While Henry waited on the sofa, a tiny figure toddled out of the bedroom.
She was small, delicate, with softer Western features that mirrored Henry's side of the family. The only difference—the most striking one—was her hair: golden strands that shone faintly under the living room light, a gift from the recessive genes of Henry's mother.
Having just woken up, Henrietta glanced at her sister Riona, still fast asleep beside her. Not seeing her mother anywhere, she rubbed her eyes and toddled out of the room in search.
But instead of finding Rio, her wide eyes landed on a person sitting on the sofa.
Startled, the little girl froze. Then, like a kitten retreating from danger, she quickly scurried back toward the doorway, peeking out with only half her face visible as she cautiously observed the man before her.
The moment Henry's gaze found hers, something in his chest softened. His heart melted instantly.
"Henrietta," he whispered, dropping to one knee on the floor. He opened his arms wide, voice warm and inviting. "Come to Father."
Since reuniting with Rio and the twins, Henry had barely had time to bond with them. Most nights, he came home past eleven, long after the girls were already fast asleep. Father and daughters rarely shared waking moments together.
But that didn't mean Henrietta didn't know him. She had seen his face often enough to remember.
Every time Rio changed the twins' diapers at night, she would carry them over to Henry so they could see his face. Unlike her quiet sister, Riona, Henrietta was the more spirited one. One night, she had even reached out with her tiny hand to brush Henry's cheek in innocent curiosity.
Now that her sleepy father had finally awakened, Henrietta hesitated, unsure how to face him. But when she saw his open arms, her lips curled into a sweet smile. With wobbly little steps, she toddled forward.
"Papa!" she cried.
But just as the word left her mouth—she tripped!
"Careful!" Henry's heart lurched. He lunged forward without thinking, arms outstretched.
—BAM! His body hit the floor hard.
But Henrietta landed safely in his hands, unharmed. She blinked once, then burst into giggles, clapping her tiny palms.
"Hehe, papa!" she chirped, blissfully unaware of the danger she'd just escaped.
"You're so clueless..."
Henry smiled bitterly, though the tenderness on his face betrayed him.
At that same moment, Rio rushed out of the kitchen.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sight before her.
"You're such a handful!" she scolded, quickly scooping Henrietta into her arms. Though her words sounded sharp, her hands were gentle as she checked her daughter carefully from head to toe.
Only when she confirmed Henrietta was unharmed—still wriggling and calling out for her father—did Rio finally relax. Her eyes softened, her lips curling into a smile.
"Good job, papa."
She teased as she handed Henrietta back to Henry, who had now gotten to his feet, before quietly slipping back toward the kitchen.
"Papa! Papa!" Henrietta squealed, clinging to Henry's cheeks and nose with curious fingers as though he were some rare creature.
Henry didn't mind in the slightest. He simply let her explore, his heart overflowing with affection.
Then—
"Dad?"
The soft voice startled him.
Henry turned just in time to see Riona emerge from the bedroom.
Unlike her twin, she carried herself with an almost uncanny calmness. With her long, silky hair draped neatly down her back and her serious little face, she was the spitting image of Rio.
She walked steadily across the room, her small eyes locked on him.
"Dad?" she repeated, her tone quiet yet deliberate.
Henry had heard from Rio that Riona was like a miniature adult, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
So calm. Too calm. Was she mature beyond her years—or simply shy and reserved?
He chuckled softly, pushing the thought aside.
"Come, Riona. Let Father hug you."
Part of him expected a refusal, but to his surprise, Riona nodded and stretched out her little arms.
Henry's heart swelled as he lifted her, settling both girls comfortably onto his lap. The contrast made him smile.
Henrietta was a ball of innocent energy, laughing and wriggling in delight. Riona, by contrast, sat quietly, her eyes thoughtful, almost solemn. Aside from sharing the same mother, they seemed like complete opposites.
At that moment, Rio returned, carrying a steaming bowl of ramen.
She paused at the doorway, her eyes growing misty at the sight of Henry with the twins in his arms.
This… This is exactly the family I dreamed of.
For a few seconds, she stood frozen, wanting to carve the scene into her memory. Only when the steam began to fade did she reluctantly step forward, half-regretting her choice of ramen.
Noodles left too long in the soup would soften quickly—there wasn't much time to linger.
"Eat first. See if you like it," she said, setting the bowl before him. Rio pretended to sound calm, but her racing heartbeat betrayed her, every beat filled with expectation.
Henry looked at the steaming meal Rio had made, and something inside him wavered. For the first time, he truly felt the warmth of family filling the room. His chest tightened, his eyes reddening until tears welled at the corners.
"Thanks, Rio," he muttered, voice hoarse, as though close to breaking.
"Look at you," Rio scolded softly, though her hands betrayed her words as she carefully dabbed away his tears with a tissue. She teased, "Crying like a baby."
But Henry wasn't ashamed. In fact, he relished the moment. This was the happiest he had felt since striking out on his own.
Only after she finished wiping his tears did Rio realize—it was the very same tissue she had earlier used to wipe her own eyes. The realization made her cheeks burn, her chest flutter, yet the thought of sharing even something so small with Henry left her heart strangely sweet.
Henry glanced at the ramen, then at his daughters squirming on his lap—Henrietta pestering her sister while Riona quietly endured. A reluctant smile tugged at his lips. Somehow, the steaming bowl no longer seemed so appetizing.
"Rio," he said, eyes gleaming, "my hands are full. How about you feed me instead?"
Her cheeks flushed instantly. "Are you a child?" she complained, but the chopsticks still found their way to his lips.
As Henry enjoyed his joyful moment with his little family, life in another universe was also moving forward—where the Clone had already stepped outside, on its own.