As Maya walked up to her apartment, her steps slowed when she noticed a sleek black Range Rover parked right in front of her building. Her eyebrows lifted slightly. That car definitely didn’t belong in this part of town.Her heart sank a little when she saw who stepped out of it.Elias.He was dressed neatly in a white shirt and dark jeans, holding a bouquet of bright yellow tulips—her favorite. His expression was somewhere between hopeful and nervous.Maya let out a quiet sigh and turned her key in the lock without saying a word.She didn’t stop or greet him. She just walked into her apartment, gently closed the door behind her, and headed straight for the living room.But Elias followed.“Maya, wait,” he said softly, stepping inside after her and closing the door behind him.She turned around slowly, folding her arms. “What are you doing here, Elias?”He swallowed. “I… I came to apologize.”“For what?” Her tone wasn’t harsh, but it wasn’t warm either. She was tired—emotionally drain
The soft clinking of cutlery and the warm scent of roasted vegetables filled the Denovan dining room. Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, bathing the table in a soft glow. Mr. Denovan sat at the head of the table, slicing into a piece of grilled chicken. His wife sat beside him, carefully spooning sauce onto her plate.Anika was at the far end, giggling at something she saw on her tablet while nibbling on a piece of bread.It was a quiet, pleasant lunch—until the front door opened and footsteps echoed down the hallway.Colton stepped into the dining room, still in his sharp black suit, looking like he’d just come from a meeting.“There he is,” Mr. Denovan said, lifting his head. “You’re just in time. Sit, have something to eat.”Colton smiled slightly and pulled out a chair. “Thanks. But I actually came to talk.”Mrs. Denovan looked up with a curious expression. “Is everything alright?”Colton leaned forward, his voice serious but calm. “Have you both talked to Maya about mov
The soft hum of birds outside the window filled the quiet morning. Sunlight spilled through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. Maya stirred under the blanket, slowly blinking her eyes open. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, rubbing sleep from her eyes.Three missed calls.One from her mom.One from her dad.One from Colton.Maya couldn’t help but smile.“This love is getting out of hand,” she whispered to herself with a small laugh. “But I like it.”Her heart felt warm. After so many years of feeling alone, of thinking she had no real family—now they wouldn’t stop calling her. They checked on her all the time, sent messages to ask if she’d eaten, and even argued about who would send her breakfast. It was overwhelming in the best way.She stretched, letting out a soft yawn, then sat up. The soft morning light made her room feel peaceful. On her table was a small vase of flowers Anika had picked for her the day before. A note from her mom was still taped to
Maya stepped into her apartment and gently closed the door behind her. The quiet click echoed through the empty space, reminding her of just how peaceful—yet lonely—this place could be. She dropped her keys into the ceramic bowl by the entrance and let out a soft sigh.Her time at the Denovan home had been warm and full of emotion. Laughter, hugs, home-cooked meals, and the joyful discovery of a family she never knew she had. It all felt like something out of a dream.But now, she was back to reality.Earlier that morning, her parents had tried to convince her to stay.“You don’t have to go,” Mrs. Denovan had said, holding Maya’s hand tightly. “This is your home.”Colton added with a teasing smile, “Come on, sis. What’s the rush? Stay a few more days.”Even Anika had begged her to stay. But Maya had gently smiled and shaken her head.“I just need a little time,” she said softly. “I’m not ready yet. I want to figure things out before the world finds out I’m your daughter.”They had und
Maya slowly opened her eyes to the soft morning light shining through the curtains. She blinked and looked around the cozy bedroom. Then she felt something warm beside her. Turning her head, she saw Anika sleeping peacefully, curled up against her with her little arms wrapped around Maya’s waist.A smile spread across Maya’s face. Her heart felt full. This was the first time in a long while that she woke up feeling so happy, calm, and loved.She stayed still for a moment, just watching Anika breathe gently. Then Anika stirred, rubbed her eyes, and looked up at her mom.“Good morning, Mommy,” Anika said with a sleepy voice.“Good morning, sweetheart,” Maya whispered back, brushing Anika’s hair with her fingers.Anika yawned and sat up. “I had a really good dream,” she said.“Oh?” Maya asked with a smile. “What was it about?”“We were all eating cake and laughing. You, me, Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Colton. We were all so happy.”Maya chuckled. “That sounds like a perfect dream.”Anika
Colton stood by the window of his apartment, holding a folder in his hand. His heart was pounding. After weeks of quiet investigation, private visits, and waiting, he finally had the truth.The DNA results were clear.Maya was his sister.His long-lost baby sister.He stared at the papers, almost unable to believe it. All this time, she had been so close, living her life with no idea of who she really was. Colton felt a wave of emotion wash over him—relief, happiness, and something deeper. A piece of his heart that had been missing for years had finally been found.Without waiting another moment, he grabbed his phone and car keys and headed straight to the Denovan estate.⸻When he arrived, the Denovan couple was sitting in the living room. They looked up as he walked in, and something in his face made them sit up straighter.“You found something,” Mr. Denovan said.Colton gave a small nod and walked toward them. He placed the folder gently on the table in front of them. “It’s her,” h