Clara was leaving work late that Thursday evening, balancing a tote bag on one shoulder while scrolling through her phone to check emails. The weather had cooled after a humid day, the kind of night when the city felt quieter than usual. As she stepped out of the glass doors of her building, she slowed when she noticed someone leaning casually against a nearby railing.
Amelia Vescari.
Kieran’s twin sister.
Clara hesitated, gripping the strap of her bag tighter. She’d only met Amelia a handful of times at family events, and while the woman had always been polite and warm, this felt different. Amelia wasn’t smiling the way she usually did.
“Clara,” Amelia greeted, straightening up when she saw her. “Do you have a minute?”
Clara nodded cautiously. “Sure. Is everything okay?”
Amelia moti
