**Olivia's POV**
The beach was perfect today—sunny, with just the right amount of breeze. Alex and I had decided to escape the tension of the past few days by spending some time by the ocean, hoping it would help clear our minds. As we walked along the shore, I felt a bit more at ease, but there was still that lingering worry about Elena. I knew I needed to talk to her, but I wasn't sure how.
We were just about to settle down when I heard excited voices shouting, "Big Aunty Olivia! Big Uncle Alex!" I turned around and saw Clarina and Mariana running towards us, their faces lit up with joy. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Elena a few steps behind them, standing still, watching us with a blank expression.
The girls practically tackled me in a hug, their happiness contagious. "Hey, you two!" I greeted them, trying to keep my tone cheerful, even though my eyes kept drifting back to Elena. She hadn't moved an inch.
