Maya stood frozen. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, her breath shallow as panic and grief swirled together. She wanted to move, to help, but her legs felt like stone.
“Damien…” her voice broke, soft and uncertain, as if she feared speaking would make the reality sharper.
“Stay back, love,” Damien said quickly, his tone gentler but firm as his eyes flicked to her. “It’s okay… I’ve got her.” Yet beneath the steadiness in his voice, his jaw was tight, his shoulders tense. He had never looked so torn between two worlds—his role as Dahlia’s son and his instinct to shield Maya.
He lifted Dahlia carefully onto the couch, adjusting her head against the cushions with practiced care. Her hand slipped from his grasp, cold and trembling, and Damien swallowed hard.
“Mom… wake up.” His voic
