The moment Althea stepped into the grand hall for the dinner celebration, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Big sister!”

The familiar voices of the twins rang out, and before she could even utter a word, Liah and Sth ran toward her. Instinctively, she bent down and opened her arms just in time to catch them as they threw themselves into her embrace.

Her heart softened instantly. Her eyes welled with tears as she held the children close, wrapping them in a warm, protective embrace.

“We ...