Chapter 4: B: The Stolen Coat

👉 Previous Decision: You chose to hide the paternity paper in toddler Lily’s coat and ran to find Ethan.

Julian’s footsteps drew closer. Maya moved with frantic speed. Lily’s small blue jacket lay folded on the bottom bunk. She slipped the paternity report and the bridge blueprint into the deep right pocket, hoping it would be safe.

She kissed Lily’s forehead, then quietly slipped out of the berth, pulling the door shut behind her. She had to find Ethan. Her brother would believe her. He would protect them.

She took three hurried steps down the corridor toward Berth 2A, where Ethan was sleeping. The train jolted, throwing her momentarily against the wall. She pushed off, regaining her balance.

Suddenly, Julian was there, appearing from the vestibule as if conjured from the shadows. His eyes fixed on her, then flickered to the closed door of Berth 4B.

“Maya, what are you doing out here again?” His voice was sharp, no longer calm. His gaze dropped to Lily’s jacket, which she had picked up from the bunk and still held in her hand, having forgotten to put it down. “Are you taking Lily somewhere? Is this part of your… episode?”

Before she could answer, he moved. His hand shot out, not toward her, but toward the jacket. He snatched it from her grasp with surprising force.

“You can’t be trusted with her, Maya, not when you’re like this,” he said, his voice laced with a cold anger. “Give me the coat. I’ll make sure Lily stays safe with me.”

He clutched the jacket tightly, his eyes daring her to argue. The paternity report and the blueprint were gone, now in his possession, as effectively as if she had handed them over.