I'd made a decision.
After all that crying, reflection, and post-death emotional closure, I decided it was time to actually enjoy this new life.
Sure, the drama hadn't stopped. Julia was still being dealt with. The fathers were still behaving like overly involved suitors. The grandparents were... well, being grandparents.
But me?
I was thriving.
I laughed more. I smiled more. I let myself enjoy the warm milk, the soft baby clothes, the affection.
My father even decided to cut his parents off, just like my mother had done with hers. Finally, someone was learning.
Meanwhile, I was growing fast. Nearly a year old, running around, babbling, stealing hearts.
Liliane had already said her first words: "Mama" and "Dada." Cute. Classic.
Me?
My first word was: "Money."
Yes. Really. It was during a meeting. I looked straight at the gold-embossed credit card in Dorian's hand and said it.
The room fell silent.
Then erupted in laughter.
The fathers practically lived at our house now. They made billion-dollar deals in the day, then rocked us to sleep at night.
My mother had returned to work at her firm—but she took us with her. She'd had a special nursery room built next to her enormous study. Nannies were always nearby. She could negotiate million-dollar contracts with me chewing a teether right beside her laptop.
She refused to let either of us out of her sight.
"If you want to see them," she told the fathers, "you come to me. I won't send them off with anyone."
They loved it. It meant more time with her . And yes—they were still trying to win her back.
I also started walking—and then running. Liliane took her sweet time, so I, the benevolent older sister, showed her how. Now she runs everywhere, wreaking havoc. Her golden head bounces off walls daily. It's adorable.
We were at my mother's firm, the office mostly cleared for the day. The fathers had shown up to discuss our first birthday party.
Yes—there was a meeting. About a baby party.
Dorian spoke first, opening a sleek folder.
"My Selene loves chocolate and money. So I had a cake designed with that theme."
My mother flipped the folder open and a pop-up cake design burst out in gold foil and paper-cut diamonds.
So cool.
I wandered over with Liliane and pointed.
"Wanna see cake."
My mother smiled and showed me the design.
"Luv it. Thank wu, daddie."
She laughed.
"Well, she approves."
Dorian beamed, scooping me into his lap.
"I know my girl."
Not to be outdone, Caelum pulled out a small device and activated a hologram of a pink, sparkly cake with floating hearts and a teddy bear topper.
"This one's for my Lily."
He picked up my sister, placed her on the table, and she squealed,
"Teddy!"
Everyone melted.
"Okay," Aurora said. "Cakes are approved. I'll handle everything else. All guests must be cleared with me."
Both men nodded.
I was genuinely excited.
Until everything went horribly wrong.
It started so perfectly.
A huge party in our garden. Balloons, mascots, princess music. A magician. Games. Other rich kids. Ridiculous decorations. Even the food was themed and adorable.
We wore green and gold dresses to match our eyes. After the cake, things got messy—frosting everywhere. Our nannies changed us into new, matching outfits. This time, we had bunny-ear hats and glittery face paint.
For the first time, we actually looked like twins .
That's where the problem began.
We were on the bounce castle while our fathers flirted with our mother. The nannies stood outside chatting.
Liliane bounced to the far edge, giggling, then slipped out through an open flap. I followed.
I saw her heading into a secluded part of the garden. Something was off.
Then I heard it: soft princess music. A voice calling,
"Lily... come here..."
Oh no.
I ran after her as fast as my stubby legs could go. I grabbed her by the collar, and we both fell.
Then I saw him: a strange man in a cute mascot disguise.
"Lily, come here!"
I yanked her back and screamed—but between the party music and screaming kids, no one heard me.
The man started running toward us.
Liliane finally realized something was wrong and bolted in the opposite direction.
I turned to stop him and bit his leg.
Unfortunately, it was just fur from the costume.
Still, he tripped—and then grabbed me by the collar.
"This one looks like the other. Maybe this is Lily."
...Stupidest kidnapper ever.
Yes, I looked like her—but he'd literally been calling her by name.
He ran with me in his arms and shoved me into a white van.
Because of course it's a white van.
Inside, another man drove. The kidnapper got a call.
"Yes, I got your granddaughter. Lily. I'm on my way."
Oh no.
Caelum's father.
After losing the custody battle, I guess he lost his mind too.
We drove for hours, finally stopping at a secluded cabin in the woods.
Well, at least it's not a creepy warehouse.
He handed me off and accepted a bag of money. No verification. No checking if I was actually Lily.
Amateurs.
Inside the fancy cabin, Caelum's father held me with shaking hands.
"Finally, I got you, Lily. Tomorrow, we'll leave by plane. Start a new life."
The walls were covered in photos of a beautiful woman—dark brown hair, golden eyes.
Ah. Liora .
The original golden-eyed beauty. The mother of Caelum. The woman both Ashford brothers once loved. And apparently, still worshipped by this man.
He held me up toward her shrine.
"You always wanted a daughter. Look—she has your eyes."
Then he looked down.
Stopped.
"Wait... your eyes are green?!"
He screeched.
Soon I was back on the couch with a box of animal crackers he threw at me while yelling into his phone.
"You brought me the wrong kid!"
Then they hung up on him.
I smiled sweetly, munching my crackers.
Honestly?
He deserved it.