Maya arrived home later than usual that evening, still smiling faintly from her earlier conversation with Colton. The moment she stepped into the Denovan mansion, the sweet aroma of roasted chicken and spices filled the air. Her mother’s laughter echoed faintly from the dining room, followed by the sound of her father turning the newspaper pages.

She kicked off her shoes near the hallway and sighed softly. It had been a long but peaceful day. After hanging her bag, she walked into the living room with a teasing grin.

“Guess what?” she said suddenly, standing beside the couch.

Mr. Denovan looked up from his paper. “You sound too happy for...