Daniel drove home in silence, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. His mind was a mess…Maya’s tears, her words, the truth about Anika. Everything echoed in his head like a storm that refused to calm.

When he pulled into the driveway, Jamie was already dozing off in the backseat. Daniel sighed, gently waking him. “We’re home, buddy.”

As soon as they stepped inside, Lena was waiting in the living room, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her eyes narrowed the moment she saw them.

“Where were you?” she demanded sharply, her voice slicing through the quiet house. “You left early and didn’t even tell me where you were...