The year was exhaling its final breaths, making way for a January that promised to change everything. The Sterling mansion, a sprawling estate that usually felt like a cold museum of success, was suddenly transformed. It was full, warm, and vibrating with the rare music of family laughter. Alexander stood on the grand mezzanine, watching the chaos below.In the kitchen, his two younger sisters were a whirlwind of silk and flour. Seraphina, the eldest of the twins, possessed a delicate, ethereal beauty with silver-blonde hair that she wore in a crown of braids. Beside her, Evangeline was her dark-haired counterpart, with soulful brown eyes and a fiery spirit. They were arguing playfully over the seasoning of the roast, their voices rising like birdsong. The house smelled of pine needles, expensive cinnamon, and the deep, savory aroma of a feast in the making. For the first time in years, Alexander felt a profound sense of peace. He was home, and he held a secret that made his heart b
Last Updated : 2026-01-10 Read more