“Mama… Daddy…”
Just as Dylan Brooks’ lips had barely touched Sophie Walker’s, a soft, milky voice drifted through the quiet room, light and curious, carrying the unmistakable clarity of a child who had just awakened. The voice was gentle, yet it cut through the intimacy like a bell in still air. “What are you doing?”
The atmosphere froze in an instant.
The two adults separated almost reflexively, movements awkward and uncoordinated, as if caught in the middle of something they hadn’t had time to prepare an explanation for. The warmth lingering between them had nowhere to go and vanished just as quickly as it had formed.
On the bed, Gabby had already opened her eyes. She wasn’t crying or frightened—just staring. Her gaze lingered on their faces with pure, unfiltered curiosity, as though
