They walked a little further until they reached a quiet, beautifully arranged spot.
Maja slowed down… then stopped completely.
Right in front of her was a neatly set table, simple, yet elegant. Three chairs surrounded it, and the table itself was covered with a variety of dishes, each one carefully prepared and arranged with love.
Her eyes widened in awe.
She stepped closer, taking in every detail, her heart swelling with emotion.
For a moment, she couldn't even speak.
It wasn't just the food…
It was the effort. The love. The thought behind it.
And suddenly, this simple moment felt more special than anything grand.
"I reserved this just for you," Claire said softly, a warm smile resting on her lips.
"Thank you, Mom," Maja replied, her eyes glowing with appreciation as she took her seat. Claire sat beside her, while Joe settled comfortably across from them.
"You've made my day, Grandpa," Maja added sweetly.
Joe chuckled, shaking his head. "You deserve far more than this, my dear. So today, you eat, laugh, and enjoy yourself as much as you can."
Maja beamed, her joy radiant. "I love you both. Now, let's eat!"
Her laughter filled the air, light and genuine.
For a moment, it was perfect.
Just the three of them… sharing a quiet, beautiful happiness.
But as Claire watched her daughter, something deep inside her ached.
Maja looked so happy, so content. And yet… she deserved more than this. She deserved the truth.
She deserved to know her father; to know… she wasn't alone in this world.
Claire's chest tightened at the thought.
Maja doesn't even know she has a sister.
A twin.
The secret weighed heavily on her heart, pressing down on her with every passing second. She wasn't ready, she couldn't bring herself to shatter this fragile happiness. Not today.
Not on her birthday.
But the guilt refused to stay buried.
This wasn't the life Claire had dreamed of.
She had once imagined something different… something whole.
A loving husband, a complete family. A home filled with warmth and certainty.
Instead, there was absence.
There was Sebastian.
The man who had once meant everything… and then chose to mean nothing.
He had pushed her away. Broken her. Thrown her out of his life as though she had never mattered.
And in her desperation, in her pain…
She had made a choice she would regret for the rest of her life.
Leaving Janelle at his doorstep.
Her own child.
Claire's fingers tightened slightly around her fork as her thoughts spiralled.
If only I could take her back…
If only I could have both my daughters with me…
Maybe then, just maybe, her family would finally feel complete.
A quiet longing filled her chest. She missed Janelle.
And somewhere deep inside, she held onto the fragile hope that one day… she would see her again.
"You seem lost, Mom… and you're not eating."
Maja's voice gently pulled her back.
Claire blinked, realizing all eyes were on her.
"Today is my birthday," Maja added softly, a hint of concern in her tone. "You're supposed to be happy."
Claire quickly forced a smile, reaching for her hand.
"I am happy, Maja," she said gently.
Her voice softened as emotion crept in.
"I know I don't have much to give you… but I hope this is enough. I just want to give you the best I can. Please… be content with whatever I'm able to offer."
Maja's expression softened instantly.
"I know, Mom," she said. "And I'm not complaining. You and Grandpa are everything to me."
Her eyes shimmered slightly as she blinked back tears.
"I think I'm the luckiest person alive to have you both as my family. You don't need to feel bad… you've already given me more than enough."
Claire's heart swelled, her lips curving into a tender smile.
"Look at you… speaking like you've grown up overnight," she said softly. "I'm the one who's lucky to have you."
"Alright, alright," Joe interrupted with a playful wave of his hand. "That's enough of this emotional moment. It's time to actually enjoy the food before it gets cold."
Maja laughed, the tension dissolving instantly.
"Grandpa's right!" she said brightly, lifting her fork again. "Let's have some fun!"
And just like that, laughter returned to the table, light, warm, and full of life.
But beneath Claire's smile…
The truth still lingered.
Waiting.
*
At Chicago:
"Happy birthday once again, Princess."
Sebastian's voice carried warmth as he raised his glass slightly, a rare softness in his expression.
"Thank you, Dad," Janelle replied with a radiant smile.
She looked breathtaking, dressed in a flowing pink ball gown that hugged her frame perfectly before cascading gracefully to the floor. Every detail about her spoke of elegance, refinement, and quiet confidence.
The ballroom shimmered under golden lights, filled with laughter, music, and the soft clinking of glasses. It was nothing short of grand.
Distinguished guests moved about in polished grace, Sebastian's business associates, influential friends, and Janelle's schoolmates, all gathered to celebrate her.
This… had become tradition.
Every year since the day she was left at his doorstep, Sebastian had never once failed to celebrate her birthday in a way that reminded the world who she was, his daughter- billionaire daughter.
And for that, he owed Claire something he could never quite put into words.
At least she had left him one thing.
She had written Janelle's birth date in that letter.
Sebastian's gaze lingered on his daughter as she laughed freely with her friends, her joy lighting up the entire room.
Fourteen already.
Time had moved faster than he ever expected.
Soon, she would grow into a woman, strong enough to stand beside him, perhaps even take her place within his empire.
But beyond all that… She had become his light, His reason to keep going. A faint, almost bittersweet smile touched his lips.
If Claire hadn't brought her to me…
He didn't need to finish the thought, he already knew the answer.
He would have been alone.
Yet, even in this moment of celebration…
His heart felt heavy.
Memories crept in, uninvited.
Nessa.
Kenny.
The life he once had… the family he lost.
Sometimes, it still felt unreal, like a cruel illusion he hadn't woken up from.
He exhaled slowly, his grip tightening slightly around the glass in his hand.
And then…
There was Claire.
The name alone stirred something deep within him.
Regret.
Guilt.
A longing he had buried for years.
He had pushed her away, broken her. Turned his back on her when she needed him the most. And now…
Life had taken everything else from him, almost as if it was demanding a price for his past.
A punishment.
That was the only way he could explain it.
Since Nessa's death, nothing had lasted.
Not Liza.
Not Natie.
Every relationship had crumbled before it could become something real.
Perhaps… he wasn't meant to move on.
Or perhaps…
He had never truly let Claire go.
His eyes drifted back to Janelle, who was laughing brightly, completely unaware of the storm of thoughts running through his mind.
A quiet ache settled in his chest.
Where are you, Claire?
Are you still alive?
What about your father…?
So many unanswered questions.
So many years lost.
If he could just see her again, just once, he would apologize, he would make things right. He would beg for her forgiveness, if that was what it took.
Because somewhere deep down…
He knew that was the only way he might finally find peace.