She drew a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “I had just stepped into adulthood, and the next thing I knew—I was in a sterile hospital hallway, holding Jaime’s hand, being told I had to identify our parents’ bodies.”
The dam broke then, and she finally let it out—sobs wracking her body, tears flowing freely as Damien held her close, steadying her against him.
Damien just held her, arms wrapped tightly around her trembling frame, letting her cry into his chest without a word. He didn’t rush her, didn’t offer empty comforts—he simply stayed, grounding her, sharing the weight of her grief with the steady warmth of his presence. Slowly, her sobs began to ebb, leaving behind a fragile calm.
Maya composed herself, pushing away gently from his chest. Damien reached into his pocket and ha
