Chapter 63

Aurora's POV
We were all struggling, and it was becoming clear that no obstacle could be overcome with love and determination. Facing all the obstacles together and working toward the same goal—bringing Dante home and keeping Roline healthy and happy—was what I would fight for until the end. One step at a time, I believed we could get through this.
Finally, after a week of anxious waiting, the good news came—Dante was found not guilty and released from prison. A sense of relief flooded through me. All the worries and burdens that had been clinging to my blood seemed to lift quickly. He was back home, to his family, and it was something we had been waiting for.
When Dante walked through the door, the atmosphere was filled with love and happiness. The children ran to him, big smiles on their faces. In just a few moments, the atmosphere in our home was warm and filled with laughter, like returning home after a long storm.
“Daddy!” Roland and Ronald shouted in unison, jumping into Dante’s arms. Roline, still just beginning to adjust, also took a step forward, and as the three of them embraced, I felt a flood of happiness.
“I missed you all,” Dante said, his voice shaking. Watching them interact warmed my soul. In an instant, all the pain and sorrow we had been through seemed to melt away.
But as we basked in this moment of happiness, memories of Molly and the decisions she had made came flooding back to me. She was now on the wanted list, hard to find because she had changed her identity and moved from place to place. All of this happiness was accompanied by worry about what would happen next. What if she came back? What would we do?
But at the same time, I tried not to let those thoughts get in the way of my happiness in the moment. We had to focus on what we had—our family. With Dante, Roline, Roland, and Ronald reunited, gratitude flooded my heart. And in that moment, I was determined to keep this family together, no matter what.
We spent quality time as a family, sharing stories and experiences along the way. I told Dante about everything that had happened while he was in prison and how we were trying to live without him. He listened intently and offered his warm support.
“For now, we’re going to focus on us,” he said encouragingly. “We’re going to protect each other, no matter what. And if Molly shows up again, we’re going to face it together.”
With renewed vigor, I felt hope for the future. All of the challenges we’d faced had strengthened our bond, and right now, our togetherness was what mattered most. We may have had our pasts, but with love and support, we would build a better future—for myself, for Dante, and for our children.
*
It had been eight months since Dante was released from prison, and our lives were drifting back and forth as a family. But that all changed when I heard the news of Molly’s discovery. A mixture of confusion and anxiety returned to me.
Dante and I agreed to meet Molly, trying to find out what was really going on. When we arrived at the hospital, we found that she had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. I felt confused; how could this have happened, when all this time we had had hope and pain.
After we had given Molly some time to rest, when she was in the room, she looked at us with desperate eyes. “I was wondering if you would take care of this baby,” she said, her voice weak. “Her name is Cherry.”
I was shocked, and all the pent-up emotions came flooding back. Anger and disappointment with her gnawed at me. “Molly, how could you ask this after everything you’ve done? What if we don’t want to be involved anymore?” I asked, trying to hold back my rising anger.
But she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if realizing the error of her plan. “She’s innocent. I couldn’t keep her… I wanted her to have a family,” she replied, her voice full of regret.
Once again, I felt conflicted. Despite my harshness to Molly, I knew that Cherry—this tiny newborn—was not to blame for her mother’s decision. “Okay, I’ll keep her. But this isn’t an easy decision,” I said gently but firmly.
After a little more talking, we agreed that we would take Cherry and give her a chance. Despite my hopes and desires to abandon her, the motherly love in me couldn’t let this baby go uncared for.
A few days later, I received the devastating news: Molly had been pronounced dead. She had bled to death, and all that was left were the painful memories of who she was.
Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn’t help but feel angry and disappointed that Molly had left this world without resolving everything. Not only did she put herself in a dangerous situation, but she also put a baby without parents. She was my sister after all.
However, and this is the moment, I felt compelled to protect and care for Cherry as if she were my own child. Despite Molly’s many faults, this baby was one of us—a baby who did not choose the circumstances of her birth and deserved to be loved and protected.
Moving forward, I am determined to give all the love I can to Cherry, stepping forward as new parents and believing that, amidst all the sadness and loss, we can create a beautiful future, not only for Roline, Roland, Ronald, and now Cherry.
In the new light of day, Dante and I will make sure that our journey continues with new hope—the love of a family that has been re-formed, amidst all this difficult journey.
As Roline grows older, she is now two years old, just like Roland and Ronald. Cherry, who was just born, still functions as a baby who needs attention and affection. However, even though Roline has passed her critical period, there is still a deep feeling of worry because she looks thinner compared to her older siblings.