And now, with this birth mark? But how? How can you be my brother, Luke? Hazel added. It’s strange because Mrs. Penelope always said she only had one child. But that birth mark? It’s too much of a coincidence.
The street kid ran his hands through his hair, trying to process everything. It can’t be. We just look alike, that’s all.
Everyone has a birth mark. He murmured, barely audible. His heart pounded erratically.
The idea of having a family, of not being alone, was too tempting, but also painful. What if it was just an empty hope? At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed on the sidewalk. They turned and saw Theodore, the driver, standing there, observing the scene with a shocked expression.
Upon seeing an adult, Luke instinctively backed away, ready to flee. Calm down, Luke, Ashton said, grabbing his arm. Let go of me.
He’s going to take me to a shelter. Luke shouted, the fear evident in his voice. Hazel approached and said quickly, Theodore is good.
He won’t do anything to you. Ashton confirmed, trying to convey confidence. Not all adults are bad, Luke.
Trust us. Theodore, still processing the scene, approached slowly and asked, What’s going on here? Who? Who is this boy? How? How does he look so much like your friend, Hazel? Ashton and Hazel took turns telling him everything. The encounter, the resemblance, the discovery of the birthmark.
The driver looked at Luke and then at Ashton, comparing every feature, every detail. Then he said, Your twins, I have no doubt. But how is that possible? I know Mrs. Penelope.
She always said she only had one son. Before they could delve deeper into the conversation, Luke’s stomach rumbled loudly, breaking the tense atmosphere. The boy lowered his head, embarrassed.
Theodore smiled understandingly. The answers can wait. Let’s put something in that little tummy first.
He guided everyone back to the car and drove to a small diner nearby. He bought sandwiches and sodas for everyone. When they received the food, Luke ate with a veracity that moved them all.
With each bite, his eyes sparkled, as if he were rediscovering the taste of life. Ashton and Hazel, with heavy hearts, watched in silence, feeling a mixture of sadness and hope. After they ate, sitting at a secluded table, Hazel asked, So what now? What do we do? Ashton looked at Luke and then at Theodore.
Now we take Luke to my mother. She needs to see him. Only she can confirm whether or not he’s my twin brother.
Luke swallowed, fear written all over his face. What if… What if they take me to a shelter? You don’t know what life is like there. He asked, his voice thick with emotion.
Theodore leaned forward and said firmly, Trust me, kid. Mrs. Penelope is a woman with a good heart. She would never do that.
Luke looked at Ashton, Hazel, and Theodore. There was sincerity in their eyes, a sincerity he hadn’t seen in a long time. With his heart racing, he finally nodded.
All right, I’ll go with you. Theodore smiled, relieved. Then let’s go.
The four of them got into the car. Luke shrank a little in the seat, used to the freedom of the streets, but at the same time feeling a strange sense of security. Ashton sat next to him, offering him a reassuring smile.
Hazel chattered on about how everything was going to work out, how she already envisioned them all having fun together at school. Theodore started the engine and drove towards Penelope’s mansion. On the way, everyone’s heart was racing, each one lost in their own thoughts.
What would happen when they arrived? What would the meeting be like? Was Luke really Ashton’s twin brother, or was it all just a huge and painful coincidence? The wind blew against the windows as if it also wanted to follow that story that was about to everyone’s lives forever. Meanwhile, Penelope, after a long afternoon touring the city with Michelle, finally arrived home. She sighed with relief as she walked through the mansion’s garden and commented, smiling, You were right, Michelle.
I really needed this afternoon to get these crazy ideas out of my head. The false sister-in-law, with that cynical smile that she mastered perfectly, replied, Now you have to focus on yourself and your only son, Ashton, the only one you carried in your womb. Penelope agreed with a slight nod.
Speaking of him, he should be arriving soon. Before she could finish the sentence, Michelle looked out the mansion window and saw Theodore’s car entering the garage. Speaking of my handsome nephew, look, he’s coming now, she said, forcing a tone of enthusiasm.
Outside, Theodore parked the car. Hazel turned to Ashton and gave him his final instructions. Go on, tell your mother that you have a new friend to introduce.
Then bring her out here. Ashton nodded, his heart pounding. Inside the car, Luke was trembling.
Hazel held his hand firmly. Everything will be all right, she said, smiling to comfort him. Ashton ran out of the car.
He walked into the house excitedly, passing by Michelle as if she were invisible. He ran straight to his mother and hugged her tightly. Hi, my love, Penelope said, embracing her son.
She pulled back slightly and asked, Where’s Hazel? Didn’t she want to come in? Ashton shook his head, excited. She’s out there with a new friend. You’ll love meeting him.
Penelope frowned. New friend? Before she could ask more, Ashton grabbed her hand and pulled her outside. Come on, Mom, you have to see.
Michelle, curious and with a strange discomfort growing in her chest, followed them. At that exact moment, Afonso’s car also entered the mansion’s garden. Afonso got out of the car with firm steps, frowning at the commotion.
He was still adjusting his suit jacket when he saw Hazel open the car door and Luke get out. Upon seeing the boy, Afonso froze. His face paled immediately.
He stood motionless, unable to conceal his shock. Ashton, full of enthusiasm, pointed at Luke and said, Mom, look! He looks just like me. Michelle brought her hand to her mouth, completely speechless.
Penelope, in turn, felt her heart race. His eyes fixed on Luke. Without saying a word, she began to walk toward the boy.
Each step seemed to weigh a ton. She stared intently at that dirty little face, at those blue eyes identical to hers and Ashton’s. When she finally got close, she knelt slowly in front of the boy.
She brought her trembling hand to his face, and at the touch, her eyes filled with tears. Luke also felt his eyes welling up. Without thinking, Penelope hugged him tightly against her chest, feeling the boy’s small, rapid heartbeat.
I knew it, she whispered. Her voice choked with emotion. In that instant, her mind was swept back twelve years.
Pregnant and newly married to Afonso, Penelope vividly remembered the sensation of carrying two beings inside her. She ran her hand over her belly and said, Honey, there are two. I’m sure of it.
Her husband, with that rehearsed smile, replied, We’ll find out tomorrow. She would smile, full of hope. Tomorrow is the ultrasound.
I can’t wait to see our little princes or princesses. They talked for a while longer, and Penelope, full of dreams, asked, When are you going to take me to see your company? We’re married now, and you always make up an excuse. If you hadn’t already taken me on so many trips and to such expensive restaurants, I’d say you were lying.
She laughed, teasing, certain that her husband was the truest man she had ever known. Afonso brushed it off, stating, Soon, my love. Life’s busy, but I promise I’ll show you everything.
She believed every word, suspecting nothing. She left a kiss on her husband’s cheek and went to work. As soon as Penelope left the house, Afonso grabbed his car keys and headed towards a modest apartment, where Michelle was waiting for him.
As he entered, he walked back and forth, running his hands over his head. I’m getting nervous. What if she finds out about everything? Michelle, lying on the sofa, laughed disdainfully.
She will find out, Afonso, sooner or later. And not even two children will save your theater. This time you tried to reel in a fish that was far too big.
You even spent all our money trying to impress Penelope. I just want to see what we’ll do after she exposes you. Afonso stopped and glared at her.
Not if I find a way first. There’s always a way. The man was a born con artist.
His life had always been based on scams. His marriage to Penelope was his most ambitious con yet. He presented himself as a major businessman, used dirty money from other smaller scams to maintain the facade, and now, with the pressure mounting, he needed an even more audacious plan.
And it was in this scenario that the most perverse idea arose in his mind. Sell one of the babies. If there are two, why not sell one? He thought aloud.