Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

RYAN

So far, there hasn't been any solid or concrete news regarding the boys' whereabouts, but Clover, completely unaware of it, is under discreet surveillance by the police. We are clinging to hope, however slim, that his actions might inadvertently guide us to the boys or at least provide some clue to aid in finding them.

To my surprise, Lily has been handling this distressing situation much better than I ever imagined she could. She went back to work just last week, a clear attempt to keep herself occupied and distracted. I know it's her way of avoiding the overwhelming spiral of overthinking or drowning in fears of the worst possible outcomes.

I had just left the detective's office when my phone rang unexpectedly. Sliding into the back seat of the car, I reached for my phone, swiped the screen to accept the call, and simultaneously connected it to my earpods. Raising the phone closer to my face, I spoke softly, "Hello, Mum." She looked at me with visible concern etched into her features, her brows furrowed slightly as she asked softly, "How are you? How is Lily holding up?"

I let out a deep sigh, my gaze shifting toward the window as I tried to gather my thoughts. My mind drifted momentarily, swirling with emotions I'd rather not confront. "Lily?" I repeated, almost to myself. "She's... she's not fine," I admitted quietly. It was the truth, plain and simple. "Although," I added after a moment, "she's doing her best to act tough, trying to hold it together."

Her expression softened, and a flicker of pity flashed across her eyes. "I'm hopeful," she said with a gentle tone, "that everything will work out in the end. You just have to hang on."

I nodded faintly, though the hope she spoke of felt distant, like a light I couldn't quite reach. "I hope so too," I murmured.

Talking about my missing children always brought me dangerously close to tears, a vulnerability I couldn't afford to show right now. I cleared my throat. "Any documents that need my attention at the company?"

She seemed to pick up on my need for a shift in focus and responded quickly, "I'm still going through the documents." She adjusted the camera, pointing it toward her desk, where a towering stack of papers and folders sat in a pile. "See for yourself," she added with a small chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood.

As she reached for a glass of water, she glanced back at the screen. "Oh, and guess who I ran into at the company a few days ago?" she asked, her tone suddenly playful, as though she were about to share a juicy secret.

I blinked, my mind going blank for a moment, though I wasn't making much effort to think anyway. "Who?" I asked, my tone flat, lacking the energy for guessing games. "I'm in no mood to play."

lightly, as if amused by my impatience. "Maya," she revealed. "I saw her standing in the lobby at the company. The moment our eyes met, she tried to make

glint of annoyance in her eyes. "I couldn't tell you. But would you believe she had the audacity to ask me what I was doing in

The thought alone made my blood boil. Did I seriously need to have someone teach her a lesson-maybe scare her off for good-before

initial countenance didn't sit right with me, though," Mum continued, pulling my attention back to the call. "It wasn't just her being there it was the look in her eyes. She seemed... excited, almost thrilled.

my eyes.

detail. "The excitement disappeared. It was

trying to piece together Maya's motives. Whatever game she was playing, I

at her words,

the company, and my absence can be of great benefit to them, and in that case,

tilted slightly, her expression one of

She studied me for a beat before leaning closer to the screen. You really think so?" she asked If you believe

venet

we should involve the police. They can bring her in, question her. She

me so far? Nothing substantial, nothing that had moved us forward. My trust in them was dwindling, and I wasn't sure wanted to rely on them now. "Don't worry about

"I'll handle

"}

me carefully, her gaze full of skepticism. "You sure?" she asked, not fully convinced by my words. I nodded. "Just be careful around her. We don't know

what I find. And don't hesitate to reach out to me if anything comes