The mansion was quieter now, but far from dull. The grandeur of the naming ceremony still lingered in the air like expensive perfume. The elders had departed William, Kim, Lisa, Peter, Camila, Rita, Jackson, and the rest of the older generation leaving behind a vibrant youthfulness at Mark and Aurora's estate.
In the sunlit conservatory, the women had gathered. The scent of chamomile and lemon tea mixed with the giggles of babies. Aurora, Daisy, Alicia, Angel, and even Kira and Alice lounged on plush seats with their babies beside them. Mia and Arlie slept peacefully in coordinated designer bassinets. Martin was crawling around with a wooden toy Alicia swore had royal history.
"Can you believe we're all mothers now?" Alicia said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Martin is already learning how to bow." Everyone chuckled.
"Arlie looks just like her daddy," Daisy added, smiling as she looked at Aurora. "But those blue eyes… definitely you." Thank God for that," Aurora teased. "If she inherited his anger issues too, we're doomed."
More laughter erupted, the warmth of sisterhood filling the room. But the tone shifted when Kira casually mentioned, "I'm just glad everything turned out fine… unlike Nicole Miller. Ugh. That girl tried everything to get between Daisy and Jeff."
Alicia scoffed. "Nicole was never a real threat, though. It's just… the drama she brought. That girl had issues." Angel leaned forward. "Wait… what exactly happened with her again? I only heard bits."
Aurora and Daisy exchanged a look.
Aurora sighed. "It's a long story. But since we're all here…" Daisy gave a small nod, her expression unreadable.
"It started with my Mom," Aurora said, gesturing toward the hallway where her mother had disappeared hours ago. "She went to university with Stephen Miller Nicole's dad. Or… the man we all thought was Nicole's dad." Everyone leaned in.
"She was very close to a woman named Lucy," Aurora continued. "Lucy and Stephen were in love back then. Deeply. But Elle Stephen's wife now wanted him. So she played her cards and won."
"She got pregnant and rushed the wedding," Daisy added, her voice calm but heavy with emotion. "Meanwhile, Lucy my mom found out she was also pregnant but didn't tell anyone. She left school and died during childbirth. The hospital staff gave me up for adoption because no one knew her family."
There was silence for a beat.
Angel hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God."
Mom didn't even know Lucy had died until years later," Aurora said. "But what triggered everything… was the resemblance. Daisy reminded Mom of someone. When she connected the dots, she told Jeff."
Jeff, who was outside with the men, had taken Kim's suspicions seriously. A DNA test confirmed everything: Nicole was Elle's daughter. Daisy was Lucy's and Stephen's true daughter.
"I confronted him," Daisy whispered. "He didn't believe it until he saw the papers. He cried. He said he never knew Mom was pregnant. That they stole the chance to know me from him."
Everyone was quiet. Then Angel reached for Daisy's hand and squeezed it. You're strong, Daisy. No wonder Nicole hated you." And now you have a daughter," Alicia said with a warm smile. "A legacy of your own." They all looked at little Mia, peacefully sleeping.
Funny," Aurora whispered, "how secrets unravel in the softest of moments."
Outside on the garden terrace, the men were seated around a whiskey cart. Mark, Leo, Jeff, Maxwell, and Japheth nursed drinks while watching the estate's lights dance in the distance. "So… what's next for Wilson Enterprises?" Leo asked, swirling his glass.
Mark leaned back, arms folded. "We're expanding into Singapore and Seoul. I already secured the zoning approvals. And Zayn's heading the Asia team."
"Smart," Jeff nodded. "We're shifting our marketing for JetSet Luxe. Alicia wants to push Martin's inheritance into renewable energy startups." Maxwell added, "Angel and I are looking into green tech too. My father-in-law's foundation just approved a $5 million fund for climate-focused biotech."
Japheth, the youngest, smiled. "Man, I just want to pass my licensing exam before Alice drags me into wedding planning hell."They all laughed. Mark raised his glass. "To our women strong, stunning, unstoppable."
"And our children," Jeff added. "May they never face half the secrets we've uncovered."
As the sun dipped behind the mansion, casting a golden glow over the estate, the younger generation toasted to a future forged in truth, wealth, unity and second chances.