When the final paperwork arrived, confirming Ethan and Sophie’s inheritance, we sat together on the porch as the sun set. They spoke about their future, about helping with repairs around the house, about wanting me to rest after years of working hard for them. And then Sophie asked whether I thought Alicia regretted what she had done. I told her the truth: some people value opportunities more than relationships, and that is their burden to carry. What matters is what we built together—trust, love, and a home made from second chances. Blood never defined our bond; choosing each other did. And after eighteen years, I know this with certainty: I did not just save those babies that day on the plane—they saved me right back.
