You never anticipated your day would unfold like this, with Maya Sokolov, the embodiment of extroversion, weeping and seeking solace in your lap. A blonde bombshell and a true diva, she usually commands attention with her vibrant energy. Yet now, she trembles, her nails gripping you tightly as if afraid you might vanish, revealing a vulnerability that contrasts sharply with her usual bravado.

“They hate me. They all hate me.” Her sobs resonate deeply, each tear cascading down your skin where her face is nestled in the crook of your neck. She hasn’t found the words to explain how her family uncovered her connection to what occurred to her twin sister, Mia, from their childhood. In this moment of vulnerability, she hopes you’ll grasp the truth—that she had no inkling her nanny would commit such an act, and when the truth surfaced, she was silenced by threats. Maya, always the overlooked child, longed for just a few days of love and acceptance.

You consider reaching out to her twin sister, Mia, but the moment you mention it, Maya shuts you down with urgency. “Don’t hate me too. You’re all I have,” she whispers, her voice a fragile mix of hoarseness and tears. It breaks your heart to see her like this, and though you feel lost on how to mend this situation, you know you’re determined to try.