Alexander’s POV

I didn’t expect to be here, not even after everything I did.

Not after the silence, the hurt, the years lost like wind-scattered ash. Not after I hurt Naomi and everyone around me.

But here I was—back in this house, this family, this story, And no one had shut the door in my face.

Not yet, I didn’t know if that meant I was forgiven.

But I knew it meant I had been allowed.

And for someone like me, that was everything.

I was more than grateful for this ...