You're doing a great job showing how deeply Sia is suffering —
That Night
Sia was overjoyed when she heard that Ethan had won a major contract. She wanted to celebrate his success — to make him proud, to show him love — so she spent the entire day preparing a special dinner.
She decorated the living room with lights and ribbons. A cake was in the oven, and the scent of spices filled the house. She even dressed up, hoping Ethan would notice her — just this once.
But Ethan didn't come home.
His mother had arrived late that evening, while his sister, Laila, hovered with her usual cold glare. Laila had always hated Sia, never once hiding her wish for her brother to find another wife — one who, in her words, "wasn't from the gutters."
Sia had never been welcomed into Ethan's family. She was never treated like a daughter-in-law — only a maid. She cooked. Cleaned. Washed everyone's clothes. Not once did she complain.
And now, as she sat in the dimly lit living room with the dinner slowly going cold, her eyes never left the front door.
Still, Ethan didn't return.
Eventually, Sia dozed off on the couch, heart heavy with disappointment.
Unbeknownst to her, Laila had crept into the kitchen and secretly turned up the oven's temperature. The cake inside began to burn.
The Next Morning
Sia woke up stiff and tired. She checked her phone, finally, a message from Ethan:
"I won't be able to make it tonight."
That was all. No apology. No explanation.
Her heart sank.
She looked around at the streamers and candles, the untouched meal, and realized all her effort had been for nothing.
Suddenly, she smelled something, it smelled like something had burnt. she immediately stood up and went to check it.
Panicking, Sia ran into the kitchen. The oven was spewing black smoke. She rushed to grab gloves, opened the oven, and quickly put out the smoldering cake.
Just then, her mother-in-law stormed in.
Without warning, the older woman grabbed Sia by the arm and slapped her hard across the face.
"Are you trying to burn this house down?!" she screamed. "This house is the only thing that is keeping us alive, and you want to destroy it?"
Tears welled up in Sia's eyes as she knelt on the floor, hands clasped together. "I'm sorry… I forgot the cake was still in the oven. I didn't mean to—"
Another slap.
This time, from Laila.
"You useless woman! You'll soon be out of this house! Mark my words," she hissed.
But something inside Sia snapped.
She stood up slowly, voice trembling but firm. "I've had enough," she said. "I won't tolerated any of these anymore."
Laila stared at her, stunned. Sia had never spoken back before.
Her mother-in-law remained silent too, her expression unreadable. For the first time, guilt flickered across her face, because deep down, she knew the truth.
It was Laila who turned up the oven.
It was her own daughter who tried to set Sia up.
But she said nothing.