Chapter 128

Elias’s POV

I held Maya in my arms one final time, both of us clinging to each other as though our very hearts depended on it. The late-afternoon light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room as I forced myself to break our embrace. Neither of us spoke; I feared that if I looked her in the eyes, I would crumble, refuse to leave her side, and never move forward. Swallowing hard, I lowered my gaze, steeled my resolve, and followed Thomas out of the house without another word. We departed in near silence, the weight of unspoken emotion heavy between us.

The following morning, I reached for the phone as soon as the sun rose. I called Adrian’s direct line and arranged to meet him in my office. When he arrived, he looked as though he had been wrestling with his thoughts all night.

“You wanted to see me?” Adrian said, steppin