A Father’s Suspicion and a New Beginning

The soft light of dawn streamed through the hospital room windows, casting a golden glow on the sleeping twins cradled in Saraphina's arms. The past hours had been overwhelming, filled with emotions she never imagined she could feel. Now, as she gazed at her newborn sons, the reality of her new life as a mother settled deeply within her.

Her family surrounded her, their eyes brimming with pride and love. Evangeline Vale wiped a tear from her cheek as she reached over to touch one of the babies' delicate fingers. "They're perfect, Phina."

Saraphina smiled tiredly, her heart swelling with warmth. "I've decided on their names." She glanced at Caelum, then at her parents, before looking back at her children. "This one," she said, stroking the cheek of the firstborn, "is Cassian."

She then turned to the second baby, who yawned as if completely unbothered by the world. "And this little one is Orion."

Caelum smirked, crossing his arms. "You really have a thing for poetic names, huh?"

Isolde chuckled. "Well, they suit them. Strong and celestial."

Dorian Vale, however, had fallen silent. He studied the twins carefully, a shadow of recognition flickering across his features. There was something familiar about them—the shape of their noses, the arch of their brows, even the intensity in their tiny gazes. His mind drifted back to years ago, to the first time he had met a young Lucian Drax. The resemblance was uncanny.

But he said nothing. Not yet.

Instead, he placed a gentle hand on his daughter's shoulder. "They will grow up strong, just like you."

Saraphina held onto that warmth, pressing a soft kiss to each of her sons' foreheads. "They are my new hope."

Five Years Later…

The morning air was thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and bustling city life as Saraphina adjusted the coat of her youngest twin, Orion, who was attempting to escape her grasp with a giggle.

"Mama, I don't need my coat!" he whined, wiggling in her hold.

Cassian, the elder of the two, stood patiently by her side, shaking his head. "You always think you don't need things, Orion, and then you get cold."

Saraphina laughed, ruffling both of their curls. "Listen to your brother, Orion. It's chilly today."

It had been a whirlwind of years. She had built her brand from the ground up, carving out a name for herself as a fashion designer independent of her mother's legacy. Her collections were adored worldwide, and now, she had received one of the biggest opportunities of her career—a collaboration with an elite fashion store celebrating its tenth anniversary.

And the deal required her to return home.

It had been five years since she had left her home country, five years since she had stepped on that soil, filled with both memories and unanswered questions. Though her primary reason for accepting the deal was professional, there was another truth she hadn't shared with anyone: she wanted her sons to see where she had grown up. And deep down, a part of her was curious—curious if she might run into the man she had never been able to forget.

Would she find their father?

Meanwhile, Back in Their Home Country…

Lucian Drax stood in front of his team, his sharp eyes scanning the case file in his hands. His once youthful arrogance had been replaced with experience and an undeniable authority that came with his rank. He was no longer just a detective—he was now the head of his investigative unit, known for his sharp instincts and ability to crack the most complex of cases.

Nicholas Black, his right-hand man and friend, leaned against the desk. "That's another closed case, boss. You're on a streak."

Lucian gave a nonchalant shrug, flipping the folder shut. "It's our job to bring justice, not keep track of wins."

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "You know, for someone who's ridiculously good at solving things, you still haven't figured out why you feel restless every year around the same time."

Lucian stiffened slightly at that. It was true—every year, around the same period, he felt a strange unease, as if something was missing from his life. He had long dismissed it as exhaustion or stress, but deep down, it gnawed at him.

Nicholas smirked. "Maybe fate is trying to tell you something."

Lucian shot him a look before heading towards his office. "If fate has something to say, it can send a damn letter."

He had no idea that the answer he had been unknowingly searching for was about to arrive in the form of a woman he had long admired—and two little boys who carried his blood.

Saraphina took a deep breath as the plane landed, her heart pounding against her ribcage. She glanced down at her sons, who were eagerly looking out the window, oblivious to the weight this moment held for her.

"Welcome home, boys," she whispered.

Little did she know, home was about to bring her face to face with the past she had unknowingly left behind.