The following morning, Zoey awoke before the children, the house unusually quiet. The events of the previous day weighed heavily on her mind—the hospital, the coffee shop, and most importantly, her first confrontation with Daniel. Her heart still raced at the memory of his intense gaze, the subtle warning in his voice, and the unspoken tension that had lingered between them.

She moved quietly through the house, careful not to wake Vivian or Avila. The soft creak of the floorboards under her feet reminded her just how precarious her position had become. Every action she took, every word she spoke, could tip the balance, revealing her knowledge of Daniel’s secret—or...