As Kali sat in the garden the next day, waiting for Ember to get ready, she thought more about her conversation with Samuel. She understood his dilemma but from a different perspective. He was adamant Flora wasn't a vindictive woman, but grief and betrayal brought out the worst in people.

If Flora didn't get over her pain and it transformed into disdain, they would be in for more heat. The ticking bombs were lining up, it seemed, waiting for the right day to explode in their faces.

The chair by her scraped the stone grounds, drawing her eyes away from the flowers. Ysabel, elegantly dressed, as usual, slid into the seat.

"Good morning." Kali saluted.

"What are you doing here so early in the morning?"

"Ember and I are going out today to do a little work."

"I see."

"Anything else you want to ask? Or are you sitting to keep me company?"

"We couldn't talk after the party because you and Samuel rushed off. I wanted us to talk about what happened with my daughter."

"It's been a week or more since then. What's left to talk about?"

"A lot. I haven't addressed it yet, but that's because I had more pressing matters to handle, but I didn't sweep anything under the rug."

"Alright. What do you want to say to me."

"Be careful with your actions around my daughter. I don't believe she was sincere in her apology, and I don't believe she let any of it go."

"Of course, she hasn't."

"So I want you to watch yourself. Your every action must be above reproach."

"I am not the only one that needs to do that. We are in this mess because you decided it was a good idea to dangle your chain of power in front of me in that hotel room. You did it again, at the first dinner at my house. Why wouldn't she get suspicious when you constantly pull me aside."

"You are right. I will keep away from you until we must speak. Aside from that, you will not raise your hand to my daughter again."

"Keep her away from me," Kali warned, not flinching in her composure. "And I wouldn't have to."

"She will stay away. You know your role in this house. You are Samuel's wife, and you don't dare give anyone else a reason to doubt the relationship between you too. My other children say nothing, but I know they have doubts."

"What are you saying."

"You already won my husband over with your show of "the perfect wife". You will keep up these appearances. Everyone must believe Samuel married the perfect woman, and he is happy in that marriage."

"I understand."

"Good. And I hope you don't forget your roles down the line."

"Don't worry. I plan to play all of my roles to perfection. I won't disturb your peace, and I'll be the perfect daughter-in-law." She scooted closer, bracing her arm on the table and looking Ysabel squarely in her eyes. "That also means that whatever it takes to keep my husband satisfied with this marriage until it is over, I'll do it."

She noted when her insinuation settled on Ysabel, and a grin spread over her face. Before the woman could react, Ember came over.

"Good morning, mother. Ember, I am ready. Are you ready?"

"Of course, dear," Kali replied without hesitation. She picked up her phone and purse from the table without dropping her gaze from Ysabel's hardened eyes. "Have a nice day, ma'am. It was nice to see you."

She left Ysabel staring after them, content with the thoughts she had buried in her head. Kali knew that Ysabel didn't want her as a permanent daughter-in-law. Kali was an impediment she planted in the meantime, but she didn't need her forever linked to the family. So, Ysabel's biggest worry would be a relationship forming between her and Samuel. Kali wanted to drown her in doubts.

"Were you arguing?" Ember questioned when they were in the car. They managed to stay silent for most of the ride, and Kali had gotten lost in her phone. "Did she say something about granddad?"

"Some," Kali replied, still staring at the pictures Ember had sent to her. "It doesn't matter. The case is closed, and I want to focus on transforming my apartment for June."

"Fine. I won't push it. Have you chosen the furniture you like? We have to order them early if you want them to arrive before your sister does."

"I am still looking. I might do some redesigning in the apartment. I want some of these, but these pieces of furniture wouldn't fit the current state of the apartment."

"I have a few designers I can call. They are good and can redesign quickly, so we don't lose any time."

"Thanks. I appreciate that. Give them a call, and let's see what they say."

They arrived at the apartment while it was still early in the morning, so Kali hoped they could do a lot of work. Using the key, she let Ember in and closed the door. The apartment had gathered some dust. She didn't have anyone cleaning the place while it was empty.

"Sorry about this," Kali grunted as she marched over to the windows and began throwing them open.

"It's alright. It's not so bad. What do we have to start with?"

"Packing up everything. The moving me will handle the furniture, but I want to get my clothes and everything else out."

"Only that?"

"No, the cutleries, the fridge and other personal effects."

"Okay. We should start from the bedroom and work our way out."

"Right. These are the boxes." Kali pushed them away from the wall and towards the centre of the living room. "I have the markers and tapes in my drawer."

"Great." Ember looked around shyly. "But before we start, might I use your bathroom?"

Kali smiled, noting her discomfort. "Of course. It's over there."

"Thanks."

Ember scampered off, and Kali chuckled, handling the boxes herself. She pulled out a few of them and began dropping them off in the rooms they could be needed. When she heard a soft knock at the door, she walked out of the kitchen to answer it, thinking one of her neighbours had noticed someone was in the apartment.

"Richard?" She seethed. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw you drive in and suspected you came to get some things. It's been so long. I wanted to speak to you."

"Maniac! Are you crazy?" Kali shoved him back, pushing him away from the door and towards the elevator. "I came here with Ember, my sister-in-law. Get out of here before she comes out to see you. Leave."

"I am not leaving. I want to talk to you."

"We have talked. We have said all that needed to be said. What are you trying to pull now? Do you want to drive me insane?"

"All I want is for us to talk."

"Well, I don't. I don't want to."

"Kali?" She jolted when Ember called from inside the apartment. "Kali?"

"Leave." She begged.

"Not until we speak."

Cursing him under her breath, she ran back into the apartment, catching Ember before she stepped out. With a smile, she pushed her back inside.

"Where did you go?"

"I remembered I have to get something from the car." Nervously, she stripped out her jacket, trying to hide her anxiety.

"Really?"

"Yeah, my brain is scattered from so much work. Let's do this. Can you start with the boxes while I make a quick run for the car?"

"Of course. Do you need help with anything?"

"No. No." Kali grabbed the keys from the table, praying she didn't appear apprehensive. "I'll be back soon. You can start with some of my clothes in the wardrobe."

"Sure."

Not waiting for another second, she scurried off, closing the door behind her and hurrying Richard towards the elevator. There was no telling how much Ember bought her act, and she couldn't risk getting caught. It felt like forever waiting for the elevator to arrive. She tapped her thigh furiously, her eyes frantically staring at the numbers on the screen. The second it opened, she pushed Richard in and only relaxed when the door closed without incident.

"You want me to lose my mind." She muttered, eyes closed and head resting on the metallic body of the elevator. "You want me to lose my mind. You want me to lose my mind."

A shadow fell over her, and her eyes flew open, stunned and angered when she found Richard towering over her. She pressed her back against the elevator, using her hand to hold him away.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"I have missed you so much."

"That makes one of us."

His lips pressed against hers, and she screamed, her fist digging into his chest as she struggled to pull away, but his hold was firm. Frustrated, she turned her head and body until she tore her lips free and shoved him away from her.

Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe, blood boiling from anger and disbelief. When Richard started to walk towards her again, her hand swung out, and she slapped him hard across the face. Before she could hold herself back, she swung at him again.

"Are you mad!" she shoved him, her eyes blazing with fury. "Don't you understand I want nothing to do with you?"

"I don't understand why you are being so hard on me? There was something serious between us, something real. We loved each other."

"Nothing is left! There is nothing in me for you to wait for. No love, not even hatred, honestly all I feel for you is disgust and disbelief. Disbelief that you, a man I admired, have become such a pitiful excuse for a partner. I am in awe of my own stupidity. How did I not see this before?"

"You are angry with me. That's why you only see things one way, but if you allow me to help you, it would get better." He reached out to touch her arm, but she jerked away before he could make contact. "Ysabel has taken a lot from me; I won't let her win and take you too."

"Ysabel didn't take me away. You threw me away. You threw away every chance for us to be together the second you decided to take me for a fool."

"I hurt you. I won't deny that. Let me make up for it. I know a lot about Ysabel. Together we can bring her down and make her pay for all the pain she has caused you."

"Stop pushing blame on her. You, you have caused me pain. You are the one that is making me suffer." The elevator was suddenly crowded. Nowhere she turned seemed to have enough air to fill her lungs. "I am going to start the car, and you will step out as soon as we get to the ground floor. I will go back upstairs where my sister-in-law is waiting for me, and I beg you not to repeat this again."

"You said that the last time too," he grinned slyly, his eyes boring into hers. "You said you'll raise hell, yet here we are."

"Here we are because I don't want the drama, Richard. I can't imagine being caught arguing with you, and somehow the news travels to your greater companion. I am enjoying my peace no matter how small it comes, and I wouldn't jeopardise it. That doesn't mean I am not running out of patience."

"If you agree to meet with me, just the two of us, she would never find out."

"Let me try something else." Kali coldly advanced, her voice taking on a threatening note with no hint of her earlier frustrations. "If you come around me again, I will gladly report to my mother-in-law everything that has happened since I got married. I don't know how much punishment I'll get cause that woman is crazy, but I will relish every second of your torment."

She pulled the stop button and stepped back, standing confidently and silently while the car continued its descent. Richard stood by her side, finally without any words to throw at her. She kept her face impassive, her eyes hard and her shoulders straight, not sparing him a single glance even when the elevator doors opened. He stepped out first, turning to look at her. Then, she met his gaze, reaching over to the pad to press the button for her floor.

The elevator closed, and she groaned, scrubbing her face with her palms.