The night sky above Manila was heavy with rain, the glass walls of Lancaster Tower blurred by droplets that slid down like tears. Elira sat at her desk, her chin propped on one hand, a pen poised uselessly over a stack of papers she had been staring at for nearly an hour.
She wasn't reading.
Her mind was far away—trapped between memories of two lives.
---
Flashback 1: Fifth Anniversary
The old apartment was small, its walls stained from years of humidity, but to Calla it had been a palace. Each corner held a story, every creak of the floorboards resonated with laughter and whispers shared in the quiet intimacy of their home. She had saved enough for a simple chocolate cake with "Happy Anniversary Alekzander" written in clumsy icing, but the sweetness of that cake was nothing compared to the joy she felt in celebrating another year with the man she adored.
"You spelled my name wrong," Alexander teased, his lips twitching in that way that always made her heart skip a beat.
"On purpose," she said proudly, a playful glint in her eyes. "To make it cute."
He laughed, the sound bright and warm, and leaned in to kiss her forehead, a gesture that made her feel cherished and safe.
They ate instant ramen on the floor that night, their laughter echoing off the walls as they sat cross-legged, knees touching, reminiscing about their early days together. "I'll give you the life you deserve," Alexander whispered, fingers brushing her cheek in a tender caress that sent shivers down her spine.
"You already have," she replied, her voice soft, filled with a sincerity that resonated deep within her heart.
---
Present Day
Elira blinked, her chest tight as the memory faded, drifting away like mist in the dawn. It wasn't just a vision. She felt it—every laugh, every touch, every promise they had made to one another. A knock came at her door, shattering the silence that enveloped her.
"Got a minute?"
Aiden stood there, looking uncharacteristically hesitant, his brow furrowed as he seemed to weigh the gravity of what he was about to say.
"Always," she said softly, urging him to step inside.
He stepped in, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, a nervous habit she recognized as a sign of his internal turmoil. For a long moment, he just looked at her, as if trying to see something familiar in her face, something that would bridge the gap between them.
"I've been thinking about… everything you said. About being Mom."
She folded her hands, waiting, her heart racing with a mix of hope and fear.
"I want to believe you," he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "Part of me already does. But I grew up knowing she was gone. That fact shaped my whole life. Now you're here, younger than me, saying you're her… It feels like my entire childhood has been rewritten."
Elira's eyes softened, her heart aching for the boy who had lost so much.
"I don't expect you to accept me right away," she said gently, choosing her words with care. "I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you, not for a single second."
His throat bobbed, a sign of his internal conflict. "Do you know how many times I wished she could see me? Graduation. My first job. My heartbreaks. She wasn't there. And now you're here, and it feels… like I lost her all over again."
Elira's tears slipped silently down her cheeks, tracing paths of sorrow and longing. "I wish I'd been there for every moment."
Aiden moved suddenly, pulling her into a hug—tight, desperate, as though he'd been holding this in for years, years filled with grief and unanswered questions.
"You feel like her," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Her breath hitched as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him like the child she once cradled as a newborn, the weight of their shared history pressing down on them both.
---
Flashback 2: A Quiet Morning
Calla had woken early, the soft light filtering through their window casting a golden hue on the walls. She watched Alexander shave in front of the cracked bathroom mirror, his face focused, the morning ritual one she had come to cherish.
"You missed a spot," she teased, a playful smile dancing on her lips as she leaned against the doorframe.
He turned, his face covered in shaving cream, and the sight made her laugh. "You always watch me like this?" he asked, feigning annoyance.
"Always," she replied simply, her heart swelling with affection as she admired the man she had chosen to share her life with.
He leaned down and kissed her, the scent of soap and aftershave mixing with the warmth of his lips, a moment of connection that felt timeless.
"I'll spend my whole life making you smile," he murmured against her skin, his promise lingering in the air like a sacred vow.
"You already do," she whispered, knowing in her heart that this was the life they had built together—filled with love, laughter, and the joy of simply being.
---
Present: Aria Joins In
As Aiden stepped out of the office to compose himself, Aria walked in, carrying two cups of coffee, the aroma filling the room with warmth and comfort.
"You two looked serious," she said lightly, handing one cup to Elira, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
Elira smiled faintly, the warmth of the coffee soothing her. "We were… talking about family."
Aria sat across from her, her gaze penetrating yet kind. "You know… I didn't want to believe it at first. That you were Mom."
Elira looked down, her heart heavy with the weight of her past. "I don't blame you."
"But… the way you look at Dad. The way you scold Aiden when he's stubborn. It's exactly how she used to be."
Elira's lips trembled, the truth of those words striking a chord deep within her. "I missed you both so much."
Aria reached over and held her hand, a gesture of solidarity and comfort. "We missed you too. Even if we didn't know we were missing you."
In that moment, amidst the chaos of their emotions, Elira felt a spark of hope ignite within her—a flicker of the family they could become again.
---
Elsewhere: Daniel Vergara
At that moment, Daniel Vergara sat in his sleek condo, nursing a glass of bourbon while scrolling through internal company reports, his mind racing with thoughts of ambition and power.
"Alexander's slipping," he muttered, his brow furrowed as he analyzed the data before him. "One leak, one scandal, and the board will turn on him."
His phone buzzed, a notification flashing across the screen that pulled him from his reverie.
> He won't survive this. Keep pushing.
Daniel smirked, a predatory glint in his eye. "Oh, I will."
He savored the taste of his bourbon, a dark elixir that mirrored the shadows of his intentions.
---
Weekend at Tagaytay
That weekend, Aria and Aiden arrived at the estate unexpectedly, bringing bags of takeout—crispy pata, sisig, garlic rice, and leche flan. The scents wafted through the air, rich and inviting, promising a night of warmth and laughter.
"Surprise," Aria grinned as Elira opened the door, her expression lighting up the dim hallway.
Dinner was warm and lively—full of laughter and teasing, the kind of evening that felt like a balm for old wounds. They gathered at the table, each dish a reminder of the heritage they shared, a connection to their roots that felt so vital in this moment. For a fleeting moment, it felt like all the missing years had been given back to them, each bite a celebration of reconciliation.
After eating, Aria pulled out a dusty box, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia.
"I found this at the old house," she said, her voice tinged with reverence as she opened the lid.
Inside were Calla's old letters—notes written in messy, looping handwriting, filled with love and hope that had transcended time.
Elira picked one up, her hands shaking as memories washed over her like a tide.
> Alekzander (yes, with a Z),
I don't know why you chose me, but I'll spend my life making you proud.
As she read the words aloud, the room fell silent, the weight of their meaning filling the air with an unspoken bond.
Alexander placed a hand over hers, his touch grounding her in the present. "You always did," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, the unbreakable thread of their past weaving them together even more tightly.
Tears blurred her vision as she looked around at the faces of her family, the love and connection palpable in the air.
---
Later That Night
When the twins had left, Elira and Alexander sat under the night sky, the rain having ceased, leaving a cool breeze that whispered promises of the future. Fireflies blinked around them, tiny stars in the darkness, illuminating the path of their shared journey.
"You're remembering so much now," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he took in the beauty of the moment.
"It's overwhelming," she admitted, her heart racing with the flood of emotions that surged through her. "But it feels… right. Like pieces of me are coming home."
He took her hands gently, his grip firm yet tender. "I don't care how it happened. I'm just glad you're here."
She rested her forehead against his, the warmth of his presence enveloping her like a protective cocoon. "Me too."
After a long pause, Alexander said quietly, "There's something I never told anyone. About the night you died."
Her breath caught in her throat, anticipation swirling within her.
"I begged you to stay," he whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But you told me… that love doesn't end when life does. That it finds its way back."
Tears welled in her eyes, the gravity of his words settling upon her like a heavy blanket. "Then I kept my promise."
With that, Alexander kissed her—slow, reverent, full of decades of grief and love finally finding its way back.
For the first time in years, he didn't just kiss Elira.
He kissed Calla.
---
End of Chapter 13.