Chapter 308

Chapter 308
Sia POV:
The house felt unusually quiet that evening.
Not scary… but waiting.
I sat on the couch, hugging the fuzzy blanket Serene wrapped around me earlier. The lights in the living room glowed soft and warm, but my little hands kept twisting the edges of the blanket as my mind spun with questions.
Reid and Luna were upstairs doing homework. Mira and Serene sat with me, one on each side, staying close like warm shields.
I finally looked up at them.
“Where is Damian…?” I whispered. “And Reid… and Luna? Why did they leave?”
Mira exchanged a look with Serene—one of those grown-up looks that meant they’re trying not to worry me.
Serene gave me a soft smile. “Your dad is just… making sure nobody touches his beautiful and handsome angels ever again.”
Mira nodded firmly. “Yes, baby. Your dad is the strongest man I know. He’s being a real hero right now.”
My fingers tightened around the blanket.
“Is it… all because of me?” I asked quietly. “Because those men were looking for me… did I make trouble?”
Serene’s smile fell. She scooped me into her arms so gently I barely felt the movement.
“No, sweetheart,” she whispered into my hair. “This is not your fault. Not even a little.”
Mira rubbed my back slowly. “You didn’t bring trouble. Trouble came looking for what never belonged to it.”
Serene lifted my chin so my eyes met hers.
“We are doing our duty to protect you,” she said softly. “Plus… we failed you.”
Her voice cracked.
“We left you alone to suffer in this cruel world.”
My chest tightened at her shaking voice. I shook my head quickly.
“It wasn’t your fault,” I said. “I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know where I belonged.”
Serene blinked fast—her eyes shiny. Mira looked away for a moment, wiping the corner of her eye.
I hesitated… then whispered another question.
“Serene… did you know my mom? Layla?”
Serene inhaled sharply, then nodded slowly. “A little, sweetheart. She was… quiet. Kind. Scared sometimes. But she loved you.”
I looked down at my small hands.
A tear slipped onto my fingers before I even felt it fall.
“She wasn’t the best mom,” I said softly, “but she loved me. I know she did.”
My voice trembled. “I think she’s in heaven… in a good resting place. But…”
A tiny sob slipped out.
“I miss her sometimes.”
Mira turned her face away, wiping another tear.
Serene couldn’t hide hers—one fell straight down her cheek before she could catch it.
“Oh, my poor little girl…” Serene whispered, pulling me closer. She cupped my cheeks carefully, wiping the tears I didn’t even notice I was shedding. “You didn’t deserve any of this.”
My chest felt warm… like something heavy was melting away.
Then Serene said the words that made my breath stop:
“If you don’t mind… I can be your mummy.”
Her voice shook, but she smiled through it.
“We can start all over again. When your dad finishes fighting the bad guys… we start new. Together.”
I stared at her.
Hard.
Trying to see if she meant it.
If she was joking.
If she would change her mind.
Her eyes stayed soft—warm—real.
“Really?” I whispered, voice tiny.
Serene nodded slowly. “Really, sweetheart.”
My heart made a funny jump.
Then another.
My lips shook.
“You want… me?” I asked.
Serene hugged me tight. “More than you know.”
Mira sniffed loudly. “Move over, I’m the cool aunt. That position is MINE.”
I giggled—just a little. It came out shaky, but it was real. Mira grinned and wiped her eyes fast like she wasn’t crying.
That was when Reid and Luna came running downstairs.
“WHAT ARE WE MISSING!?” Luna shouted dramatically.
Reid squinted at me. “Why are you crying? Did Mira bully you?”
“I DID NOT!” Mira yelled.
Serene rolled her eyes, pulling them closer. “Come here, both of you.”
Reid and Luna squeezed into the hug, arms wrapping around me. I was squished between all of them—warm, safe, surrounded.
Reid looked at me curiously.
“Are you gonna stay with us forever now?” he asked.
I nodded, wiping my nose. “Yes.”
Luna gasped dramatically. “Does that mean Serene is like your mommy now?”
I looked up at Serene.
She smiled and nodded.
Reid’s eyes widened. “So we’re… real siblings?”
My heart fluttered.
“Yes,” I said softly.
Luna squealed. “WE HAVE A SISTER! AGAIN!”
Reid hugged me harder—gentler than before. “Don’t cry. Daddy will fix everything. Nobody will touch you.”
Surrounded by tiny arms and big promises, something inside me healed in a way I didn’t know was broken.
And for the first time in my life…
…I felt like I had a family.
A real one.