Layla descended the stairs slowly, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, but stopped abruptly when she saw Noah standing in the living room, fresh from cleaning the kitchen. Her eyes widened, and shock spread across her face.
"Mom... why is he here?" Layla's voice was sharp, and she shot a questioning, almost accusing glance at Sarah, who immediately froze, caught off guard by the tension.
Sarah, completely unaware of the full history between Noah and her daughter, stammered, her hands trembling slightly. "Uh... well, Noah was just—"
Layla cut her off, her voice growing louder. "Noah, do you want to get back together?" There was a mixture of disbelief and a strange hope in her tone, though it seemed forced.
Noah blinked, surprised by the sudden question, but his response was quick and firm. "No, Layla. That's not why I'm here."
