A week had passed in a blur of laughter, quiet intimacy, and memories stitched into sunrises and starlit evenings. Their honeymoon, wrapped in warmth, mischief, and whispered confessions, had been everything they didn't know they needed.
But time, as always, moved forward.
Now, high above the clouds in Daniel's private jet, Esther sat curled up beside the window, her eyes trailing the sky as the Greek coastline faded far beneath them. Her hair was tied loosely, her makeup minimal, and yet she carried the unmistakable glow of someone loved, thoroughly, deeply, and unapologetically.
Daniel sat across from her, a warm drink in hand, watching her in quiet admiration. The tailored suit he wore now was a sharp contrast to the carefree linen shirts he'd lived in all week, and the return of that controlled posture hinted that reality, business, responsibilities, was quietly reclaiming him.
"I'm really going to miss the village," Esther murmured, reaching for one of the neatly arranged snacks on the side tray.
"If you like, I'll fly you there every weekend," Daniel said casually, slipping off his coat and walking over to her. He knelt beside her seat, his presence casting a soft shadow across her lap. With a gentle touch, his thumb brushed the corner of her mouth.
"You had something here," he said, wiping away a tiny trace of sauce.
Esther's breath caught just slightly. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible before his lips met hers.
The kiss deepened, slow and sure, leaving no space for protest, only surrender. Before she could gather herself, Daniel lifted her effortlessly into his arms. Her legs instinctively curled around his waist as he carried her toward the jet's private cabin.
He pinned her gently against the cool interior wall, lips still claiming hers.
"Mr. Lewis…" she whispered at last, breathless. "The crew, they might hear us."
His lips curved into a smirk as he leaned in close to her ear. "They're paid not to."
With quiet confidence, he unbuttoned his shirt and loosened his belt, his gaze never leaving hers. Esther's breath quickened, her chest rising and falling with anticipation.
Then, slowly, he took her wrists and wrapped the belt around them, securing her gently to the headrest above.
"No touching," he whispered against her neck, his voice low but commanding. "No sounds… until I say so."
The room dimmed into hush and shadow, the hum of the engine their only witness, as he laid her down to prove, once again, that the honeymoon wasn't quite over yet.
The private jet touched down just past midnight, the tarmac glistening faintly under the soft wash of runway lights. Esther stirred only slightly as the engines powered down, her head tucked against Daniel's chest. She had fallen asleep sometime after their moment, the day's adventure finally catching up with her.
Daniel glanced down at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. Carefully, he secured his coat around her and carried her off the jet, shielding her from the night chill. The drive to the Lewis estate was quiet, the world hushed in slumber, save for the rhythmic sound of the car tires on smooth asphalt.
By the time they arrived at the mansion gates, warm lights spilled from the windows in welcome. The front of the house was gently decorated, lanterns lined the entry path, and a soft gold banner hung above the main doors read, Welcome Home in elegant cursive. Daniel noticed the fresh floral arrangements by the pillars and the subtle scent of incense burning from within. It was his sister, no doubt. Lady Bell had a way of turning even the simplest gestures into acts of grace.
Inside, Betty sat on the living room couch in her favorite pajamas, clutching a small stuffed bear, eyes heavy but determined to stay awake. Lady Bell sat beside her, her arm wrapped around the girl's shoulders. Mather, the head housekeeper, stood nearby with a gentle smile, watching the scene unfold.
Daniel entered through the main doors, his sleeping wife still in his arms.
"She's asleep?" Lady Bell asked softly, rising to her feet.
He nodded. "Exhausted. The week caught up to her."
Betty rushed forward, only to be held back by Lady Bell's hand.
"Can I see her?" the little girl whispered, tiptoeing closer.
Daniel crouched slightly to meet her eyes. "You will, sweetheart. Tomorrow morning. She needs to rest tonight."
Betty nodded, her disappointment quiet but understanding.
"I missed her," she added shyly.
"I know," Daniel said, brushing his hand over her hair. "She missed you too."
He turned to Mather. "Would you please take Betty to bed?"
"Of course, sir," Mather replied with a warm smile. She extended a hand to the little girl, who took it gently but kept looking back at the stairs, where Esther had disappeared moments earlier.
As Mather led Betty away, Lady Bell walked to Daniel's side. "The house is ready. I had everything cleaned, the room aired, her favorite tea stocked. And yes," she added with a knowing smile, "I left the master bedroom just the way she would like it. Candles and all."
Daniel chuckled, then glanced back toward the stairwell. "Thank you, Bella. For everything."
"You're welcome," she said softly, and after a moment of silence, she added, "You look happy."
"I am," he replied. "And I want to keep it that way."
He turned and headed up the stairs.
In the master suite, Esther lay curled beneath the freshly laid sheets, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting golden shadows over her sleeping face. Daniel leaned down, brushed a stray curl from her forehead, and placed a kiss there before pulling the blanket gently over her shoulder.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Lewis," he whispered.
Then he turned off the light and settled beside her, letting the quiet of home wrap around them both.
While the Lewises bid the night goodbye, the Coles were just beginning theirs.
The Cole household was dim and still, the only light seeping from beneath Musu Cole's bedroom door. A clock ticked softly in the hallway, echoing through the quiet, as the rest of the house slumbered.
Sarah lingered outside her mother's room, her fingers twitching at her sides, hesitant. She had been pacing restlessly ever since Harriet called to share the news, Esther and Mr. Lewis had returned from their honeymoon that very night.
Esther was back.
And with her return, the precarious balance of Sarah's world tilted even further. That humiliating wedding day still haunted her, and now, with no job and a tarnished name, desperation clawed at her chest. She finally gathered the nerve, knocked twice, and pushed the door open without waiting for permission.
Inside, Musu sat propped up against her pillows, reading glasses perched on her nose and a half-finished novel resting in her lap. She looked up, mildly surprised to see her daughter at this hour.
"Sarah?" she asked gently, slipping off her glasses. "It's late. What is it?"
Without a word, Sarah stepped forward and dropped to her knees at the foot of the bed, bowing her head low.
Musu blinked, caught off guard. "What are you up to now?" she asked warily, bracing herself for whatever stunt her daughter might attempt next.
"I'm not up to anything, Ma. And I'm not getting up," Sarah whispered, her voice strained and cracking. "Please… I need your help."
Musu sighed, setting her book aside with a groan of fatigue. "Sarah, not tonight. Whatever this is, let's talk about it in the morning."
"No, Ma. Please." Sarah looked up, eyes red and heavy with unshed tears. "I'm desperate. I'm out of options."
Musu's lips pressed into a firm line, but she said nothing.
"Esther's back," Sarah continued. "I know you don't want to hear about her, but please — just this once. Talk to her for me. Ask her to help me get my job back at LewisTech. Please."
Musu's expression remained unreadable. "After everything you did, you still expect her to help you?"
"I've made mistakes," Sarah admitted, though still guarded in her tone. "I know that. But I've paid for them. I've lost my job, my income… people talk, Ma. I've been blacklisted. No company will hire me. Mr. Lewis made sure of that. Esther might be the only person who can fix this."
Musu exhaled slowly, a sigh that carried more than just fatigue, it carried disappointment and weariness. "You should have thought of that before you bit the hand that fed you."
"I was angry. I was stupid. But I'm your daughter," Sarah pleaded, her voice lower now, more strained. "Would you really be happy to see me jobless and ruined?"
She tried to compose herself, then added, "I'm not asking you for much. Just speak to Esther. Tell her to talk to Mr. Lewis. Tell her to ask him to give me back my job."
There was less a request in her words than a quiet demand, the desperation too loud to ignore.
"Why don't you tell her yourself?" Musu asked, her voice tight with frustration.
Sarah let out a bitter chuckle as she rose slowly from her knees, brushing down her nightwear with trembling fingers. "You think I haven't tried? She won't even pick up my calls. Wait, she blocked me. I had to use a different SIM just to reach her, and the moment she heard my voice, she ended the call." Her voice cracked beneath the weight of humiliation and blame. "Ma, I tried. And now… now I'm at the edge of my life. She'll listen to you. Please, just ask her to speak to her husband for me. She'll do it if you ask."
Silence blanketed the room like a heavy shroud.
Musu studied her daughter, her gaze unreadable, torn between disappointment and maternal instinct. She weighed the words Sarah had spoken, the desperation behind them, the pride still clinging to her voice, the wreckage left in the wake of her choices.
"Sarah," Musu said finally, her voice lower now.
But Sarah didn't give her a chance to continue. "If you don't help me, Ma," she cut in, her voice trembling, "then you might as well count yourself as having just two daughters." Her eyes glistened with tears she refused to let fall. "What use is it, living like this? I know I was wrong, but I'm trying to make up for it. I'm trying to fix my life. Why won't you help me?"
Musu exhaled slowly, her breath seeming to carry years of weariness. Her heart ached, torn between justice and mercy. Sarah had done terrible things, to Esther, to the family, and perhaps she didn't deserve forgiveness or a second chance.
But she was her child. Her flesh. Her blood. A daughter she'd borne through the pain of childbirth and raised through sacrifice. To watch her spiral into ruin, to watch her drown in a sea of her own making, wasn't something any mother could take. Not even her.
A mother's heart doesn't stop aching when her child goes astray. And tonight, Musu felt that ache press too hard against her chest.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then finally nodded, her voice steady yet reluctant. "Alright. I'll talk to Esther."
Sarah inhaled sharply, her expression flickering between relief and guilt. "Thank you, Ma. Thank you."
"But don't mistake this for approval," Musu warned softly. "I'm doing this because I'm your mother. Don't make me regret it."
Sarah nodded quickly, wiping at her face. "I won't. I promise. I'll make things right."
Musu said nothing more, only reached for her bedside lamp and turned it off, leaving the room in a hush of darkness and fragile hope.
As Sarah stepped out of her mother's room, a slow, cruel smile curled at the edge of her lips.
This was it. Her dear mother was going to plead with her "perfect" little sister to help get her job back. And Esther, predictable, soft-hearted Esther, would say yes. Of course she would.
Once that happened… it would all begin.
Because reentering LewisTech wasn't just about employment. It was the key. The chance to take back everything she'd lost, her pride, her reputation, and most importantly, the life that should've been hers.
Daniel Lewis had chosen Esther over her. He'd tossed away three years of loyalty and sacrifices like they meant nothing.
He was going to regret that.
And maybe, just maybe… John had been right all along.
Just days ago, she had traveled in secret to Guinea, answering the mysterious, encoded message he had sent.
"I heard your sister's married to Daniel now," John said, his voice thick with mocking laughter. "Guess she's the lucky one who stole your dream life."
Sarah scoffed and pushed herself off the peeling chair, arms crossed tightly as she paced the small, dimly lit room. "Is that why you called me here? If you're just here to rub it in, I'm out." She spun on her heel and stormed toward the metal door.
"Right, go ahead," John called lazily. "Go back to your empty life with no purpose."
Her steps faltered.
"I heard he didn't just fire you, Sarah. He got you blacklisted. Nobody will touch your résumé now. You've been erased."
She turned slowly, her face tight with rage and humiliation.
John stepped closer, his boots echoing against the cement floor. "I want to know what you plan to do. Are you going to let them get away with this?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper as his hands settled lightly on her shoulders. "Or are you finally ready to fight back, to get your revenge?"
His breath was warm against her ear.
"I don't have the power to fight them," she muttered. "Not anymore."
"Oh, but you do," he cut in smoothly. "More than you realize."
Sarah narrowed her eyes.
"You're his sister-in-law now," John said with a sly grin. "That title opens doors. If you get back into LewisTech, even just as a junior, you'll be inside. And from the inside, sweetheart… that's where it starts."
She looked away, uncertain.
"I want to destroy Daniel Lewis," she whispered finally. "I want him to fall from grace. I want him to choke on the regret of ever choosing her over me. But talk is cheap. Words won't make that happen."
John smiled, stepping back. "True. Which is why I'm going to connect you with someone. Someone who wants him taken down more than you do. All you have to do… is play your part. Be my eyes and ears inside LewisTech. And when the time comes, you'll watch Daniel Lewis crumble."
Sarah didn't respond. But she didn't walk away either.