Daniel sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the television. The news replayed the Denovan family’s grand announcement, the cameras flashing like fireworks as Maya stood gracefully beside her parents. Her velvet gown shimmered, her calm smile unwavering despite the chaos of attention around her.

He could barely breathe.

His fingers tightened around the remote, knuckles white.

Maya Denovan.

The name echoed in his mind, louder than the voice of the news anchor. He hadn’t even known the Denovans had a daughter, let alone that she would turn out to be Maya — the same woman who once shared her world, her laughter, and her pain with...