The afternoon sunlight streamed softly into the kitchen, warm and golden, as Elena moved gracefully between the counter and the stove. The aroma of simmering spices filled the air, wrapping the home in an almost magical comfort. Miles stood beside her, sleeves rolled up, quietly chopping vegetables while occasionally glancing at his mother, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
In the living room, Dion had somehow been pulled into the twins' endless world of imagination. What began as him simply watching them play quickly turned into him crouching on the floor, chasing them with exaggerated growls and letting them "trap" him with pillows. He laughed so freely it was almost hard to tell who was the grown-up in the room.
Hope's eyes sparkled as she leaned against him, catching her breath from laughing too much. "Big brother Dion, you're best friends with my big bro, right?"
Dion chuckled, brushing the hair away from his face. "Hehe… I'm more like his big brother."
