“Your investigators were not subtle.”

“I never sent anyone to hurt you.”

“I know.” The admission seemed to surprise him. I had never believed Ethan wanted me harmed — that was never why I ran. I ran because his world absorbed people.

It wrapped around them slowly, elegantly, until their choices became family decisions and their fears became leverage. I had been twenty-seven, newly pregnant, devastated, and terrified that if Ethan learned the truth, Ava would grow up behind guarded gates where love always came with conditions.

Chapter 7 — The Handoff

A soft knock. Dr. Samuel Keller opened the door a few inches — early fifties, thoughtful and unfailingly calm, with reading glasses he constantly forgot were resting on top of his head.

“Maya?”