Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
𝑰𝑻 𝑯𝑨𝑫 been five years since Christiana's life changed forever—both for better and worse. She was now the proud mother of a beautiful boy, Jesse, whose laugh could brighten even her darkest days. But sometimes, when she looked at him, she couldn't help but notice how much he resembled his father.
At first, it bothered her more than she cared to admit. She hadn't endured eleven grueling hours of labor just to give birth to Brian's twin. But over time, she learned to appreciate the balance. Jesse may have inherited his father's sharp jawline and the mischievous gleam in his eyes, but he was also hers in ways that mattered. He had Christiana's big, soulful brown eyes—the same ones that softened any resemblance to Brian. And for her, that was enough.
Life had settled into a comfortable rhythm. It wasn't just her and Jesse anymore; Mia and Eli were a constant presence in their lives. The couple had gotten engaged two years ago, though they hadn't rushed to the altar. That wasn't for lack of planning—Mia already had their dream wedding mapped out in her mind. But there was one condition she refused to budge on.
"I want Dom to be there," Mia had said firmly one evening. Eli didn't argue. He understood how much Mia's brother meant to her, especially after their other brother walked away years ago.
Eli had become just as important to Christiana as he was to Mia. From the moment Jesse was born, Eli had been there. Babysitting. Helping with the heavy lifting. Bringing her groceries on bad days without being asked. His warmth and reliability earned him the title of Jesse's godfather—and, in Christiana's words, her honorary "big brother."
Life was good. For the first time in years, Christiana felt like things were falling into place.
But that all changed today.
Her morning had started like any other. She picked Jesse up from preschool, sat him down in front of the TV to watch WordWorld, and went to the kitchen to fix lunch. As she was slicing fruit, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw Mia's name flash across it.
Christiana smiled as she answered, "Hey, Mia!"
"Hey, CJ..." Mia's voice was soft, almost hesitant.
Christiana froze. Mia's tone wasn't right. It was too careful, too restrained. Christiana's brow furrowed, concern already settling in her chest. "You okay, honey? What's wrong?"
