It was almost midnight when Noah's phone buzzed.
The screen lit up with Aunt Mina in bold letters.
He was still in his study, fingers pressed against his temple, trying to drown himself in work he hadn't even looked at properly for the past few weeks. Since Lyla's discharge, his focus had shifted entirely onto her—on her healing, her confusion, her slow reconnection with the world. But this call… something about it made his chest tighten.
He answered it immediately.
"Mina?" His voice held quiet urgency. "Is everything alright?"
"She's fine, don't panic," Mina responded quickly, but he could hear the strain beneath her voice. "She's physically fine… but something happened tonight."
Noah stood up from his chair, heart thudding.
"She… asked me something unexpected. About you." Mina paused, then sighed. "She asked me how you're married."
The words landed like a punch to the gut.
