Olivia stood in the hallway, poised as always, but her eyes sharper now.
When she saw Daniel, her gaze lingered a second longer.
“Good afternoon,” she said smoothly.
Daniel nodded, keeping his response brief.
A man in a suit approached, introducing himself calmly. Official, but not aggressive.
He asked questions—simple ones, details building something bigger.
Daniel answered honestly, steady despite everything unfolding.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ethan near the stairs, half-hidden, watching.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—something passed between them.
Not fear.
Not relief.
Recognition.
Later, the house fell quiet again—but not the same quiet. This one felt unsettled.
Daniel was asked to wait outside.
He returned to the car—the same place it had all started—but now it meant something else.
Time stretched.
When the door finally opened, Ethan came out with a woman Daniel hadn’t seen before—calm, composed.
The boy looked different.
Not happier.
But less tense. As if something had loosened, just a little.
He approached the car, hesitating before getting in.
“Is he… going to leave?” Ethan asked softly.
Daniel paused, feeling the weight of that question.
“I don’t know yet,” he answered honestly.