It had been a week since Jamie moved into the Denovan estate, and everything felt different. The  house was filled with footsteps, laughter, and a mix of small voices echoing through the long hallways.

Jamie had brought a new energy into the home a bright, boyish charm that reminded Maya of what childhood should be: simple, messy, and full of life. He and Anika quickly became inseparable, often found together in the garden or curled up in the library, pretending to study while whispering and giggling about things only children could understand.

From the doorway, Maya watched them with a soft smile as they ran around the flowerbeds that morning,...