LOGINZayne’s punch connected with Mikael ’s jaw so hard the sound echoed through the dining room like a gunshot. Mikael staggered back, clutching his face, a shocked whimper slipping from his throat as blood gathered at the corner of his lip. Chairs scraped, gasps burst into the air, and the entire room erupted into frantic chaos.Zayne didn’t stop. Rage clouded every inch of his face as he lunged forward again, grabbing Mikael by the collar.“You knew!” he roared. “You knew all along it was her!”Mikael shook his head wildly, breath shuddering, his voice breaking apart as he tried to defend himself.“Z–Zayne, please… listen… I—I didn’t know,” he stammered, hands trembling as he tried to shield himself. “I swear to God, I didn’t know it was Avelina. I didn’t know.”Zayne froze only long enough for the words to register.Mikael swallowed hard, tears escaping down his cheeks.“I only found out a few months ago,” he continued, voice cracking under the pressure of guilt. “After your wedding…
Martha took a slow, trembling breath as everyone watched her, the weight of years pressing down on her shoulders. Her voice wavered when she finally began to speak, and the emotion behind her words was unmistakable. “Mr. and Mrs. Morussa… they favored one twin over the other.”The room didn’t just fall silent—it froze. A stillness swept through the space so heavily it felt like the air thickened around them. Zayne’s parents shifted uneasily, exchanging a confused glance. Mr. Morussa stiffened where he stood, his jaw tightening, while Mrs. Morussa’s complexion paled instantly, as if Martha had slapped her with the accusation. Alina’s eyes widened in disbelief, her brows knitting tightly, and Avelina’s breath caught, her fingers curling softly against her dress as though bracing herself. Zayne’s confusion deepened; Kyllian’s gaze snapped toward the Morussas with a sudden sharpness, suspicion rising like smoke in his eyes.Martha closed her eyes briefly, as though gathering strength, the
Martha stepped further into the living room, her grip tightening around the tiny bundle in her arms. The baby stirred slightly but didn’t cry—just nestled deeper into her warmth as every eye in the room turned toward them.Zayne was the first to move. He walked up to her slowly, disbelief etched into every line of his face.“Ma’am,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “Please—what’s going on? How are you connected to all this? That woman—” he pointed at Avelina, confusion and desperation in his tone “—she’s not our Avelina.”Martha’s expression softened, almost pitying. She took a deep breath, her voice steady and firm.“You’re wrong, Zayne,” she said, her gaze fixed on him. “That is Avelina. She’s your ex-girlfriend… the woman you married.”The room fell deathly silent.Zayne froze, his eyes widening as he turned slowly toward Avelina. His lips parted, but no sound came out. The blood drained from his face.Kyllian’s head jerked toward Avelina too, shock flashing across his featur
It was Avelina.Her chest heaved slightly, as though she had rushed there. Her hair was tousled from the wind, her expression unreadable, her eyes searching the room until they landed on Alina — the woman sitting comfortably beside Zayne, wearing her face.Zayne’s knife dropped to his plate with a sharp clang. His mother’s hand flew to her mouth.Kyllian slowly rose to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest as realization set in — the moment he’d been dreading and anticipating all at once had finally arrived.Alina shot to her feet, her chair scraping harshly against the marble floor.Her voice rang through the dining hall, sharp and trembling with fury.“You?” she spat, her eyes wide with disbelief and rage. “What are you doing here? I thought you disappeared! Why are you back now—when I already solved the problem you couldn’t solve for me?”The room fell deathly still.Avelina stood frozen in the doorway, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her gaze swept across the faces stari
Kyllian parked his car in the driveway, the low hum of the engine fading as he opened the door. The evening air was cool, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the garden surrounding Zayne’s house. A small gathering had already started in the yard—a few close family members, soft laughter, and the occasional clink of cutlery from the dining table on the patio. It was meant to be just a casual dinner, intimate enough for conversation, but formal enough to mark the long-awaited reunion.He stepped out of the car, adjusting his jacket, and looked around. The soft golden light spilling from the house windows reflected off the polished marble tiles, casting warm shadows over the guests. Waiters moved quietly, carrying trays of drinks and appetizers, while children played near the fountain, their giggles carrying through the night air.Zayne spotted him first, striding across the lawn with that familiar confident gait. “Kyllian!” he called, his voice full of genuine warmth, eyes lighting
Her mother took a deep breath, steadying herself before speaking. “You… you’ve been in an accident before, Avelina. Two years ago. That’s why we are where we are now… why things have been the way they are.”Avelina’s brow furrowed. “Two years ago? What do you mean? How? What happened?”Her mother’s voice grew soft, almost breaking. “You were in an accident… and it took away your face. The doctors… they mistakenly reconstructed your face… using your twin sister’s features. The face you have now… it’s not really yours.”Avelina froze, her hands tightening around the baby. “Not… my real face?” she whispered, as if saying it aloud might make it real.Her mother nodded, tears streaming down her own cheeks. “Yes… it’s not. But… I kept a photo of you from before, your real face. Here.” She reached into the back of her phone case, her hands trembling as she handed Avelina a small photo.Avelina took it slowly, her fingers brushing the edges like it was fragile glass. She stared at it, her min