Dusk had begun to fade as Evalina stepped out of Monique’s apartment. Her fingers still clutched her phone, eyes locked on a message from an unknown number.

"I want to talk. Not as an enemy, but as a mother. Meet me at the Crown Hotel, 7 p.m. Please, give me this one chance. —Shopia."

The message startled her. But for some reason, the fragile part of her heart—the one that still wanted to believe not everything in this world was cruel—urged her to go.

“I’ll be back soon,” she said to Monique before leaving.

Monique nodded, though uneasiness lingered in her chest.

---

The Crown Hotel stood grandly in the...