My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, it felt like the world had stopped spinning. A chill ran down my spine, spreading outward until it pricked at my fingertips. I pulled both of my children closer, my mind racing to comprehend the enormity of Maisie’s words. This couldn’t be happening. Not with my parents—the people I had trusted implicitly, the ones who had raised me with love and warmth. The impossibility of it made my head spin.

“Maisie,” I whispered, forcing myself to remain calm for her sake. “You’re safe now, okay? Both of you are safe. I’m going to take care of everything.”

I had to act quickly. My brain was operating on pure instinct, triaging the situation like I would in the emergency room. First, I needed to ensure Maisie and Theo were unharmed. I checked Theo’s pulse, relieved to find it steady. Maisie, though scratched and bruised, appeared more in shock than physically hurt. Her emotional wounds were another matter, and I would do everything in my power to help her heal.