Chapter 98

• The Castellano household was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that came after weeks of tension and uncertainty. Rafael sat at the head of the dining table, his hands resting on the polished wood, his thoughts heavy. Across from him, Maya was gathering the children, her voice calm but firm as she called them to join their parents.
• “We need to talk,” Maya said when Ivy, Ethan, and their younger siblings finally settled around the table. Her voice carried a mix of authority and warmth, an attempt to make the conversation feel serious yet safe. “As a family.”
• Ivy crossed her arms, her gaze wary. Ethan sat beside her, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. The younger ones looked at their parents with wide, curious eyes, sensing that this was more than an ordinary family meeting.