The days after the amusement park felt slow and heavy for Maya. Though she tried to focus on work and daily life, her mind always drifted back to the moment Jamie had clung to her, calling her “mom.” His tearful voice stayed in her heart, echoing over and over again.
But she didn’t expect what came next.
It was a quiet Thursday evening when her phone rang. She saw Elias’s name on the screen and quickly answered.
“Maya,” Elias’s voice was calm, but there was something serious in his tone. “I found something.”
Maya’s heart jumped. “What do you mean?”
“I went ahead with the investigation,” Elias continued. “And after going through every possible record… I found out where your child ended up.”
Maya froze. Her throat tightened. “You… did?”
“Yes. She was adopted. Her name is Anika. She was taken in by a couple—Mr. and Mrs. Denovan.”
Maya felt like the ground under her feet disappeared. “She?..Anika?” she whispered. “You mean… my child is a female and it’s Anika?”
“Yes,” Elias said gently. “
