chapter 30

The warm glow of the fireplace flickered across the shelves lined with books, casting dancing shadows across the room. Two half-filled glasses of aged wine sat on the mahogany table between Alden and Jane. For the first time in years, the weight on their hearts had lifted—at least just enough to let them breathe.

Jane leaned back in the armchair, her eyes shimmering not with sorrow, but with a strange peace. A soft smile curved her lips. Alden sat across from her, his tie loosened, his shoulders relaxed—a rare sight for the always-composed businessman.

JANE (gently):I can't believe this is real, Alden.I always imagined they were out there… but I didn't know if I'd ever see them again.

ALDEN (with warmth):You did more than most people would. You kept going. You never gave up. And now… here you are. They're safe, Jane. They're brilliant, kind-hearted, and strong.You should be proud.

Jane's hand trembled slightly as she took another sip of her wine.

JANE:I am. More than anything. But I'm also scared.I've missed so much… How do I make up for lost years? For not being there when they needed a mother?

ALDEN (softly):You start by just being there now. Let time do the rest.

A quiet laugh escaped Jane's lips—half joy, half disbelief.

JANE:You know what the most painful thing was?Not knowing. Just not knowing. Whether they were alive, suffering, or… gone.But now? Knowing they grew up safe, loved… even if I wasn't the one to raise them—it means everything.

Alden poured a little more wine into both glasses, his gaze growing distant for a moment as he stared into the flames.

ALDEN (nostalgic):Job loved you, Jane.I never told you that enough. He defied our parents, tradition, everything—just to be with you.He told me, "Jane's not just the woman I love—she's my peace."

Jane smiled, eyes misting again.

JANE (softly):He said that?

ALDEN:Many times. He would've moved heaven and earth to give you the life he promised. If it weren't for those bastards who set him up…

A moment of silence passed between them, grief brushing gently across the newfound joy.

JANE:I don't hate him anymore. I thought he left. I thought he abandoned me… us. That pain turned into anger, and the anger aged me.But now… now I know. He didn't leave. He was taken.

ALDEN (nods):He was. And I failed him for years. I should have found you sooner.

JANE:You didn't fail him. You raised his children like your own. You gave them a life.You fulfilled his dying wish, Alden.

Alden's eyes glistened, and he looked away, clearing his throat.

ALDEN (smiling faintly):He'd probably be teasing me now, saying I became soft.

Jane laughed—a free, genuine sound.

JANE:Well, you kind of did.

They both chuckled, the years of pain softening in the presence of long-awaited truths and shared history.

The clock ticked gently in the background. The air wasn't heavy anymore—it was full of something lighter, more hopeful.

JANE (quietly):Do you think they'll forgive me?

ALDEN:In time… yes. Especially Kara. It might take longer, but she has your fire, your strength. She'll come around. Ethan already sees you… not just as Jane the maid, but as someone who matters.

JANE:Thank you, Alden. For keeping them safe. For not giving up on them—or me.

ALDEN (genuinely):Thank you… for coming back. You gave them their history back. Their truth.

They sat quietly for a moment longer, staring into the fire as it crackled softly.

JANE (softly, with conviction):No more running. I'm staying. For them.

Alden raised his glass.

ALDEN:To family. Lost and found.

The moonlight spilled gently through the half-open blinds, casting silver streaks across the room. Ethan sat on the edge of his bed, still fully dressed, hands clasped together, elbows resting on his knees. His eyes, though fixed on the floor, were miles away—drifting through years of silent questions, imagined answers, and the emotions of a truth he had waited for without knowing.

The house was quiet now. Kara had finally cried herself to sleep in her room, but Ethan… he couldn't. Not tonight.

He breathed in deeply, letting it out slowly. A strange peace was blooming in his chest—fragile, but undeniable.

ETHAN (whispering to himself):So this is home... for real.

He stood up and walked to the window, parting the blinds gently to look outside. The city lights blinked in the distance like stars. For years, he had lived under this roof feeling like a guest—grateful, yes—but never quite belonging.

He thought about the dinners, the school trips, the family holidays... and how he always held back. Just a little. Always quiet. Always cautious.

ETHAN (softly):I was always afraid to take up space. To dream too loud. To want too much...

Now he knew. This family was his. The blood that ran through his veins was shared with the man who had raised him with silent dignity, and with the woman who had searched endlessly, broken and lost.

He turned, looking around the room. Everything felt different now. The books on his shelf, the trophies he never showed Alden, the plans he wrote down and locked away—all of it was no longer "borrowed space."

ETHAN (thinking):I can chase those dreams now. I'm not pretending anymore.

A lump rose in his throat when he thought of Jane—his mother—working as a housemaid, humiliated and suffering while he lived under the illusion of safety.

ETHAN (to himself):She never stopped searching... not for a day. And all this time, she was right here—serving tea, doing laundry—while we called her just a maid.

His chest ached, both from guilt and from the overwhelming love he felt. She had been through so much. Too much.

And now, he knew his father—though gone—had been a good man. A brave man. Murdered before he could give his family the life he promised.

Ethan clenched his fists, blinking back tears.

ETHAN (quietly):I wish Alden had told us. Maybe I wouldn't have wasted so much time being afraid. Maybe I'd have studied harder, spoken louder, lived fuller...

But he couldn't stay in regret. Not now.

ETHAN (determined):No more holding back. I'm his son. I'm hers. I belong here. And I won't let their sacrifices be for nothing.

He pulled open his drawer and took out an old notebook—filled with architectural sketches, inventions, and business ideas he had never shared with anyone. He set it on the table and opened it with fresh resolve.

He glanced at the mirror. For the first time, he smiled at his reflection.

ETHAN (firmly):It's time to become everything I was meant to be.