Alicia set down her teacup with deliberate calm.
"Girls," she said, her tone shifting.
Both Evelyn and Stella straightened instinctively and looked at her.
"Your father," Alicia continued, "has finally agreed to the divorce."
Silence fell.
Stella’s jaw dropped slightly. "Wait. That father? The stubborn one who forced you to reconcile? Return to him? He’s finally agreed?"
Alice nodded. "Yes. The very sa man."
Evelyn blinked in disbelief. "Did soone replace him with a reasonable clone? Why did he suddenly change his mind?"
"Yes, I thought he told you that he would never divorce you. He would rather die than sign the papers," Stella added.
"He is completely shaless," Evelyn shook her head. She truly disliked William Walters and wanted nothing to do with him again, but she couldn’t escape it.
Stella leaned closer to Evelyn, lowering her voice as if sharing a sacred secret. "Sis... do you think the universe finally felt guilty for everything it put us through?"
Evelyn exhaled slowly. Between relief, shock, and faint amusent, her lips curved into a small smile.
"No," Evelyn said quietly, her eyes thoughtful. "I think the universe is just getting started."
Alicia burst into laughter to hear them, "Alright, alright, enough talking about my stupid ex-husband. He is in the past where he belongs."
"Agree!" Stella chirped happily. She lifted her teacup as though it were a champagne glass. "Cheers to my beloved Daddy’s downfall," she declared with theatrical sarcasm, no sadness in her eyes at all.
Evelyn smiled and lifted her own cup. "Cheers. To the new era of our beloved mommy. Alice, now you are free to choose our new daddy. We will accept whoever you choose this ti."
"Hahaha, stop teasing ," Alicia waved a dismissive hand, though the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her delight. "You two are really naughty."
"Naughty," Stella repeated proudly, clinking her teacup gently against Evelyn’s. "But genetically inherited."
Their laughter danced through the warm living room, mingling with the faint scent of tea and afternoon sunlight pouring through the windows.
For a mont, everything felt light. Free. Like years of tension had finally loosened.
Then Alicia’s smile softened.
"Girls..." she said gently.
Both Evelyn and Stella fell silent at once. They knew that tone—sothing terrible had happened.
"Your grandfather is very ill. He is in the hospital right now. Major surgery. The doctors... are asking families to prepare for the worst-case scenario."
The words hit Evelyn and Stella like cold water.
Stella froze, her cheerful posture collapsing into stillness.
Evelyn’s fingers tightened slightly around her teacup.
"My grandfather?" Stella whispered. "Y-You an Grandpa Samuel?"
Alicia nodded slowly. "Hmm. Your grandmother has been staying with him. They didn’t want to worry you while you were injured." She said, looking at Evelyn.
Silence settled heavily between them.
Evelyn swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "So that’s why..." she murmured.
"Why Father finally agreed to divorce," Stella finished, her voice unusually quiet. "Grandpa’s last wish."
Evelyn nodded slowly, understanding forming like a painful puzzle as it ca together. Their father had never been the type to change without force. But if his father was lying in a hospital bed, facing uncertain tomorrows, a last request from him would be impossible to ignore.
Stella leaned back against the sofa, "Grandpa always liked Mom," she said softly. "He used to say Father didn’t deserve her. And, he is also the one who supports us after father’s betrayal..."
Alicia’s lips trembled into a bittersweet smile. "He is a good man."
Evelyn looked down at her hands, feeling guilty because she was supposed to et them a few days before her accident, but had postponed it. At the ti, her mind was distracted by the DNA test result.
"I wanted to visit him," Evelyn said quietly. "I should have gone earlier."
Alicia stood from her seat, moved beside Evelyn, and squeezed her hand. "Silly girl... You could barely stand two days ago. He would scold you if he knew you were blaming yourself."
Still, guilt tugged at Evelyn’s chest. Now she understood why her grandparents on her father’s side had not co to visit her after the accident. They were living through their own storm.
Stella leaned closer to her sister and whispered, softer this ti, without humor. "When you’re stronger, we’ll go together. Grandpa will be happy to see you."
Evelyn nodded, eyes shining. "Yes. I’ll walk into his room by myself. No wheelchair. No nurse. I’ll show him I’m strong."
Alicia smiled at them both, pride mixing with sadness. "He will love that."
The room grew quiet again.
They sat in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts, until the faint sound of footsteps echoed from outside.
"Hello, brother-in-law!" Stella called out first, consistently quicker than her mother.
"Axel," Alicia greeted next, her tone composed but warm.
Axel stepped into the ho clinic, tall and calm as ever, "Stella, Alicia. I’m glad you ca to accompany my wife," he said politely before turning to Evelyn. Without hesitation, he offered his hand.
Evelyn placed her palm in his, letting him help her stand. Even after days of recovery, his touch still steadied her more than any walking aid.
"We are happy to co," Alicia said, rising as well. "Oh, right, Eve. We haven’t seen Oliver yet."
"Right, Mom, let’s go," Stella said suddenly, hooking her arm around her mother’s like an overexcited tour guide. "Ti to find my source of happiness." She winked at Evelyn. "Bye, sis!"
Before Evelyn could reply, Stella had already dragged Alicia out of the clinic, their laughter fading toward the main house.
Evelyn shook her head, amused.
"They move like a hurricane," she murmured.
Then she turned to Axel, lifting her gaze to et his. "You ca ho fast. Is your work finished?"
Axel slid one arm around her waist, pulling her gently but firmly close, as if afraid she might get hurt but can’t be away from her.
He did not answer imdiately. Instead, he studied her face, eyes scanning for any sign of pain, fatigue, or discomfort.
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