Fabian was speechless. Maria's sideways glance had rendered him mute. Her words, though sensible, left him uneasy. Just two days prior, she had been suicidal; this drastic shift in mood was unsettling.

"You seem to have recovered quickly," he said, "but why so suddenly?"

"I don't know," Maria replied, tilting her head upward and offering a strange smile. "Perhaps God didn't want me to be sad for too long! Why are you asking so much? Are you hoping I'll die, too?"

Her sharp rebuke silenced him again, yet a sense of normalcy—however fragile—returned.

"What nonsense is that?" he retorted, though his unease lingered.

"I'm leaving," Maria announced, grabbing her bag and departing.

This time, Fabian followed, watching her enter their driver's car. Her composure struck him as suspicious. Once inside, Maria's joy overflowed. She pulled out her phone, texting, "I just left home; I'll be there soon." A simple emoji reply—an "Okay"—filled her with elation. Clutching her phone like a treasure, she smiled, then instructed, "Rowan, drive faster."

The car sped toward a poker house. Rowan hesitated at the entrance. "Mrs. Moore, is this correct?"

Maria nodded, glancing at her phone and then out the window. "Yes! I'm playing poker. Pick me up later. I'll call."

"Yes, Mrs. Moore," Rowan replied, watching her enter. He was perplexed; this was his first time at this establishment, and only Maria's address had guided him. It was peculiar. Everyone at the Moore residence knew of Maria's recent distress and seclusion. Yet, here she was, heading to a poker game, beaming, even grinning at her phone. A thought occurred to him: Is Mrs. Moore having an affair?

He quickly dismissed the idea. No, that can't be. Her daughter's recent death… she must be in shock.

Unaware of Rowan's thoughts, Maria entered the poker house, striving to appear natural, yet her happiness was evident. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation; she was eager to meet someone.

The poker house was surprisingly quiet. The soundproof walls muffled most noise. Maria walked to a private room at the hallway's end, checking the room number against her phone before entering with trembling hands.