"What are you talking about?" Evelyn asked, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow as she regarded Maya.

Maya cleared her throat, suddenly feeling nervous under Evelyn's scrutinizing gaze. "Evelyn," she began carefully, "I mean Samantha wasn't talking about a child. Rek is an adult."

Evelyn blinked, her smile faltering. "What do you mean, an adult?"

Maya hesitated, glancing at Samantha, who was nodding vigorously. "He's a grown man."

For a moment, Evelyn didn't respond, her brain struggling to process the information. A cold shiver raced down her spine. "What?" she whispered.

Maya rushed on, sensing the tension building. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, Evelyn. I thought you knew. I assumed, when Samantha talked about Rek, you knew he was an adult. I didn't think he would come across as a child—"

Evelyn's face paled, her heart pounding. "You let a stranger spend time with my daughter?" she asked, her voice rising. Her gaze sharpened as she focused on Maya. "A man we know nothing about?" She stood up.

Samantha piped up. "But Mommy, Rek isn't a stranger! He's my friend!" Confusion clouded her young face as she looked from her mother to Maya.

Evelyn turned to Samantha, her expression harsh. "Hush, Samantha. This is an adult conversation. Go to your room," she ordered, turning off the television with the remote. Samantha's face fell; she rose slowly and reluctantly walked away.

Maya waited until Samantha was out of earshot before speaking again, her voice slightly defensive. "Evelyn, I didn't think—"

"Exactly, Maya! You didn't think!" Evelyn interrupted sharply. "What if he's a kidnapper, a child trafficker, or a pedophile targeting Samantha? Did you even consider that?"

Maya's eyes widened, and she shook her head quickly. "No, I didn't think that at all. He seemed like a decent man, Evelyn. He was polite, and he genuinely seemed to care about Samantha's well-being."

Evelyn let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "And how do you know that, Maya? Because he seemed decent? You can't judge a person by a few polite words and a smile."

Maya's face flushed, and she looked down. "I'm sorry, Evelyn. I really am. I should have told you sooner. I just I didn't see any harm in it. Mr. Stone has been nothing but kind to Sam—"

"Wait, what?" Evelyn asked, her heart pounding.

"I said he's been noth—"

"Mr. what?" Evelyn interrupted.

"Mr. Stone. Rek is actually Mr. Stone. The owner of Stone Palace Hotel," Maya explained, hoping to calm Evelyn.

Instead, her words had the opposite effect. Evelyn's breathing grew faster, her mind racing as she tried to process the implications. "Mr. Stone Rek?" she repeated, as if trying to fit the name into a chaotic puzzle. "The Derek L?"

It hit her then, like a physical blow. Her knees felt weak, and she gripped the back of the chair to steady herself. Rek was Derek. Derek Stone. Her Derek, Samantha's father.

Maya, noticing Evelyn's pallor, stepped forward, concern etched on her face. "Evelyn, are you alright?"

Evelyn shook her head, speechless. Her mind was a whirlwind. How was it possible that, despite her efforts to keep Samantha away from Derek, he had found her? He'd effortlessly become a part of her daughter's life from the moment they'd returned to Ludus.

"I need to be alone," Evelyn finally managed, her voice strained. Without waiting for a response, she hurried to her room, closing the door softly behind her.

Once inside, Evelyn sank to the floor, her back against the door. Her breathing was erratic, her chest tight with panic. How had this happened? How had she not figured it out sooner? She remembered Samantha mentioning Rek from the first day they'd arrived at the Stone Palace Hotel. She thought of Rayna's words about fate and destiny. Was this what she meant? That no matter how hard Evelyn tried to escape, Derek would always find his way back into her life, and Samantha's?

Her heart ached at the thought of Samantha's innocent smile when she talked about Rek. How was she supposed to end their friendship, especially since Samantha clearly adored him?

"What am I going to do now?" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Should she let them remain friends? At least then Samantha would spend time with her father, even if she didn't know who he was. What if Derek knew she was Samantha's mother? What if he'd seen them together, or Samantha had told him?

The doorbell rang. Evelyn took a deep breath and answered it.

"I took it already," Maya said, holding out a pizza box.

"Thanks. You can go ahead," Evelyn said, glancing at Samantha's bedroom door.

"Evelyn, I'm very sorry. I really don't know what I was thinking"

"It's fine. I need to talk to Samantha," Evelyn said, heading for Samantha's room.

Samantha, lying on the bed sobbing quietly, looked up when her mother entered. "Mommy, Rek is good to me. I like him. I want him to be my friend," she cried, as if sensing Evelyn's intention to end their friendship.

Evelyn sat on the edge of the bed and brushed Samantha's tears away. "Tell me everything about Rek. How did you meet him? Did he talk to you first? What did he say to you? What have you said to him? Did" Evelyn caught herself. She decided to focus on the most important questions. "Did Rek talk to you first?"

Samantha shook her head and explained how she'd met him in the lobby and advised him not to hold his phone too close to his eyes.

"I asked you not to talk to strangers," Evelyn said, displeased.

"You also said to help strangers," Samantha pointed out, and Evelyn sighed.

"Have you told him anything about me? Does he know your Mommy's name?" she asked. Samantha looked away guiltily.

"He knows my name?" Evelyn asked. Samantha shook her head quickly.

"What did you tell him about me?" Evelyn asked, worried.

"Don't think of lying to me, Sammy," Evelyn warned. Samantha's lips quivered.

"Don't be mad, Mommy. I told him you are pretty and I want him to marry my Mommy," Samantha said. Evelyn's heart sank. She couldn't let this continue. She had to keep Samantha away from Derek, at least for now. But how could she do that when Samantha had already welcomed Derek into her heart?

Evelyn lowered her eyes, fighting back tears as she gathered Samantha into her arms.