"Let it go, Maya," Dane's voice was calm, steady, the kind that could silence storms.
She stood there, eyes dark, jaw clenched, her breath uneven from the confrontation with Ethan. But the moment Dane spoke, her expression slowly softened—shoulders lowering, lips parting as if his voice had reached the part of her that needed soothing.
Ethan watched it all from behind the glass, his chest tightening painfully.
And then Dane reached for her hand—effortlessly, familiarly—and guided her toward the elevator.
They left together, Dane's hand gently enveloping hers.
Ethan's fist slammed onto his desk.
"Lucas!" he barked.
His assistant popped his head in, startled. "Y-yes, sir?"
"I want you to investigate Dane Wright. Every detail. Connections, finances, past work—everything."
Lucas blinked, clearly confused. "Sir... Mr. Wright is—"
"Do I have to repeat myself?" Ethan's voice thundered.
Lucas jumped. "N-no, sir! I'll get on it right away!" He rushed out, nearly tripping on his own feet.
Ethan sat down, fingers running through his hair. His jaw ached from clenching, but the image of Maya smiling—smiling—with another man burned in his memory like poison.
---
In Dane's car
"Can you believe him?" Maya huffed, buckling her seatbelt as Dane started the car. "Throwing a tantrum, blasting music like a teenager just to make a point? He's insane. Absolutely ridiculous."
Dane said nothing, only glanced at her as she kept rambling.
"—and who grabs someone's wrist like that in front of an entire office? I mean, who does that? He's completely lost it."
She turned suddenly. "Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you just staring at me?"
Dane didn't look away. "Do you still like him?"
Maya froze.
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. Her throat felt dry, and her eyes darted away.
She turned her face toward the window. "...No."
Dane's voice remained gentle. "If that's true... and he's part of your past... then why are you getting so agitated? That's not like you, Maya. You don't usually let people get under your skin. But when it comes to Ethan—your whole demeanor changes. I've noticed it."
She looked at him, wide-eyed. No one had ever said that to her before. Not even her closest friends. But Dane had seen through her effortlessly.
She swallowed hard. "I... I don't know, Dane."
"I just hope," he said softly, "that you don't waste your emotions on something that should have stayed in the past. I'm saying this as your friend."
Maya smiled faintly. "Thanks, Dane. Really."
---
At school – the next day
"Noah, Henry, can you come here for a moment?" the teacher called gently.
Both boys walked up, curious.
The teacher knelt to Noah's level and held up his drawing—crayons scrawled with energy. A child, holding a woman's hand, beneath a sunny sky.
"Noah," she asked, "why didn't you draw your father?"
Noah didn't blink. "We don't need a father in our family. My mom and I are enough."
The teacher's eyes widened slightly. "I see. Could you ask your mother to come see me tomorrow?"
Noah shrugged. "Okay."
Next, the teacher turned to Henry. His drawing was simple but bold—him on a motorcycle with a smiling man.
"Henry, where are your parents in this drawing?"
Henry replied without hesitation, "They're not my family. My uncle is. Because family means the ones who love you, right?"
The teacher was momentarily speechless, but the boys just looked at each other—two different lives, two different wounds, yet something shared passed between their eyes.
Something unspoken.