As they boarded the private jet, Maya marveled at its sheer luxury. She had never traveled on a private plane before, and the experience filled her with awe and gratitude.

Just as she finished texting Liam to let him know she was flying with Evelyn and Derek, Evelyn settled into the seat opposite her.

"Excited?" Evelyn asked with a broad smile, noticing Maya's earlier explorations of the cabin. Maya nodded, unable to suppress a grin. "Very. Thank you for letting me join you."

Evelyn waved it off. "It's no trouble at all. It seems like fate that we're all heading to Husla at the same time."

Maya tilted her head thoughtfully. "Who knows? Maybe it is."

Evelyn smiled, glancing at Derek, who was speaking with the flight crew. His demeanor was calm and focused. Turning back to Maya, she asked curiously, "So, how long will you be in Husla?"

"I can't say yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I'm sure," Maya promised. Evelyn nodded and returned to her seat.

Alone, Maya's thoughts drifted to her upcoming meeting with her brother. She reached for the locket around her neck, hesitated, then unclasped it and held it in her palm. It was the only tangible connection she had left to her family. Her fingers brushed the cool metal as she opened it and stared at the little boy in the picture.

Something familiar tugged at her heart, a feeling she attributed to their connection. She gazed at the picture, wanting to memorize every detail. After a moment, she looked up and met Derek's gaze; he had just finished with the flight crew and was taking his seat beside Evelyn. For a moment, she saw the little boy's face in Derek's, but quickly dismissed it, realizing she'd been looking at the picture too long. She was sure she would see her brother's face in anyone she looked at after that.

As the jet ascended, Maya took out a book, still holding the locket.

"How are you feeling?" Evelyn asked, linking her hand with Derek's.

"Excited. Anxious," he replied. Evelyn nodded.

"You'll meet her soon," she said, then looked at him seriously. "Do you think she might know about what happened to your parents?"

Derek paused. "I don't know. She was only a baby then"

"But her guardian might have told her, don't you think?" Evelyn asked. Derek sighed.

"Maybe. We'll find out soon," he said. Evelyn yawned and nodded.

"Why don't you try to rest?" Derek suggested, noticing she'd been dozing during the drive to the airport and yawning frequently. He understood; she'd woken early because of his nightmares.

"Will you be okay?" she asked, not denying her need for rest.

"Sure. I need to think, too," he said, pulling her close. She leaned against him. "Alright," she sighed.

She tried unsuccessfully to find a comfortable position, then gave up.

"Why don't you go sleep on the bed?" he suggested.

"But I want to stay close to you," she pouted. Derek smiled.

"I'll cuddle you until you fall asleep," he said, escorting her to the sleeping area.

"Let me know if you get bored and need company," she offered as they lay down.

"Sure," he smiled, kissing her forehead as she snuggled against him. He waited until she fell asleep before returning to his seat.

Back in his seat, his gaze fell on Maya's locket, and he stopped. It had caught his attention the night before, reminding him of something in his dream.

Maya, sensing his gaze, looked up. "Did you need something?" she asked, closing her book.

Derek shook his head. His voice was quieter than intended. "No, it's just… that locket. May I… see it?"

Maya hesitated, clutching the locket. "Why?"

He rubbed his neck, offering an awkward smile. "I'm not sure. It just looks so familiar."

Something in his tone made her pause. Her eyes softened, and she offered it to him. "It's the only connection I have left to my family." Derek took the locket with surprising reverence.

He studied the design, his thumb tracing the scratches. When he opened it, his breath caught. Inside was a picture of a young boy with a mischievous grin beside two smiling adults. The faces were unmistakable—his parents and himself.

He stared, his hands trembling. "This… this is me," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Maya's heart pounded. "What do you mean?" she asked, barely audible.

He turned the locket toward her. "That's me. And those are my biological parents. Where… where did you get this?" His voice cracked, filled with disbelief and hope. She had said it was her only connection to her family.

He hardly dared believe Maya was his sister, right under his nose all along. Yet, it made sense. What were the odds she had the key to unlocking his memory, or that they were both spontaneously traveling to Husla?

Maya's lips parted, speechless. She felt the world shift. She took back the locket, staring at the picture as if seeing it for the first time. A thousand possibilities raced through her mind. She had seen his resemblance to her brother, and now he was saying he was her brother. Her older brother? The sister they'd discussed was her?

"This is you?" she whispered, trembling.

Derek nodded slowly, his throat tight. "How… how do you have this, Maya?" His voice was a whisper.

Tears welled in Maya's eyes. "These are my biological parents and my older brother," she admitted, tears falling.

Evelyn, who had gone to the restroom and witnessed the exchange silently, gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. They didn't notice her. The words hung heavy with emotion and disbelief.

Derek stared at Maya, reeling. He wanted to speak, but could only pull her into a tight embrace, his heart pounding against hers. "Maya," he whispered, his voice breaking. "It's really you."

Maya sobbed, clinging to him. "I can't believe this."

Tears streamed down Evelyn's cheeks as she watched, overwhelmed. She pressed her hand to her lips to stifle her sobs. Maya, who had lived with her for years, was Derek's blood sister. Maya was family, after all.