slowly. “What are they doing on my bed with you?” Maya did not wake up. Her

face looked tired, drained, like someone who had fought a long battle in the dark. The twins only pulled closer to

her, one resting his cheek on her shoulder, the other clutching her sleeve like he was afraid someone would pull

her away. Ethan’s voice rose breaking. Maya, wake up. Tell me what happened.

Why are my sons only calm with you? Why? Maya opened her eyes slowly, confused

for a second, then startled when she saw Ethan standing over them. Before she

could move, the younger twin whimpered and reached for her again, desperate

even in his sleep. Ethan’s heart twisted. “Maya,” he said quietly but

sharply, “my boys have never slept like this. Not since their mother died. Every

nanny ran. Every helper quit. Even doctors could not reach them. But you, a

maid, they cling to you like their whole life depends on you.” Maya looked down

at the sleeping boys, her eyes filling with tears. She tried to hide. “Sir,

please do not wake them,” she whispered. They cried for hours last night. They

cried until they could not breathe. They needed someone to hold them. Ethan stared at her like he was looking at a

secret he was never meant to uncover. “What did you say to them?” he asked.

“What did you do that no one else could?” Maya shook her head slowly. I

did not say anything, sir. I only stayed. Ethan felt a sharp pain in his chest. Stayed? He repeated. Are you

telling me they sleep like this because you stayed with them? Maya wiped a tear with the back of her hand. Your sons are

not wild, sir. They are lonely. They are scared. They are crying for someone who

will not walk away. Ethan stepped back, shaking his head, his breath unsteady.

and they think that someone is you,” he whispered. Maya pressed her hand gently

on one boy’s back. “Because when a child loses a mother, sir, they search for the

nearest heartbeat that feels like hers.” Ethan felt his knees weaken. The twins