I almost didn't go.
I stood in front of the mirror longer than I should have.
Not because I had something special to wear…
But because I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere near that place.
"You look fine," Starlet said from the bed.
"I look… normal," I replied.
"That's the point," Riley added.
"You don't need to impress anyone."
Melyne stepped closer.
Her eyes softer than usual.
"Just be yourself."
I swallowed.
That was the scariest part.
The house was… quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that didn't come from emptiness—
But from control.
I stood at the gate for a second longer than necessary before finally pressing the bell.
A few seconds later…
The door opened.
And there she was.
"Jessy," Amara smiled warmly.
"You came."
I nodded slightly.
"Come in."
I stepped inside.
Everything felt… expensive.
Neat.
Perfect.
Like nothing in that house had ever been out of place.
Unlike me.
"Relax," Amara said softly, noticing the way I stood.
"You're not being examined."
I wasn't so sure.
"Mom," she called.
My heart skipped.
Footsteps approached.
Then—
She appeared.
Elegant.
Calm.
But her eyes…
Soft.
"So this is Jessy," she said gently.
I swallowed.
"Yes… ma'am."
She smiled.
"No need for that," she said warmly.
"Just call me Mrs. Laurent."
Her voice wasn't cold.
Wasn't distant.
It felt…
Kind.
Unexpectedly kind.
"It's nice to meet you," I said quietly.
She stepped closer.
And for a moment…
She just looked at me.
Not in a way that made me uncomfortable.
But in a way that felt like she was trying to understand me.
Then—
"You're welcome here," she said softly.
Something in my chest shifted.
I wasn't expecting that.
At all.
"Thank you…"
"Come," Amara said lightly.
"Let's sit."
I followed her.
Trying not to feel out of place.
Trying not to think about the fact that—
I was in his house.
And then—
I felt it.
That presence.
I turned slightly.
And there he was.
Elias.
Watching.
He hadn't said a word yet.
But his eyes…
They didn't leave me.
"You came," he said finally.
I nodded.
"I didn't think you would."
"I didn't think I would either."
That almost made him smile.
Almost.
Dinner was… calm.
Too calm.
Amara carried most of the conversation.
Mrs. Laurent listened more than she spoke.
And Elias…
He watched.
Me.
Too much.
I tried to focus on my food.
On breathing.
On not feeling like I was being pulled into something I didn't understand.
"You're very quiet," Mrs. Laurent said gently.
I looked up quickly.
"I'm just… not used to this."
"To what?" she asked.
"This," I gestured slightly.
"The space… the people…"
She smiled softly.
"You'll get used to it."
That sentence lingered.
I wasn't sure why.
Before I could respond—
Tiny footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Light.
Quick.
Then—
A small figure appeared.
A little girl.
Maybe three… or four.
Big eyes.
Curly hair.
She paused.
Looked around.
Then her eyes landed on me.
And everything changed.
Her face lit up.
"Hi!" she said brightly.
I blinked.
Caught off guard.
"Hi…"
Before anyone could say anything—
She ran straight toward me.
And wrapped her tiny arms around my leg.
I froze.
Completely.
"She doesn't usually do that," Amara murmured.
But the little girl didn't let go.
She looked up at me like she had known me forever.
"I like you," she said simply.
My heart…
Did something strange.
I slowly bent down.
"What's your name?" I asked softly.
She smiled.
"Lia."
Lia.
I smiled back without even realizing it.
"That's a pretty name."
She beamed.
Then gently…
She placed her tiny hand on my stomach.
And giggled.
"Baby," she said.
Silence.
The entire room shifted.
I felt it.
But when I looked up—
No one explained anything.
No one moved to stop her.
And that's when it hit me.
The way she moved.
The way she was… here.
The way no one questioned her presence.
My eyes slowly lifted.
To Elias.
He was already looking at me.
And in that moment…
Something unspoken passed between us.
Something heavy.
But he didn't say it.
And neither did I.
Later…
I stood alone on the balcony.
Trying to breathe.
Trying to process everything.
The house.
The dinner.
The child.
"You're thinking too much."
His voice.
I didn't turn immediately.
"I think I have a reason to."
He stepped closer.
Standing beside me.
Not too close.
But not far either.
"You didn't have to come," he said.
"I know."
Silence.
Then—
"Why did you?"
I hesitated.
"I don't know."
That was the truth.
And somehow…
He understood it.
"You don't belong here," I added quietly.
He looked at me.
"Neither do you."
That surprised me.
"Then why does it feel like you do?" I asked.
He didn't answer.
Because he didn't have one.
And maybe…
Because he felt it too.
Inside…
Amara watched from a distance.
Her eyes sharp.
Observant.
She had seen everything.
The way Lia ran to her.
The way Elias looked at her.
The way Jessy didn't ask questions…
But felt them.
Amara smiled slowly.
"Interesting," she murmured.
Because this wasn't simple anymore.
Not at all.