chapter 5

Maya didn’t sleep.

Every time she tried to close her eyes, she heard the same sentence.

“If Maya finds out, everything changes.”

She didn’t understand what Will meant by it.

The sentence replayed in her head for the rest of the night.

By morning, she had stopped trying to sleep altogether.

She sat by the window with a notebook resting on her lap.

In three years of marriage, she had learned one thing: When people lied, they eventually contradicted themselves.

And Maya Scott had built a career around noticing contradictions.

After getting dressed, she headed downstairs for breakfast.

The house was unusually quiet. Will’s seat at the dining table was empty, which wasn't a big surprise; she had gotten used to such mornings.

Cassie had already served breakfast.

“Ma'am, do you want tea first?” she said with a warm smile.

“Turns out you're actually good.”

“Madam…”

“ The problem is that you've known me for three years.”

silence.

“And I've known you for three years, too.”

Cassie lowered her gaze.

“I don't know what you want me to say.”

Maya pushed her chair back.

Neither do i.

She picked up her phone from the table.

“But when you finally decide to say it, I’ll be listening.”

Before Cassie could respond, Maya’s phone rang. It was an unknown number, but Maya answered it anyway.

“Miss Scott?”

“Yes….?”

“This is Detective Harris.”

Maya’s expression sharpened immediately.

“We received the DNA results. The dining room went quiet.

Maya didn't miss the way Cassie suddenly looked up

Maya noticed the sudden tension that crossed Cassie’s face.

“And?” Maya asked.

We’ve identified the owner of the hair sample.”

Maya’s grip tightened on her phone.

The detective continued speaking.

But Maya’s attention had shifted to Cassie.

Cassie had gone still.

Her hand tightened around the edge of the table.

Not surprised.

Not confused.

Uneasy.

As if the call had confirmed something she had been dreading.

Maya lowered her phone.

“Detective, tell me the name.”

A brief pause followed.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. For security reasons, we’ll need you to come to the station by Monday. “Madam…. what's wrong?” Cassie asked with a face filled with curiosity and drenched with fear.

“The detective called.”

“Really, what did they say?”

“The DNA results are out, that's all,” she continued, “but I need to be present on Monday till then I'm still in the dark.”

“Monday,” Cassie repeated.

That’s what he said.”

Cassie nodded.

For some reason, she didn’t look relieved.

If anything, she looked more restless than before.

She picked up Maya’s empty plate and turned toward the kitchen.

Halfway there, she stopped.

Just stopped.

As if she had forgotten what she was doing.

Maya watched her.

“Cassie.”

The housekeeper startled and looked over her shoulder.

“Yes, Madam?”

“You’ve been acting strange.”

Cassie laughed nervously.

It wasn’t convincing.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Really?”

Cassie lowered her gaze.

Maya leaned back in her chair.

The dining room fell silent again.

The silence stretched long enough to become uncomfortable.

Usually, Cassie hated silence.

She always found something to talk about.

The weather.

The staff.

The flowers in the garden.

Anything.

Today, she said nothing.

That bothered Maya more than the detective’s call.

“Did you know?” she asked suddenly.

Cassie looked up.

“Know what?”

“The police found a match.”

The words came out before Maya could stop them.

Cassie’s fingers tightened around the plate.

Only for a second.

Then she forced a smile.

“No, Madam.”

A lie.

Maybe not a complete lie.

But not the truth either.

Maya knew the difference.

Three years ago, she wouldn’t have noticed.

Now she did.

The strange thing was that Cassie seemed aware of it, too.

“Cassie.”

“Madam?”

“If there’s something you want to tell me…”

The older woman looked away.

Toward the window.

Toward the hallway.

Anywhere but at Maya.

For a moment, Maya thought she was finally going to speak.

Instead, Cassie whispered,

“Some truths don’t make life easier.”

Maya frowned.

Before she could ask what that meant, the sound of a car echoed from outside.

Both women turned toward the front window.

A black sedan rolled through the gates.

Cassie’s face changed immediately.

No surprise.

Not happiness.

Something closer to dread.

Maya noticed.

And this time, she was certain of one thing.

The fear had nothing to do with the police.

The black sedan belongs to Will.

“He’s not supposed to be here,” the sentence slipped out of Cassie’s mouth before she could stop it.

“What?” Maya asked.

“Nothing, madam.”

Then why did you say he wasn’t supposed to be here?”

“Cassie, what aren’t you telling me?”

Maya grabbed her wrist.

For the first time that morning, Cassie looked genuinely frightened.

Her lips parted.

As though she had finally decided to speak.

Then—

“What’s going on?”

Will’s voice cut through the dining room.