✦ CHAPTER — "My Mama" ✦
Author's POV
The moment Jay and Keifer returned to the villa...
they knew they were in trouble.
😭💀
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Alina was sitting beside Mama Reycee.
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Tiny arms crossed.
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Tiny face grumpy.
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Tiny attitude enormous.
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The second she spotted them—
she stood up.
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Especially when she spotted Jay.
😭💔
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"Mama!"
Jay smiled immediately.
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And opened her arms.
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"Come here, baby."
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Alina's little face scrunched up.
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Then—
she turned around.
😭💀
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Completely.
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Ignoring her.
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The betrayal was personal.
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Jay blinked.
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"Oh."
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Keifer immediately looked away.
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Because honestly?
He deserved this too.
😭💀
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Later
Jay tried again.
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"Baby."
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Nothing.
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"Alina."
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Nothing.
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She was sitting in Keifer's lap now.
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Refusing to even look at Jay.
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Then finally—
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"Mama leave."
😭💔
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The words weren't loud.
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But they hurt.
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Jay froze.
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Alina pointed dramatically.
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"Mama leave."
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Another tiny push when Jay got closer.
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"Mama leave."
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And suddenly everyone became very interested in literally anything else.
😭💔
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Keifer's POV
Watching Jay's face hurt more than I expected.
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Because she wasn't angry.
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She was sad.
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Really sad.
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And every time Alina pushed her away...
I could see it.
🥺💔
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But Alina was hurting too.
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She didn't understand private villas.
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She didn't understand adults wanting time alone.
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She only understood one thing.
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Mama left.
😭🫀
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Author's POV
The next few days weren't much better.
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Alina talked to Keifer.
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Played with Keifer.
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Ate beside Keifer.
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But whenever Jay came close—
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Tiny frown.
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Tiny push.
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"Mama leave."
😭💔
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Meanwhile...
Liana had absolutely no idea any of this was happening.
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Liana simply loved Jay.
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Very much.
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And since Alina kept avoiding her...
Liana happily took the opportunity.
😭💀🫶🏻
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"Mama Jayjay!"
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Jay laughed.
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"What?"
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Another hug.
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Another cuddle.
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Another seashell.
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Another smile.
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And every single time—
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Alina watched.
🥺💔
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Quietly.
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From a distance.
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Keifer's POV
I noticed immediately.
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The way Alina stared.
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The way her tiny shoulders dropped.
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The way she looked away whenever Jay hugged Liana.
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My heart hurt for her.
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Because she was jealous.
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And too hurt to admit it.
😭🫀
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Author's POV
Then one afternoon...
everything exploded.
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Liana ran toward Jay.
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Laughing.
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"Mama Jayjay!"
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And threw her little arms around her.
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Jay immediately picked her up.
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Smiling.
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Holding her close.
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And that was it.
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That was Alina's breaking point.
😭💔
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She marched over.
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Tiny feet.
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Big emotions.
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And pushed Liana.
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Not hard.
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But enough.
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Enough for Liana to fall onto the sand.
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Enough for her little face to crumple.
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Enough for tears.
😭💔
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"Liana!"
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Jay rushed forward immediately.
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Picking her up.
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Checking her.
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"It's okay."
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"You're okay."
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She kissed her forehead.
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Wiped her tears.
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Held her close.
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Trying to calm her down.
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Then she looked up.
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And saw Alina standing there.
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Frozen.
🥺💔
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For a second—
nobody moved.
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Then Jay gently spoke.
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"Alina."
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Her voice wasn't angry.
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Just firm.
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"We don't push people."
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Alina's lip trembled.
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"We don't hurt our friends."
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The second those words left Jay's mouth—
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Alina broke.
😭💔🫀
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Tears immediately filled her eyes.
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"Mama..."
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One tear.
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Then another.
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Then another.
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"My mama."
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The crying started.
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Real crying.
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Heartbroken crying.
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"My mama!"
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She pointed at Jay.
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Then at Liana.
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Then back at Jay.
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"My mama!"
😭💔
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Like she thought she was losing her.
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Like she thought Jay belonged to someone else now.
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Jay's POV
The second I understood...
my heart shattered.
😭💔
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This wasn't about Liana.
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This wasn't about pushing.
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This wasn't even about being angry anymore.
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She was scared.
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Scared I'd leave again.
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Scared someone else would take her place.
🥺🫀
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I handed Liana to Mia.
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Then immediately knelt down.
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"Baby."
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Alina was crying too hard to answer.
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"My mama."
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"I know."
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"My mama."
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"I know."
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Then she launched herself at me.
😭💖
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Tiny arms around my neck.
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Tiny hands clutching my shirt.
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Tiny sobs against my shoulder.
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Like she never wanted to let go again.
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I hugged her immediately.
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Holding her as close as possible.
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"My mama."
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"Yes."
I whispered.
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"My mama."
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"Always."
🥺🫶🏻💖
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She buried her face into my neck.
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Still crying.
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Still sniffing.
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Still clinging.
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And for the first time since I came back...
she finally let me hold her again.
😭🫀💌
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From nearby...
Keifer watched quietly.
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And already knew one thing.
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Tonight...
nobody was getting Jay to themselves.
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Because one tiny girl had finally gotten her mama back.😭💖🫶🏻
✦ CHAPTER — "Don't Go Away Again" ✦
Author's POV
After that day…
something shifted.
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Not suddenly.
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Not magically.
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But softly.
🥺💔
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Alina still didn't forget.
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She still remembered Mama leaving.
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Still remembered the distance.
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But now…
she also remembered something else.
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Mama came back.
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And Mama held her.
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And Mama didn't let go.
🫶🏻💖
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Jay's POV
The next morning felt different.
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I woke up with weight on my chest.
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Small.
Warm.
Familiar.
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Alina.
🥺💖
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Her tiny arms were wrapped tightly around me.
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Like she was making sure I was real.
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I smiled softly.
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Careful not to wake her.
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And just stayed still.
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Watching her sleep.
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Her face finally calm again.
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No anger.
No distance.
Just peace.
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Then I felt another presence behind me.
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Keifer.
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His arm slowly wrapped around both of us.
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Careful.
Gentle.
Like he wasn't sure if he was allowed to fully come back yet.
🥺💔
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But I didn't move away.
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Not this time.
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Keifer's POV
I didn't expect her to let me in.
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Not fully.
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But when I wrapped my arm around her waist…
she didn't flinch.
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Didn't move away.
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Just stayed there.
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And I swear…
that healed something inside me.
😭🫀
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Alina shifted in her sleep.
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Then reached for Jay again.
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"Mama…"
sleepy whisper.
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Jay immediately kissed her forehead.
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"I'm here, baby."
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Alina relaxed again.
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Clinging tighter.
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Like she needed to hear it again and again.
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Later That Day
Everything was softer now.
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Alina still followed Jay everywhere.
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But not in panic anymore.
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In comfort.
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Kitchen?
Alina.
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Beach?
Alina.
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Sitting?
Alina in her lap.
🥺🫶🏻💖
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But this time…
Jay didn't feel trapped.
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She felt needed.
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And she held her closer too.
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Not out of guilt.
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Out of love.
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Jay's POV
At one point, I sat on the couch.
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Tired.
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Alina immediately climbed into my lap.
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As usual.
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But then—
Keifer sat beside me too.
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And instead of distance…
he leaned in.
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Resting his head against my shoulder.
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Like he used to.
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But softer now.
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More careful.
🥺💔
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Alina looked between us.
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Then smiled.
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Small.
Satisfied.
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Like she had solved everything.
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"Mama mine."
she said proudly.
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Then pointed at Keifer.
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"Papa mine."
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Then hugged both of us at once.
😭🫶🏻💖
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Keifer's POV
For the first time in a while…
I wasn't scared of losing her.
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Or her.
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Or us.
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We were still healing.
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Still fragile.
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But together again.
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And that was enough.
🥺💖
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I kissed Jay's temple softly.
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She didn't hide it this time.
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Just leaned into it.
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And whispered:
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"Don't break us again."
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My chest tightened.
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"I won't."
I said immediately.
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And this time…
I meant it with everything I had.
🫀💔🫶🏻🥺💖 This is the "slow repair" phase now where:
Alina becomes clingy but safe again
Jay stops pulling away
Keifer becomes extra gentle + protective
And the family slowly feels like family again
✦ CHAPTER — "Come Here" ✦
Author's POV
It started in the middle of the night.
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With crying.
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Tiny.
Shaky.
Heartbroken crying.
😭💔
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"Mamaaaa..."
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Jay immediately woke up.
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So did Keifer.
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Alina was sitting up in bed.
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Tears running down her cheeks.
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Her tiny hands rubbing her eyes.
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"Mama..."
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Jay didn't even hesitate.
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She immediately opened her arms.
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"Come here, baby."
🥺🫶🏻
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Alina practically launched herself into them.
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Wrapping her arms around Jay's neck.
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Still crying.
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Still shaking.
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Still half asleep.
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Jay kissed her forehead.
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"What happened?"
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"Mama leave."
😭💔
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Jay's heart broke instantly.
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Just a nightmare.
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But to Alina...
it felt real.
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"I'm here."
Jay whispered.
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"Mama's here."
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Alina sniffled.
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"Mama here?"
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"Yes."
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"Mama here?"
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"Yes baby."
🥺💖
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Over.
And over.
And over.
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Until finally...
the crying slowed.
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The sniffles softened.
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And eventually...
Alina fell asleep in Jay's arms.
🫶🏻💌
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Later
Jay carefully tucked her into bed.
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Pulled the blanket higher.
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Brushed tiny curls away from her face.
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Then stayed a little longer.
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Just making sure.
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Just watching.
🥺💛
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Only after she was completely asleep did Jay finally leave the room.
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She looked exhausted.
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The kind of tired that sat deep in your bones.
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Keifer's POV
She looked ready to fall over.
😭💔
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She disappeared into the bathroom for a few minutes.
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Then came back.
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Quiet.
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Sleepy.
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Barely keeping her eyes open.
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I was sitting on the bed.
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Scrolling through my phone.
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When suddenly—
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She walked straight toward me.
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No words.
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No explanation.
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And sat directly in my lap.
🥺🫶🏻💖
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Like old times.
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Like home.
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My arms wrapped around her automatically.
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"Long night?"
I whispered.
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She nodded against my shoulder.
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Very dramatically.
😭💀💖
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"Tired."
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"I can tell."
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Author's POV
For a while neither of them spoke.
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Jay simply rested against him.
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Enjoying the silence.
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Enjoying not having to think.
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Keifer gently played with her hair.
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Untangling little strands.
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Running his fingers through it.
🥺💌
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Then slowly started braiding it.
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Not perfectly.
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But carefully.
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Like it was something precious.
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Jay nearly fell asleep right there.
😭🫶🏻
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Keifer's POV
She was exhausted.
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So exhausted.
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I could see it.
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The way her eyes kept closing.
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The way she kept leaning closer.
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The way she looked completely done with life.
😭💀💛
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So I gently handed her her skincare products.
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"Come on."
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She groaned dramatically.
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"No."
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"Yes."
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"No."
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"Jay."
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More groaning.
😭💀
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But eventually she let me help.
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And the whole time she sat there looking half asleep.
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Like a very grumpy teddy bear.
🥺🫶🏻
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Author's POV
When everything was finally done...
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The villa became quiet again.
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Ocean sounds outside.
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Soft night breeze.
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Peace.
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Jay climbed onto the bed.
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Then immediately curled up against Keifer.
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Resting her head against his chest.
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Eyes already closed.
🥺💛
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Keifer wrapped one arm around her.
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The other gently brushing through her hair.
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Slow.
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Comforting.
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Familiar.
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And within minutes...
she was asleep.
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Completely asleep.
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The deep, peaceful kind.
🫶🏻💌🤍
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Keifer looked down.
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Saw her finally resting.
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Finally relaxed.
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And couldn't help smiling.
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Then he kissed the top of her head.
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Very softly.
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Like a promise.
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And stayed awake just a little longer.
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Holding her close.
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Making sure both of his girls were sleeping peacefully.