Cole's POV
After finishing breakfast, we left Maya with Damon's sister at the office. My sister's anxiety was palpable—her eyes betrayed the depth of her fear. I couldn't blame her. Throughout her life, that woman who claimed to be her mother had inflicted enough suffering upon her.
"I'm concerned about Maya," I confided to Damon as we drove toward the hotel for our meeting with his father. "She's terrified."
Damon exhaled heavily. "I'll be straightforward with you—I want that woman dead. Maya told me about the whippings." His eyes flashed with rage. "Who does that to their child?"
"Believe me, I understand. When I first discovered what she'd endured, I nearly lost it myself. The only reason I didn't confront that monster was because Maya begged me not to—claiming blood ties that I'm convinced don't exist. This DNA test will confirm what we already suspect." My fingers tapped nervously against my knee, anticipating the results we'd receive later.
