The house slowly returned to its lively rhythm.
Laughter. Conversations. Glasses clinking.
Like nothing had happened.
But for me—
Everything felt… louder.
Heavier.
"Anna."
A familiar voice pulled me away.
Maxine.
She tilted her head slightly towards the hallway.
"Come. I need to talk to you."
I hesitated for a second… then nodded.
We walked into the kitchen.
Away from everyone.
Away from him.
The moment we were alone—
She turned to me.
Arms crossed.
Eyes sharp.
"You're playing a very dangerous game," she said, straight to the point.
I exhaled slowly.
"I'm not playing anything."
"Don't," she cut in. "Don't act like this is nothing."
Silence filled the space between us.
"He was watching you," she continued. "Not casually, Anna. He was observing."
My fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the counter.
"And the kids…" she added, softer this time. "They act like you. They talk like you."
I forced a small smile.
"They're my kids, Max."
She stepped closer.
"But they also…" she paused, choosing her words carefully, "…have pieces of him."
My heart skipped.
"You think I didn't notice?" she whispered."The way Xayden talks? The way Xia reacts? And Xavier… he's already comfortable with them."
I looked away.
"Max…"
"No," she shook her head. "You don't get to avoid this."
Her voice softened—but it hit harder.
"How long are you planning to hide this?"
I swallowed.
"I'm not hiding. I'm just… waiting."
"For what?" she asked.
I didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was—
I didn't know.
"For the right time," I finally said.
Maxine let out a quiet, almost frustrated laugh.
"There's no such thing as the right time for this, Anna."
I leaned back against the counter.
Tired.
"If I tell him now…" I whispered, "everything will change."
"It already is," she replied instantly.
That hit me harder than I expected.
"He's here. In your house. Watching your kids. Talking to them," she continued."You really think he's not going to start connecting the dots?"
My chest felt tight.
"I just got my life stable again, Max…" I admitted softly."The kids are happy. We're okay."
"And what about him?" she asked.
I froze.
"He deserves to know," she said, gently this time.
I closed my eyes.
"I know…"
"But knowing and doing are two different things," she added.
Silence.
From outside, I could hear laughter.
The kids.
My kids.
"I'm not ready," I whispered.
Maxine looked at me for a long moment.
Then she sighed.
"You don't have to be ready forever," she said softly."But you also don't have forever to hide it."
My eyes slowly opened.
"And when the truth comes out…" she added, "it won't just affect you."
I nodded.
I knew.
"It will affect them too."
That was the part that scared me the most.
Maxine reached out, gently squeezing my hand.
"I'm not forcing you," she said."I'm just reminding you… this isn't something you can control forever."
I gave a small, weak smile.
"Yeah…"
But deep down—
I knew.
Something had already started.
And sooner or later—
The truth…
Would find its way out.