Page 133 of Cole

Cole:Just boarded. Thinking of you. How are you holding up?

She paused in the hallway to respond.

Missing you already. Just got out of a family meeting. Jude contacted Angelica/Angela and is meeting her tomorrow. Will call you tonight with details. Safe travels??

She slipped her phone back into her pocket, feeling simultaneously lighter and heavier. Cole's messages were a bright spot, but the reality of what was happening with her sister weighed on her.

Annie made her way back to her bedroom. Nyla greeted her with enthusiastic tail wagging, clearly ready for their morning walk. The routine would do her good—give her something normal to focus on while her world tilted on its axis.

She packed up the things she’d brought to the house for the past few days, then carried the bag downstairs, Nyla at her side.

After letting her parents know she was returning to her cabin, she put on her warm winterwear and slipped out the back door with Nyla.

Outside, the crisp January air filled her lungs as she followed the road that wound through the estate grounds to her cabin. Snow crunched beneath her boots as Nyla kept her nose to the ground, sniffing at something that had attracted her attention.

With each step, Annie found her thoughts drifting between Cole and Angelica. Two people who had entered her life in completely different ways, both changing everything.

Her mind stuck on Angela—Angelica—her twin. What was she thinking right now? Was she nervous about tomorrow's meeting? Excited? Suspicious?

Annie tried to imagine what it would be like to suddenly discover she had an identical twin, wealthy parents, a whole other life that had been stolen from her. It seemed overwhelming, like something from a movie rather than real life.

“Annie!”

She turned to see Julian jogging to catch up with her, his breath forming clouds in the cold air.

“What do you want?” She wasn’t in the mood for another of his tirades.

“Here, let me carry that for you,” he said, reaching out to take her bag.

Annie was so surprised by the offer that she let go of the handle without argument.

As she began to walk again, Julian fell into step beside her. “I want to apologize. For yesterday with Benji.”

Annie raised an eyebrow. “That’s… unexpected.”

“I know.” He bent his head. “I was being a jerk.”

“You usually are when it comes to Benji.”

Julian sighed. “Look, I’m trying here. With Angelica possibly coming back into our lives… I’ve been thinking about family.”

They walked in silence for a moment, the only sounds their footsteps and Nyla’s occasional snuffling in the snow.

“Do you remember her?” Annie finally asked. “I don’t. Not really.”

“Yeah, I do.” Julian’s expression softened. “You two were inseparable. Always whispering and giggling together. Dad used to say you had your own language.”

Annie tried to picture it—herself and another little girl, mirror images of each other, sharing secrets and laughter. The image was both foreign and achingly familiar.

“I’ve spent most of my life being told that something was missing,” she admitted quietly. “That there was an empty space beside me that should have been filled.”

Julian nodded. “I know. For me, it was different. I was older. I understood more of what happened. The way the tragedy broke everything apart.”

“Do you think Mom was right for leaving?” Annie asked, voicing the question she’d never dared to ask before.

Julian was quiet for so long, Annie thought he might not answer.

“I don’t know what truly went on with her and Dad, so it’s possible that leaving him was the best thing for her,” he said slowly, as if considering each word. “But leaving you? I don’t think she was right for doing that, even though I understand why seeing you was so hard for her. She should have risen above that.She was an adult—a parent—she should have done what was best for her child.”

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