The call came early in the morning, just as Maya was preparing breakfast in the Denovan kitchen. The scent of warm toast and eggs filled the air, and Anika sat at the counter, swinging her legs and humming softly while sketching on her tablet.

Her phone vibrated on the counter, and when she saw Daniel’s name flashing on the screen, her heart skipped a beat. For a second, she hesitated. It had been weeks since she last spoke to him But curiosity and something deeper made her answer.

“Daniel?” she said softly, keeping her voice neutral.

He sighed on the other end. “Maya… I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t...