Clara screamed in panic, "Get away from her!"

She grabbed the nearest chair and swung it hard at Denzel. He stumbled back, shocked by her sudden violence.

He quickly recovered and struck her face with brutal force. The impact was so severe it seemed he might have killed her.

Clara collapsed to the floor, unable to move for several minutes.

After knocking her down, Denzel turned his attention back to Zoe. "I'll give you the money," she stated firmly.

He laughed mockingly. "You think I'd believe that, you little witch? You're just like your mother - a cheap tramp who spread her legs for some man and got pregnant with you! Stop lying and come with me. A few nights on your back and I'll have my money, then I'll leave you alone—"

"I said I can pay you!" Zoe shouted, her voice filled with such raw anger it seemed to release all the pain she'd been holding inside.

Denzel actually flinched at her sudden intensity. Cora had always been timid around him, hiding in corners and crying when he demanded money.

But this version of her was different. He studied her more closely, noticing changes in her appearance, though his memory of her was vague since she'd never lived with them.

"You'll have the money tomorrow!" Zoe declared clearly.

"You expect me to trust you? What if you disappear by morning?" Denzel snarled.

"Then kill me! I'd rather die than go with you anyway!" Zoe retorted fearlessly. "But if I'm dead, you'll be a murderer and you'll never see a penny!"

Her bold defiance stunned him again. Seeing her determination, he growled through clenched teeth, "You'd better have my money tomorrow, or you and your mother are finished! Don't try running - your mother attempted that many times. It never worked. I'll hunt you down if you try!"

With that final threat, he kicked the doorframe on his way out. Zoe sank to her knees, feeling completely drained.

If he had stayed any longer, she might have truly lost consciousness.

"I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..." Clara whispered repeatedly, ignoring her own pain as she apologized to Zoe.

Zoe didn't even glance in Clara's direction as she quietly returned to her bed.

Sleep had been elusive ever since Zoe arrived here.

The next morning, Clara had cleaned the room thoroughly. If not for the angry red swelling on Clara's face, Zoe might have believed last night was just a bad dream.

As Zoe got out of bed, Clara approached with a bowl of shrimp soup, offering it eagerly. Zoe finally looked at her properly.

Clara's clothes were simple and worn. At barely fifty, her face was heavily lined, making her look closer to sixty. She appeared decades older than Nancy.

Zoe lowered her gaze and quietly accepted the soup, taking a small sip.

Tears welled in Clara's eyes even as she tried to smile.

Over the past week, Zoe had eaten Clara's cooking but never in her presence, only taking small bites after Clara had left the room.