Stephanie sat in her room, the weight of her exams still buzzing in her chest. She couldn't stop smiling. She had done it—top of the class, top of the region, scholarships lined up. This should have been a celebration.
But when she walked downstairs, she saw her mother, just as distant as always, flipping through a magazine on the kitchen table. No reaction. No congratulations. Just that same quiet, hollow look. It was like her success didn't exist.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped low, Stephanie went up to her room to unwind. She reached for an old shoebox under her bed—she kept old trinkets there. As she shuffled through, she saw a folded picture buried at the bottom—one she'd never seen before.
Her breath caught.
It was a man—tall, with sharp features—holding a baby. A baby that looked just like her. The photo was worn, faded, like it had been tucked away for years. Something twisted in her chest—she knew this wasn't just a random old picture. This was the man everyone avoided talking about. And somehow, it was right here—hidden, waiting for her to find.
She sat in stunned silence, knowing this was the moment everything would shift—but she didn't tell anyone. Not yet. She wasn't ready. Not when so much was still unknown.
Don't forget to drop your power stones.. I'll drop the next chapter soon😊❤️