Andre, who had been lounging on the edge of the bed, stiffened at her words. His usual easygoing smirk faltered for a second before he forced it back into ce. "ire, I don''t know what you''re talking about." "Don''t," ire warned, her voiceced with quiet fury. Her gaze was sharp, piercing through him like a de. "I know Eligos sent you. I know you''re working for him, trying to make my life a mess." Andre''s jaw tightened, but he didn''t respond. He was usually good at talking his way out of situations, spinning lies and half-truths until the other person didn''t know what to believe anymore. But ire wasn''t just anyone she was relentless, and she had already put the pieces together.


    She took a step closer, eyes burning with usation. "Why did you agree to his offer, Andre?" she demanded, her voice low but filled with venom. "Was it money? Power? Or was it something worse?" Andre parted his lips, about to spew another excuse-until ire''s hand flew across his face. The sharp sound of the p echoed in the small room.


    Andre''s head snapped to the side, his cheek stinging from the impact.


    "That''s enough," ire seethed, shaking her hand as if trying to rid herself of the disgust she felt. "I''ve had enough of your bullshit. I want the truth. Now."


    Andre remained silent for a moment, his hand pressing against his cheek. A bitter chuckle left his lips as he exhaled through his nose. "Damn, ire," he muttered, shaking his head. "You don''t hold back, do you?"


    She folded her arms. "I don''t have time for games."


    Andre sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, finally giving in. "Fine," he muttered. "Take a seat." ire narrowed her eyes at him. "I''d rather stand."


    "I''m serious this time."


    Something about his tone made ire pause.


    For the first time since she barged in, Andre wasn''t trying to be charming or deceptive. He wasn''t giving her his usual smug attitude or avoiding the question. Instead, he looked... resigned.


    ire exhaled slowly before taking a seat on the couch, keeping a noticeable distance between them. Andre sat in the armchair across from her, his expression unusually somber.


    "It all started when Eligos found me in Italy," he began. His voicecked its usual yfulness. "I was working at a bar, barely making ends meet. I had debts piling up, and my mother-" He hesitated, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. "She was sick. Really sick."


    ire''s expression remained unreadable as she listened.


    "I wanted nothing to do with Eligos," Andre continued. "I knew his reputation. But then he mentioned something that caught my interest.


    ire stiffened. She already knew what wasing.


    "He told me I had a rich half-sibling."


    Her fingers curled slightly, but she didn''t interrupt.


    "Eligos told me that my father-the man I never knew-was also your father," Andre admitted. "ire, you and I... we''re half-siblings."


    Silence filled the room.


    ire''s face was unreadable, but inside, she felt something crack.


    Her father. Her father. The man she had grown up idolizing, the man who had always looked at her


    mother like she was his entire world. The man who had died with his secrets still intact.


    He had another family. Another woman. Another child.


    ire had never allowed herself to believe in the illusion of perfect families, but this? This was different. It wasn''t just an affair-this was a betrayal of everything she had once thought she knew.


    She inhaled sharply but kept her voice steady. "And you believed him?"


    Andre nodded. "At first, I thought he was lying, but he had proof. He showed me documents, old photos, records. He even told me what happened how your father''s wife found out and ended everything." ire felt her throat tighten.


    Mom knew.


    Her mother must have known the truth and had chosen to stay silent.


    It hurt. It burned.


    Andre nced at her, his voice softer now. "If you don''t believe me, I''ll take a DNA test. Hell, I''ll even call my mother and let her tell you the whole story."


    ire took a slow breath before shaking her head. "I believe you."


    Andre looked slightly surprised by her quick eptance. "You do?"


    ire cleared her throat. "Yes." Her voice was quiet, almost distant.


    She wasn''t sure why she believed him so easily. Maybe because deep down, she already knew. Maybe because she was too exhausted to fight against the truth.


    Andre hesitated before continuing. "Eligos used that information to rope me in. He knew I''d do anything to help my mother, and he promised me that if I worked with him, my I


    debts would be cleared, and my mother''s medical bills would be taken care of." Content befongs to


    ire remained silent, her expression unreadable.


    "That''s how it all started," Andre admitted. "Includingst night."


    ire''s ga?e snapped back to him. "Then tell me this-" she leaned forward slightly, her voice sharper now, "who sent me that text? You''re being watched. Be careful.'' Was that Eligos?"


    en


    Andre shook his head. "No. That was me."


    ire''s eyes narrowed.


    "I wanted to warn you," Andre admitted, looking guilty. "But I couldn''t do it outright. If Eligos found out, my mother would be at risk. I had to be careful."


    ire stared at him for a long moment before speaking. "Then why didn''t youe to me for help?" she demanded. "Instead of taking his offer?"


    Andre hesitated. "Because Eligos told me you have trust issues."


    ire inhaled sharply.


    bet


    "He said that even if I came to you with the truth, you wouldn''t believe


    me. Andre gave her a tired smile.


    "And let''s be honest, ire. He wasn''t wrong, was he?"


    ire''s lips pressed into a thin line. She didn''t respond.


    Because he was right.


    Finally, she exhaled and spoke in a serious tone. "None of that excuses what you did. No matter what was


    at stake, you still chose to work with him."


    Andre looked down, guilt flickering across his face.


    "I could easily report you to the police," ire continued. "And you''d end up in jail."


    Andre froze.


    "But," ire added, "if I do that, your mother will be left with no one."


    Andre swallowed hard, nodding. "I know."


    For the first time, he looked genuinely remorseful.


    "I''m sorry, ire," he said quietly. "I never expected Eligos to have this much control over me. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong."


    ire studied him before shifting the conversation. "How did Eligos even find out about our connection?" Andre shook his head. "I don''t know. He has his ways."


    ire let out a slow breath, then stood up. "Cut ties with him, Andre."


    Andre blinked. "What?"


    "You heard me," ire said firmly. "Stop contacting him. Leave him alone."


    "And what about my mother?" Andre asked cautiously.


    ire met his gaze. "I''ll take care of her medical bills. And your expenses."


    Andre''s eyes widened. "You would really-"


    "What''s important is that you stay out of Eligos''s reach," ire interrupted. "Being tied to him is a death sentence. Don''t be an idiot."


    Andre stared at her for a long time before nodding. "Understood."


    Without another word, ire turned and walked out of the room, leaving Andre alone with his thoughts.


    As the door clicked shut behind her, Andre let out a shaky breath.


    For the first time in a long while, he felt something unexpected.


    Relief.