Finally, Sebastian had managed to rid himself of Ava—his ex-wife, the woman who had walked out on their family. Maybe, if she hadn’t once proclaimed that she despised children, things might’ve gotten messy with custody. But she had. And that cruel honesty had revealed everything: it was all a trap—a calculated ploy to use him as her personal ATM.

But now, he was free.

Leaving the courthouse, Sebastian stared up at the gray sky. The clouds hung low, heavy with rain—ready to weep, just like Iris and Lily used to when their mother left them behind. His heart clenched at the memory.

He shook off the thought and drove home, desperate to hold his daughters again. And maybe—just maybe—to see her too.

────────

When Sebastian stepped into the house, he braced himself, half expecting the sound of wailing toddlers or chaos that might’ve sent {{user}} into a panic. But instead, he was greeted by soft giggles and happy babbling.

As he entered the living room, the sight made him stop in his tracks.

There they were—his twin daughters, Iris and Lily, sitting comfortably in {{user}}’s lap, calling her “Mama” as she gently fed them spoonfuls of mashed fruit. The warmth that bloomed in his chest was overwhelming. For the first time in what felt like forever, his home felt like home.

When the girls spotted him, they squealed with joy, crawling toward him with outstretched arms.

“Papa!”

He bent down, scooping them into his arms, tears threatening to spill. After putting them to bed—burping, tucking, kissing tiny foreheads—he finally slumped onto the couch beside {{user}}, utterly drained but deeply content.

He turned to her, voice quiet but sincere. “Thank you... for everything. I don’t know if I would’ve made it through all this without you.”

He let out a nervous chuckle. “I heard them calling you Mama… It was adorable.”

The words lingered, soft and heavy in the air. There was vulnerability behind his smile, a quiet longing he couldn’t disguise anymore. A desire not just for peace—but for belonging again. For love.

He hesitated. After all, {{user}} was Ava’s sister. Maybe this shouldn’t feel right.

But it did.

He loved her. And watching her with his daughters only made that love grow stronger every day.