However, she was concerned about whether Marcia could adjust; after all, coming from wealth, Marcia had never lived in such a modest place.

Elissa gently suggested, "Stay here for now. We can discuss it more when Raphael returns. I think he'll agree."

Narcia's lips twitched as she surveyed the surroundings, feeling a mix of temptation and apprehension.

She had the financial means to support both Elissa and Raphael, potentially living together in harmony. But memories of her submissive past to Yousef, and the fact that she had even abandoned her daughter under his influence only for him to cheat on her, filled her with resentment!

Finally, she confessed to Elissa that she couldn't envision adapting to such a simple life and insisted on returning to her own home.

Elissa felt a pang of sadness but chose not to voice it.

Marcia stayed for lunch after they went grocery shopping together.

Marcia, though seldom cooking, prepared the meal herself, and it was surprisingly tasty.

After lunch, Marcia departed.

After bidding her mother farewell, Elissa returned to her room to try and rest.

However, the morning's revelations left her too unsettled to sleep.

As the afternoon wore on, it began to rain again, and by evening the rain had intensified. The apartment, old and poorly maintained, started showing signs of leakage despite not being on the top floor.

Water soon began dripping from a crack in the ceiling above the window.

Unfamiliar with such issues, Elissa placed a basin under the leak, and within half an hour, it was half full.

When the basin neared overflowing, she carefully emptied it to avoid a spill, thinking to herself how fortunate it was that Marcia hadn't stayed.

She would have struggled to adapt to these conditions.

The floor tiles became slippery as they wetted, posing a risk. Taking a few cautious steps, Elissa then retreated to her bed, not daring to venture further.

Being pregnant, she was acutely aware of the danger of falling and possibly injuring the baby.

Fear mingled with a sense of injustice filled her heart.

She even considered giving up-perhaps she should persuade Raphael to use her own funds to secure a better living situation. They didn't need to endure these hardships.

Amidst the thunder and lightning, Elissa heard noises outside.

Suddenly, the door opened and closed with a swift motion.

Raphael rushed into the bedroom and found his wife huddled on the bed, her eyes fixed on the two basins on the floor, which had overflowed, making the tiles slippery.

She looked as if she were on the verge of tears.