Dalia's knees buckled as she saw that her mother remained unmoved. Her face turned ashen, and she called out desolately to the retreating figure of the old lady, "Mom, are you really this heartless? If I hadn't endured all these years at the Lin family, the Qin family would have long been gone. Are you all just going to deny everything I've done for this family?"
"Why are you all so heartless?!" Dalia screamed in despair, but the Qin family remained unmoved, their anger only deepening.
Madam Qin commanded Zhao the butler, "What are you all standing around for? Take Miss Dalia out."
Zhao sighed inwardly and waved over two maids. The maids approached and forcibly dragged Dalia out.
Standing at the threshold of the Qin family's residence, Dalia looked at the familiar surroundings, knowing that this place was no longer her home.
At that moment, rain began to fall. The maids tossed her luggage outside, leaving it open and causing her clothes to scatter on the ground.
The maids hesitated, considering whether to help, but ultimately turned and ran back into the villa.
In the rain, Dalia slowly picked up each piece of clothing, stuffing them back into her suitcase, her eyes filled with cold hatred as she walked away.
At the police station, Dalia, now disheveled, sat in the visitor's area. Before long, Saira arrived. Seeing her mother, she rushed over immediately.
"Mom, please save me," Saira pleaded, her eyes red from crying.
As she spoke, Saira noticed the bruises and cuts on her mother's face. Shocked, she asked, "Mom, what happened to you? Who hurt you?"
Hearing the concern in her daughter's voice, Dalia felt warmth in her heart, but her nose tingled with emotion. In this world, her daughter was the only person she could truly rely on, the only one who genuinely cared for her.
"Don't worry, it's nothing. I just fell on my way here," Dalia replied.
Saira didn't doubt her. "We'll take care of those wounds as soon as we get home."
Hearing her daughter's words, Dalia almost couldn't hold back her tears.
"Mom, you have to get Uncle to help me. I don't want to die. I don't want to stay here another minute," Saira begged.
"Don't worry, Mom won't let anything happen to you," Dalia assured her, gripping her daughter's hand. "Just stay here for a few days. I'll find a way."
With her mother's promise, Saira finally felt some relief.
Dalia left the police station, aimlessly wandering outside. She thought of going to Aaron, but realizing that even the Qin family wouldn't help them, she knew Aaron, a selfish man, wouldn't either.
Was she really just going to watch her daughter waste away in prison?
Dalia found a secluded spot and took out her phone, dialing a mysterious number. The call went unanswered for a long time, but she kept trying until, just as her phone was about to die, the person on the other end finally picked up.
"What do you want?" The voice was impatient.
"I need you to do something for me."
"You're ordering me?" The voice on the other end grew hostile.
"It's not an order, but a deal. I took a risk to help you get rid of Zuri. Why would I do that without some benefit?" Dalia tried to sound tough, though inside, she was trembling.
"The wealth and status your family and daughter enjoy aren't enough? Being too greedy won't end well," the person threatened.
"The Qin family? You can destroy them if you want. I don't care about their fate. As for my daughter, if she loses everything after all these years of luxury, so be it," Dalia said coldly.
The person on the other end was taken aback, clearly surprised by her sudden decisiveness. A moment ago, she was fearful; now, she had completely changed.
"Are you sure?"
"What's there to be unsure about? I'm on the brink of death; why should I care about them?" Dalia laughed bitterly.
"What do you want in return?" the voice asked.
"My daughter's in police custody…" Dalia explained the situation. "Get her out, and send me some money. I've been kicked out by the Qin family, and I don't have the funds to continue helping you."
The person on the other end was silent for a moment. "Fine. Give me your account details."
After giving her account information, Dalia heard the person say, "If you fail, there's no need for you or your daughter to stick around."
Dalia shuddered. "I understand."
After hanging up, Dalia collapsed onto the ground.
She didn't know how long she stayed there until her phone buzzed. Seeing the amount that had been transferred to her account, she stared blankly.
In her eyes, the money wasn't just money; it was a death warrant.
Zuri… Why do you still exist in this world?
Dalia was filled with hate—hate for Jonah. If he hadn't let this curse live, none of this would have happened.
A day later, the Huang family dropped the charges, and Saira was released.
When Saira left the police station, Zuri immediately received the news.
"She's out?" Zuri was surprised.
Thunderbolt was equally surprised. "Yes. According to my sources, the Huang family withdrew their charges, decided not to pursue the matter, and even claimed they were wrong about Saira, completely absolving her."
If the victim's family says the accused isn't guilty and drops the case, the police have no reason to keep her.
And so, Saira walked free.
For the first time, Zuri had been thwarted; she had miscalculated.
The Huang family, who had just joined forces with other families to take down the Qin family, suddenly decided to let go. Something must have happened.
Something wasn't right.
"Investigate what's going on with the Huang family. Did someone else get involved?" Zuri ordered.
Zuri had her suspicions, and Thunderbolt knew it too.
"I'm already on it."
The Huang family's sudden change of heart was too suspicious to ignore.
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me," Thunderbolt replied, trying to mask his anxiety. He hadn't handled this task well, and he was nervous.
Meanwhile, Dalia took Saira to the hotel where they were temporarily staying. It was only then that Saira learned her mother had been kicked out of the Qin family.
"Mom, did they use this situation to make a deal with you?" Saira asked, feeling guilty.
Dalia shook her head and said with deep emotion, "Saira, I only have you now. Remember, in this world, you can't rely on anyone. Don't trust anyone too easily, understand?"
Seeing her mother's exhausted face, Saira felt a pang of sorrow and quietly embraced her.
If it wasn't the Qin family, then who could have had such influence?
Saira quickly thought of that mysterious figure.
Hearing her mother's words, as if they were her final instructions, Saira was gripped by fear. "Mom, I can help you deal with Zuri. Please, don't do anything foolish."