ith a thousand thoughts that refused to quiet. The revelation from her father, the long c

as real.

was no longer just a daughter of the Villanueva family-she was someone else's daughter too

d broke the stillness. She reached over, glancing

Come to the house as soon

d Sara had avoided confronting her ever since the truth h

ainst the floor. She had to face it all-her mother, her father, her

The same walls, the same furniture, but there was an emptiness

aming through the curtains and casting a soft glow on her face. She looked more fragile than Sar

, turning slowly

ra replied, her voice ca

t too much. "I know this is hard to understand," she began, her voice tight, "but I need you to

at do you mean? I

thing changed for us. Your father and I- we couldn't just let you go. We made a choice, and it was a c

it's true. I was switched. I'

stepping toward Sara. "You've always been my daughter. That's not something that changes. But I kept you in the dark

h was too much to bear. "But you kept me away from Kara, from the fami

u have. The two of you were never meant to be apart, but the circumstances... they weren't something we could co

etrayal running deep. "Why didn't you tell

he thought of you hating me. So I kept the lie going, hoping that someday, it would all make sense.

r mother for the years of lies, for the stolen truth that had shaped her entire life. But

she said quietly

but Sara pulled away, not ready

or, her mind spinning, her heart breaking with each ste

park. She didn't need to ask if Sara had talked to

red, sinking onto t

ching. She didn't say anything at first, just let the

her voice barely audible. "It's all

"You're not alone in this, Sara. You never

now what to do now. Everything's change

Sara Villanueva, no matter what. And if you need to find out who you real

n't know what the future held, or how this would all unfold. But for the first time,

ed," Sara

. But we'll get thro

the stars twinkling like d

Kara sai

ime in a long while

t like everything was falling apart in slow motion. Each conversation, each

despite the years of separation, Kara was there, offering comfort,

small café where they had once gone to escape their families' expectations. It

Sara's mind: What did this me

ugh its doors, she was reminded of the lies, the carefully const

he received another m

ou. We can't keep avoiding this.

message for a while

to say, Mom. I'm lost right now

ly came

Just come home.

ra knew she had to go back, to face wh

There were no words at first. Only the soft ticking of the clock, the am

n. She had so many questions, but they all f

ictoria said softly,

sofa, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. "I d

know this is hard. I... I've been waiting for this day, but I

distance between them felt insurmountable. "You lied to me. You took everything from me. A

t the younger woman pulled away. "I did what I thought was be

"But you didn't trust me. You didn't think I could handle t

ut it wasn't just about me. It was about protecting you. Protecting all of

pushed it down, knowing it wouldn't do any good

ow?" Sara asked

try to fix what's broken. I want you to know that I've always lo

n the woman she had called mother all her l

hat anymore," she said quietly,

followed was he

ace so many times before. This time, though, there was no comfort in the air. Sara

ed softly, standing

eside her. "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel.

ffering her presence. She had always known how to b

feel like everything's falling apart. My entire life has bee

"You don't have to have it all figured out right now. No o

. "I just want to feel whole again. I

nviction. "You've always belonged with me. We're sister

espite everything, despite the hurt and the pain, Kar

Kara continued, her tone gentle

est trace of a smile tugging at t

ker of hope. Maybe she couldn't change the past, but the future? That was something she