Mr. Davis Miles was a wealthy land broker whose business flourished early in life. He married Mable during the rise of his success, and soon after, they welcomed their first son, Ray. Not long later, he took a second wife, Adora.
But the decision nearly tore his household apart. Mable protested fiercely, but the law at the time allowed it, and she had no grounds to leave. The conflict ended only after an agreement was reached: the family heir would come from Mable's children.
In the second year of his marriage to Adora, she gave birth to twins, Irene and Asher.
Fate was cruelly precise. On that same day, Mable gave birth to Dominic.
For years, the household remained stable. Mr. Davis treated both wives and all his children fairly, and his business continued to thrive,until tragedy struck.
During one of his business trips, he was involved in a devastating accident. Though he survived, his injuries were severe. Endless surgeries drained the family's wealth, forcing the sale of most of their lands.
Although his condition stabilized for a time, he remained under hospital care for several years. Eventually, his body could not longer endure, and he passed away.
What little land remained was divided among the family. As the first son, Ray inherited the best plot, largest in size and most valuable in location. With that, their father's empire quietly ended.
Afterward, the family managed fairly well. One by one, they sold their inherited lands, believing it wiser to take money than to hold on to property of little immediate value. Before new developments could be introduced and prices altered, they chose to sell.
Dominic sold his portion and used the funds to start a small design studio. Ray, however, refused to sell his land. Instead, he searched for work and eventually secured a job at a construction company.
Then the government changed.
New policies were introduced. Development plans approved and the location of Ray's land was re-evaluated. Overnight, it became one of the most desirable sites for corporate development. Land prices in the area skyrocketed.
And that was when Mr. Frederick approached the Davis family, with a proposal for a marriage alliance.
Adora finished her story just as she tied off the last stitch of her knitted shawl. She draped it over her shoulders and glanced into a mirror, smiling in quiet satisfaction.
At sixty, she still looked decades younger, her skin smooth, her posture elegant, her eyes sharp with life.
"How do you keep looking younger every day, Mom?" Asher said, adjusting the shawl for her.
"You should've listened to us and remarried back then."
Adora laughed, tapping him lightly. "Enough of that."
"Remarrying doesn't guarantee a good life," she said, setting the mirror aside.
"And now that the family situation is about to take a different turn, how could I not be part of it. I won't allow myself to be sidelined."
"But is it really right to ignore this?" Irene asked, she sat on the adjacent cushion, carefully painting her nails, her features mirroring her brother's almost perfectly.
"Or what?" Asher scoffed. "Taking Fay's side and going against Dominic?"
"Do you even think?" he added teasingly.
A pillow hit him square in the chest.
"Alright, that's enough," Adora said calmly.
"There's nothing we can do. Dominic isn't my child, so I have no influence over his decisions. No one will blame me for staying out of this."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"We just need to stay neutral. And we benefit when the time comes."
Irene hummed. "Still… it's a pity. Ray held onto that land for so long, and now it won't even help his own family."
"We're his family too, aren't we?" Asher smirked.
"If Fay comes to either of you," Adora said firmly, "Tell her we're powerless in this matter."
They both nodded.
...
A few days later Fay was discharged from the hospital, after the doctor warned her to take better care of her health. Becky came to say goodbye. She apologized for the harsh words she had spoken before.
They cooked a small feast to mark Becky's departure and the beginning of a new chapter. Sally joined them, and for a while, the house was filled with laughter.
When night fell, Becky left.
Fay stood in front of the house long after she was gone, Becky's words replaying in her mind.
" Since you've chosen to stay, don't ever give up on what you're fighting for. Ray might not be here anymore, but you still have Sally. You have to keep going, even if it's for her. I'm rooting for you both. I'll come back for you someday. I still think it would be best if you came with me… but for now, I'll respect your choice."
Fay pressed a hand to her chest, swallowing the sob that rose in her throat.