Zina woke up gasping in the middle of the night.
Sweat drenched her skin. Her eyes wide.
It was all back.
The robbery. The screams. The pain. The girl in the shadows — Amara. The same face that now smiled sweetly in her house, kissed her brother, slept in the room next to hers.
She had loved Damian all her life.
And that girl nearly took him — and her life — away.
Morning light didn't soften Zina's fury. It sharpened it.
She waited for Amara to come into the kitchen. Watched her laugh, unaware.
And then, in a voice dipped in poison, she said:
"You were there that night, weren't you?"
Amara froze.
"Zina, I—"
"I remember everything," she whispered. "You were one of them."
Tears welled in Amara's eyes. "I didn't want to— I was forced. I was starving. Homeless. I ran away after it all went wrong. I never knew she'd get hurt—"
Zina stepped closer, her voice low and lethal.
"Leave my brother. Or I'll destroy you."
Amara's lips trembled. "Please… please don't tell him. If I go, the people who sold me will come back. My family is still in danger."
Zina's smile was icy. "Not my problem."
That night, Amara packed her things.
Damian found her in the hallway, duffel in hand, tears in her eyes.
"Where are you going?"
"I… I can't stay," she whispered.
"You're lying," he said. "Talk to me."
But before she could speak — Zina stepped into the room behind them.
"She was part of the robbery."
Damian turned to her, stunned. "What?"
Zina crossed her arms. "She helped the gang that almost killed me. Don't act surprised. Did you really think love was enough to erase the truth?"
Amara sobbed. "I never meant for any of this—"
Damian's eyes darkened. Betrayal twisted his face.
"Is it true?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes."
Silence crashed between them.
Then Damian whispered coldly: "You should go."
Within hours, the police were at the door.
Amara didn't resist.
She turned to Zina one last time, eyes full of pain.
"You win."
But Zina didn't feel like she'd won.
Only empty.
And Damian? He stood behind the window, watching Amara being led away in handcuffs — heart shattering — wondering if he had just lost the only person who ever made him feel whole.
End of Episode 10