She placed two luxurious gowns on the table, along with a thick bundle of cash.
My chest tightened.
They were innocent children — she might tempt them.
She called out to the twins.
“Emma, Clara… Mommy has gifts for you.”
The twins touched the fabric — using their sense of touch.
But I knew they felt something was wrong.
“What’s the price?” Emma asked, her brow furrowed.
Lauren smirked.
“Simple… COME WITH ME. Leave Mark. I’ll give you the good life he never could.”
It felt like my chest was split open.
After everything I had done — loved, sacrificed — would I become nothing in their eyes?
But before my tears could fall, Clara suddenly spoke.
“We don’t need expensive things to be happy.”
Emma stood up, her head held high.
“Daddy has been our eyes… not you.”
Shock flashed across Lauren’s face.
“I don’t need that man!” she snapped. “He’s a loser!”
That’s when I spoke.
Calm.
Steady.
“Maybe I’m a loser by your standards… but I’m the one who loved them when you were gone.”
She laughed bitterly, desperation creeping into her voice.
“What future do they have here? Fabric?! Sewing?!”
And as if fate had perfect timing…
There was another knock at the door.
When I opened it — a woman stood there.
She wore an ID from a prestigious fashion institute.
She held a tablet.
“Mr. Santos? We saw Emma and Clara’s designs online. They’ve gone viral. We’d like to offer FULL SCHOLARSHIPS and a guaranteed Fashion Show in Paris.”
Lauren’s mouth fell open.
The color drained from her face.
“N-no! You can’t! They’re my daughters!” she screamed.
The woman smiled politely.
“As far as we know… they get to choose who their real family is.”
The twins held my hands.
And together, they said:
“Our family… is Daddy.”
Something inside Lauren shattered.
I felt proud — but I also saw fear in her eyes — because she realized she no longer had a place in our story.
“Remember this,” she said, her voice shaking. “When you become famous… I’ll come back.”
I shook my head and smiled.
“You didn’t leave us for our sake…
you left us for yourself.
And now, we choose our own future.”
And slowly, I closed the door.
Now, as my daughters stitch their dreams together with thread and courage —
I feel joy.
They don’t need sight…
because they see the true value of family.
And the next time we see Lauren?
Maybe it will be on the red carpet
where my twins’ names shine brightly.
And that’s when she’ll finally understand
what kind of “loser”
the man is
they chose to call Daddy.