Chapter 71

• The morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the Castellano household. Maya stood at the stove, flipping pancakes for breakfast, her mind already buzzing with the tasks of the day. The sound of Ivy’s soft laughter drew her attention, and she turned to see her daughter sitting at the table, chatting animatedly with her younger siblings.
• “Ivy, could you pour some juice for your brother?” Maya asked, smiling as she placed a plate of pancakes on the table.
• “Sure,” Ivy said, grabbing the carton of orange juice. As she poured, she continued talking, her tone bright. “Claire said the funniest thing yesterday. She was telling me about this time she went hiking, and she got lost but ended up finding a secret waterfall. Isn’t that cool?”