David's POV

My room felt too quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against my ears until my own thoughts grew louder than they should. I sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on my knees, replaying Elias’ words at the table over and over again. The way his voice had cut through the room when he said Mara was missing.

The door opened softly behind me.

Andrea stepped inside, closing it with care. She paused when she saw me sitting in the dark, sensing something was wrong before I ever said a word.

“What’s the problem?” she asked cautiously. “Is it still about Mara?”

I stood, slow...