“I don’t know,” she said finally. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Darius jumped up and stepped toward her.
“Kiki, please understand. This was just a stupid mistake. We didn’t want to hurt you. We just needed the money.”
“Money is always needed,” she interrupted. “But normal people earn it. They don’t steal it from their wives.”
He fell silent, standing with his hands hanging uselessly at his sides, his face etched with complete despair.
Somewhere deep down, Kiana felt a faint pang of pity—but it was just that.
A faint, very faint pang.
“Go to bed,” she said tiredly. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
“In the morning?”
“Yes, in the morning. I’ll tell you what I’ve decided. For now, go.”
Darius nodded, stunned, and shuffled off to the bedroom.
Kiana remained standing in the kitchen, looking out the window.
Dawn was breaking outside, the gray pre‑dawn sky slowly pushing back the darkness.
The city was waking up slowly, reluctantly.
Darius’s phone vibrated again in the hallway.
Kiana walked out and picked it up from the floor.
Another message from Ms. Sterling.
Darius, they’re questioning me. They’re saying this is attempted felony theft. What should I do?
Kiana smirked and put the phone back down.
Let Darius deal with his mother himself.
She had played her part.
She returned to the kitchen and sat by the window.
Streetlights were still on, even though the sky was already light.
A few pedestrians hurried about their business.
A truck rumbled in the distance.
An ordinary morning.
Only for her, this day was a turning point.
