Lucy remembered her recent conversation with Aunt Madison.
"Come home, Lucy," her aunt had pleaded.
"I will, but not now," Lucy had replied. "I have a sister I grew up with from the orphanage, and I need to tell her first. I still have something I need to finish. Give me some time, and then I'll come back home."
Lucy was excited to finally be with her blood family, but there were loose ends she had to tie up first.
"Okay. I can't wait. I'm so excited to hear your voice," Madison said, picturing her niece, all grown up now.
Still, Madison didn't truly like the answer. Fourteen years apart, and now she had to wait even longer. Anxiety twisted in her chest; she wanted Lucy safe, home, and now.
"Okay," Madison said finally. She understood—Lucy must have friends and a life she needed to say goodbye to. "Handle your business. And come home soon. I miss you, and I can't wait to see you." Fate had finally brought them back together.
"Okay, Aunt." Lucy's voice was bright and cheerful. She had found her family, her true home, and the happiness was indescribable.
Lucy's heart felt full to bursting. From then on, they talked constantly. Madison even sent a childhood photo of Lucy. Every detail and shared memory confirmed it: this was her real aunt. It was solid, true, and real.
Later that night, back in the present day, Lucy and Elsa watched a late-night movie show, the TV light flickering across the living room. Elsa had been brought to the orphanage as a tiny baby and had lost both parents. Knowing this, Elsa often felt deeply alone. Hours passed until, eventually, both women went to bed.
That night, Elsa lay awake. A heavy sadness pressed down on her chest. She had no one in the world—and now her only Lucy, her sister in everything but blood, was leaving to meet her real family.
Tears fell from her eyes. She told herself she was happy for her, truly she was. Still, loneliness settled heavily into the mattress beside her. She felt unlucky and hollow. Who would she have once Lucy left? No one was as close to her as Lucy. The thought that Lucy might leave soon made Elsa's stomach knot with sadness.
The next day, At the bookstore.
Elsa sat behind the counter, her eyes a little dull. Her lips curved into a forced smile; she didn't want to be sad, even though Lucy was leaving. She reminded herself that they could still talk, and she had even asked where her aunt lived. It was miles away from the city, and part of her wished she could join Lucy so they could go together. But Elsa brushed the thought aside, deciding it was fine. She would miss her sister deeply. Even though clinging to Lucy felt a bit "sticky," she knew she would manage. Her motivation had drained away a little, but beneath the sadness, she still felt genuinely happy for her sister.
Meanwhile, miles away in a villa mansion, Silas sat in his room reading a book. His thoughts drifted to Elsa—the woman he had helped the other day. He still didn't know her name, but he remembered her clearly: she was the woman working at the club, the woman who worked at the bookstore, and the same woman who had bumped into him when rushing home for an emergency. He remembered how she had helped him get the book he needed, and how furious he had felt when an older, disrespectful man had shoved cash onto her chest as if she were a cheap commodity. Silas found himself hoping he would see her again if the opportunity presented itself he would truly like to know her name.
Elsewhere, Jane had just returned from her trip with Lauren. Back in her room, wearing shorts and a singlet, she sprawled across her bed and chatted with her close friend Mariana. Having attended both high school and college together, Jane and Mariana shared a close bond, though Jane kept a tight circle of friends. Smiling, Jane typed away, telling Mariana about the things that had happned during her trip, in her heart Jane is grateful that Lauren was nice to offer her things she could buy with her credit card.
While in a lavish mansion, Lauren is at home with her family happily bonding with her family and kids.