew you wouldn't just let that poor girl walk away after she gave you those beautiful twins like some paid surrogate."
"You think you know me?" Mara scoffed, her voice rising. "You don't know anything, Ken."
"I know you're lying. And I know you're scared."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You've been distant for days. You barely look at the boys. You're pacing and whispering on the phone like you're being hunted. That's not the woman I married."
She turned sharply. "So now I'm on trial in my own house?"
Ken didn't flinch.
"Why are you so desperate to hide her? What did she do to deserve this? She gave birth to your sons, Mara!"
"No! She gave birth to your sons!" Mara suddenly snapped, her voice cracking.
Ken froze.
Mara turned away, realizing she had said too much.
He stepped closer, his voice cold and low.
"So that's what this is about? You were never going to let her go, were you? What did you plan, Mara? Kill her?"
"No!" she shouted—too fast, too hard.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Ken's jaw tightened.
"Then tell me the truth. Where is Lina?"
Mara looked at the phone in her hand, then back at him. For the first time, he saw fear in her eyes.
There was a long pause.
The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed louder than ever.
Mara finally spoke, her voice dry and hoarse.
"I don't know. She never made it to the airport. The driver I sent to take her there… is missing too. I was told they were attacked on the way."
Ken blinked, shocked. He stepped back as if her words had struck him.
"The driver is missing too?" he said, disbelief in his voice. "When did you find this out?"
Mara didn't answer.
Her silence said everything.
Ken clenched his fists. His anger was rising.
"Why are there always secrets with you, Mara? What else are you hiding in this house?"
Her eyes blazed.
"Don't turn this on me!" she snapped. "Why do you even care so much about that girl? Huh? Why are you so obsessed with her? Do you… know her from somewhere?"
Ken stared at her with cold fury.
Then he said slowly, "I don't owe you any explanation. But listen carefully, Mara—whatever you've done, whoever you've involved, you better pray that girl is safe. Because if anything happens to her…"
He shook his head slowly, locking eyes with her.
"Not even your father's name will save you."
Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked out.
Mara stood frozen in the middle of the sunroom, her phone still in her hand, her body trembling, and Ken's words echoing in her ears.
She knew.
That wasn't just a warning.
It was a promise.