Years later, fate stepped in.
The day Nathan collapsed, he had just received the call about his mother’s stroke. His vision blurred, the heat closed in, and everything went black.
When he opened his eyes again, flashing lights surrounded him — and beside him sat a little girl in a red dress. Across from her stood Claire, older now, stronger, disbelief written all over her face.
He thought he was dreaming. Then darkness swallowed him again.
When he woke up in the hospital, Claire and Lily were there. The little girl colored quietly while Claire stood by the window, arms crossed.
Nathan’s voice trembled. “You saved me.”
Claire nodded toward the girl. “Actually, she did.”
Nathan looked closer — the eyes, the expression — and realization hit him like lightning.
“She’s… mine, isn’t she?”
