Audrey's POV
"It's time to go home," my mother said softly once my tears had dried.
But my chest was still heavy. I hadn't decided what to do with my life—let alone the baby.
"No, no, Mom. I can't. I'm not ready to face everyone yet. Especially Dad." I shook my head, the weight of shame pressing down.
Did I mention my family is exceptionally large? Loud. Overbearing. A legacy of Shepherds and Andersons spread all over the world. And me? The runaway twin.
"Baby," my mother whispered, brushing my hair from my face, "your father loves you more than his own life. He will be overjoyed to have you home again. Your twin brother might seem cold, but you know he'd burn the world for you. Isabella and Leo are in New Zealand, and Eden is off touring the world with your Uncle Stanford. The house is practically empty. It's just your father and brother. You won't have to face the whole clan yet. Besides…" She smiled faintly. "I miss my husband. I need to get home."
I swallowed hard. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe I wasn't walking back into judgment.
I won't say her love story with my dad was perfect, but God—how I longed for a love like theirs. Not flawless, not easy. But real.
"Up we go, Princess," Mom said, slipping her arm around me and helping me to my feet.
And just like that, we were driving through gates I hadn't seen in years, back to the house where my entire world had once been held. Home sweet home.
I froze in the hallway, my breath catching. It was the same place I'd stood seven years ago when I told my father I needed freedom from him. I walked out that day, never looking back.
And now—I was back.
"I have a surprise for you," my mom said, sweeping toward my father with the same grace as always. She kissed him softly, as if no time had passed.
"A surprise?" Dad's deep voice carried, his back turned.
My heart hammered so loud it drowned everything. Then, as if dragged by fate, I stepped forward.
"It's me," I whispered.
And for the first time in years, my father's eyes found mine.
"Audrey, baby…" my father's voice broke, still in shock, as if he couldn't believe I was standing there. He stumbled back, maybe from disbelief—or maybe fear of hoping too much—but my mother caught him in time.
"Audrey," he mumbled again, almost like a prayer.
My dad wasn't the type to cry. Not ever. Except maybe when begging my mom in their rare arguments.
"Dad," I whispered, my throat tightening. "I know now. You were right. You spent your life protecting me from this, and I hated you for it. I wanted freedom from you. But, Dad… I'm so sorry. You were right—your baby girl got her heart broken."
Before I could finish, I didn't even realize when he closed the distance between us. Suddenly, I was wrapped in his arms.
That hug. The one that felt like home. The hug that told me no matter what, Daddy was always going to be here for me. Safe. Protected. Never alone.
"I love you, baby," he murmured against my hair. "You are the apple of my eye, the queen of my heart."
I laughed through my tears as my mother tried not to look jealous.
"Welcome home, baby," Dad whispered, kissing my forehead.
He straightened and smiled at my mother. "I made dinner for your mom, but come here, my queen. Have a seat," he said, pulling out a chair for her.
"See who's back," a familiar voice drawled from behind me.
My heart froze.
My twin brother. Andrew.
He walked in slowly, his expression unreadable. Unlike my dad, he wasn't easily swayed by sentiment. He'd never been my biggest fan—we fought too much, and he always thought I made the wrong choices. And of course, he never missed a chance to rub it in my face.
"Dad, please… let me kill him," Andrew said coldly.
"What!" I gasped, surprised. My brother—my infuriating twin—was actually willing to kill my jerk of a husband for breaking my heart.
"Yes, Andrew, I would want nothing more than that. In fact, I'll do it myself," my dad said darkly.
"Ethan and Andrew, you two need to relax," my mother called out. She was the only one who could control the men in our family. I still wondered how she did it.
But Dad wasn't finished. "You are my daughter, and your mother's daughter," he said, his voice softening as he looked at me. "You've got her fire—smart, fierce. I'm sure you can handle him just fine on your own." He smiled at me, then gave an even bigger one to my mother.
"Right, Dad," Andrew muttered, "but if you need help, your evil ally is ready to jump into action." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "I'm claiming you home, baby sister."
I rolled my eyes. He knew I hated it when he called me that. He couldn't be nice without being himself. We were only a few minutes apart—maybe an hour—but he always acted like he was the oldest.
"I missed you, too, Andrew," I said softly.
"Good. The family is set. Let's have dinner together," my mum said warmly.
As always, before she served everyone, there was laughter, smiles, and joking about our childhood. But my phone wouldn't stop beeping.
I stared at it, lost in thought. How was I going to tell my dad and brother I was pregnant? And then there was Jeremy. And Adel. My baby would have to carry both of them, and that thought was enough to crush me.
"Audrey," my mum's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"It's going to be okay," she said softly, as if she could feel my pain and confusion. Maybe she could. After all, she was my supermother.