Alex, Mike, and Danny climbed the narrow staircase, the muffled cries from upstairs growing louder with each step.
When they reached the top, the sound of Nina's soft whimpers mingled with Linda's trembling voice, calling her daughter's name, almost a prayer.
The moment Linda caught sight of Alex, she didn't hesitate. She surged forward, arms wrapping around him with a force that made him stumble slightly.
Her tears soaked his shirt almost immediately, and she buried her face in his shoulder.
"My boy… Alex," she sobbed, her voice thick with relief and sorrow. "My sweet boy, you came… thank God you came."
Alex instinctively held her, letting her cry, feeling the weight of her grief and love wash over him.
Linda had always treated him like her own, sometimes even more tenderly than she did Danny. Now, seeing Nina suffering, her maternal instincts were unrestrained.
