Dawn watched Adam eat, smiling at the way his eyes brightened with every bite. He teased her again, earning laughter from everyone in the room.
"You wanted to tell me something," Adam said between chuckles.
"Adam… you're going to be a father."
Adam froze, eyes widening. He dropped his plate, then sprang up to pull Dawn into a tight hug.
"I'm going to have my son play soccer with me!" he said excitedly.
"And I'll braid my daughter's hair," Dawn replied, laughing through happy tears.
"It's going to be a boy or a girl, okay? No need to fight—but I'm naming him Adam Jr.," he teased.
"Keep flattering yourself," Dawn said, rolling her eyes fondly.
Daphne entered, smiling at the scene. "Ooh, I seem to be the third wheel."
"Hi, Mom," Adam greeted.
"Hi, son. How are you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he replied, grinning.
"What are we celebrating?"
"You're going to be a grandmother," Adam said proudly.
Daphne gasped in delight, letting out a happy scream as she rushed to hug Dawn.
But the room fell silent when Ava entered.
"Oh, so now I'm the devil? I heard all your screams in the hallway, but suddenly you've gone quiet," Ava said sharply.
"Always with the drama," Adam murmured. "You're going to be a stepmom," he added with a small smile.
Ava's expression shifted from confusion to something softer. For a moment, happiness flickered in her eyes. She'd always wanted a baby, but her illness never allowed it. Now, a child would still be part of the family—even if it wasn't hers. She congratulated Dawn, gave her a quick hug, then excused herself. The ache in her chest was too much to bear.
Adam tried to get up and follow her, but his legs still weren't steady.
"I'll go talk to her," Daphne said, leaving Dawn and Adam alone.
"Don't worry, everything will be alright," Adam said, noticing the worry on Dawn's face.
"You're with me. There's nothing to fear," she said softly, smiling through tears.
* * * * * *
Ava sat on the couch, a book open in her hands. Dawn approached quietly.
"Can I join you?" she asked gently.
Ava nodded without looking up. Dawn sat beside her, trying to start a conversation, but Ava's eyes stayed glued to the pages.
"I'm not trying to take your place, Ava. I promise. Adam loves you too," Dawn said carefully.
"I didn't ask for comfort. But… congratulations," Ava said, her tone distant.
"You shouldn't have tried to kill our husband," Dawn said suddenly, her voice steady.
Ava's head snapped up, eyes burning with disbelief.
"Excuse me? Kill? I love Adam more than you ever could. Who gave you that idea?" she demanded.
"The man who called said, 'the job was done.' Was that a coincidence?"
"So, you've been snooping around?" Ava snapped.
"Your phone was ringing, and I picked it up," Dawn replied calmly.
Ava glared at her, anger flashing across her face—but then her expression softened. Tears welled in her eyes, and she broke down.
"What happened to Adam wasn't my doing. I swear, I'd never hurt him," Ava said between sobs. "But I wanted to hurt you."
Dawn's eyes widened. "What?"
"I told the man you heard on the phone to snoop around your place—to find something I could use against you. But you… you're Miss Goody Two-Shoes. There was nothing to find." Ava let out a bitter laugh through her tears. "I kept trying to make you the bad one, but it was me all along. I'm so sorry."
Dawn hugged her tightly. "It's okay. What matters is you're being honest now."
* * * * * *
When Adam finally returned home, healthy and smiling, the whole family was relieved.
"So, you want a boy, huh? Don't you like me?" Leslie teased.
"Of course I do. I want both," Adam replied, grinning.
"Replying to Leslie is like watching a horror movie with your eyes closed—completely pointless," Jason teased.
"You always start trouble!" Leslie shot back, glaring.
Before their argument could escalate, Adam laughed. Dawn entered just in time.
"Don't you two have graduation rehearsal?" she asked, hands on her hips.
"I do," Leslie said proudly. "But I'm smarter than Jason, so I'll still shine even if I skip practice. You know what I mean?"
Everyone stared at her—then burst into laughter.
Ava appeared at the doorway. "Dinner's ready!"
They all gathered at the dining table, eating, laughing, and talking like a true family again.
* * * * * *
That night, everyone went to bed except Dawn, who found Adam still awake in the living room.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
He rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, just thinking."
She gave him a look that said don't lie to me.
"I'm worried about Ava," he admitted. "She's lonely—even though she's married. I feel like I'm failing her."
"You're doing your best, Adam," Dawn said gently.
"I can do better."
"You're giving everything you can. You're enough—for all of us."
Adam smiled and pulled her close. "Thank you."
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded, then hesitated. "I have a question."
"Okay, I'm listening."
"The day of your accident—who called you?"
Adam frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I just… feel like it wasn't an accident. It felt like a setup."
"It was an unknown number," he said slowly. "Someone said I was needed at the company. It sounded urgent."
"Unknown number?" Dawn repeated. "That's strange."
"Don't overthink it. I'm sure it's nothing," Adam said, brushing it off.
Dawn nodded, patted his shoulder, and went upstairs. Her phone started ringing just as she entered the room.
She picked up. "Hello?"
A familiar voice chuckled on the other end. "Hi, cuz. How's Adam—still alive?"
Dawn froze. Her heart raced. The voice sent chills down her spine.
"Tara?" she whispered, her pulse thundering in her ears.