The Vale couple, along with their three sons, arrived at the station nearly half a day early.
They came in a convoy of luxury cars—their attire, their posture, the quiet nobility in every gesture—
all of it clashed sharply with the worn tiles and bustling noise of the public station.
Their presence drew countless glances.
People whispered as they passed, unable to ignore the striking contrast.
In the midst of the murmurs, every member of the Vale family stood tense and uneasy, hearts twisted with guilt and regret.
Because Serena was arriving on an old, slow train—
the kind used by people with nowhere else to go.
If she grew up in an orphanage for so many years…
she must have suffered more than they could ever imagine.
She should have been their cherished daughter—
the gem of the Vale Dynasty,
raised with every luxury,
able to command the winds in Velencia City with a single wish.
Instead, because of their failure, she had suffered alone.
Fortunately… their lost treasure had been found again.
There was still time to make it right.
The half-day wait felt endless.
Galen Vale, the patriarch, couldn't quiet the anxiety twisting in his chest.
The file contained no photograph;
they had no idea what their daughter looked like now—
or whether they would even recognize her at first glance.
But then he looked at his sons and exhaled a little.
Three tall men in immaculate suits, radiating aristocratic presence like walking beacons—
with that lineup standing in the middle of a public station,
their sister should have no trouble spotting them.
And if their daughter had been able to find them,
then she certainly must have had their photographs in hand.
Lila Harrington-Vale, the matriarch, was just as anxious.
She clutched her husband's hand tightly.
"Galen… what do you think she's like?
What kind of temperament does she have?
Do you think she might… dislike us?"
She had imagined their reunion a thousand times,
prepared herself in every way she could—
yet the fear lingered,
the fear that Serena might hold resentment in her heart.
Galen gently patted the back of her hand, his voice steady.
"She won't. Blood ties don't fade. A mother and daughter are connected no matter the years between them. The fact that she chose to come back means she's giving us the chance to make things right… to make up for the nineteen years we weren't there."
"…All right."
Lila finally allowed herself to breathe, just a little.
Minute by minute, the time slipped away.
Serena Vale would be arriving any moment now.
The train ride had been crowded and noisy, but thankfully uneventful. Nothing went wrong. Nothing drew attention.
And the moment she stepped out of the station gates,
she immediately spotted them.
The Vale family stood out like a beacon in the sea of travelers—
five impeccably dressed figures,
their faces taut with anticipation, anxiety, and hope so raw it stunned her for a heartbeat.
Serena paused.
Just… stared at them from afar.
For the first time, she found herself unsure of how to walk forward.
How to greet them.
How to begin something she'd never experienced before.
How strange.
She, who had never once wavered in the face of slaughter—
was actually nervous.
Perhaps it was the pull of blood ties,
but the Vale family found her just as quickly.
Lila Harrington-Vale whispered under her breath,
"That must be her… our daughter. Yes… it has to be."
Seeing that they had already noticed her,
Serena stepped forward, closing the distance with quick, measured strides.
"Hello," she said, voice calm—neither warm nor cold.
"I'm your daughter… Serena Vale."
By now, she had suppressed every trace of her usual presence,
appearing no different from any ordinary girl.
She didn't call them Mom or Dad.
Partly because she wasn't used to it—
and partly because she wasn't sure
whether they would truly accept her.
The girl before them was small and delicate,
dressed in plain, worn clothing—
yet her features were astonishingly beautiful,
as if she carried the best traits of every member of the Vale family.
No makeup,
and still breathtaking.
Her glass-like eyes shimmered softly under the station lights,
her lips pressed together as though she were quietly hoping for something…
or someone.
The first impression was undeniable:
utterly gentle.
Utterly fragile.
A child who made the heart ache at a single glance.
The moment Lila Harrington-Vale saw her,
her tears broke free.
All the opening lines she had rehearsed a thousand times
scattered uselessly the second emotion surged up her throat.
With a trembling cry,
Lila surged forward and pulled Serena into her arms,
clutching her as though afraid she might vanish again.
"My daughter… my baby…
Mom finally found you!"
It was the first time Serena Vale had ever been held like this.
This warmth—this trembling, desperate embrace—
this was a mother's love.
Something inside her softened instantly.
Melted.
She allowed Lila Harrington-Vale to hold her for a long, quiet moment.
Then Serena slowly lifted a hand and patted her mother's back,
her voice gentle, almost whisper-soft.
"Mom… don't cry.
I'm home now."
Only then did Lila finally loosen her arms—
though she refused to let go of Serena's hand for even a second.
Hearing her daughter call her Mom shattered what little composure she had left.
"Y-yes… yes…
you're home… you're really home…"
Serena studied Lila Harrington-Vale carefully.
They shared traces of resemblance—five points out of ten, perhaps.
And despite being in her forties, Lila was still elegant, still radiant, still carrying that graceful maturity time couldn't dim.
"Welcome home, sweetheart."
Even Galen Vale, usually stern and composed, couldn't hold back his tears.
He stepped forward, clearly hoping—just a little—to hear his daughter call him too.
"Dad."
Serena spoke the word softly, politely, with a hint of shyness.
But inside, her chest felt light.
Warm.
She had been accepted so quickly.
So easily.
Her family…
seemed truly, genuinely good.
"Yes… yes, good… good."
Galen Vale looked at his obedient daughter with deep satisfaction—
yet the sight also ached in his chest.
She didn't need to be this well-behaved.
Not with them.
Not after everything she'd endured.
Once she came home, she could be spoiled, arrogant, unreasonable if she wished.
If she ever caused chaos,
her three older brothers would gladly hold up the sky for her.
And right on cue, the Vale brothers stepped forward to claim their presence.
The eldest, Elias Vale, stood perfectly straight—posture sharp, aura solemn, as if conducting a formal ceremony.
"Little sister," he said, voice steady,
"I'm your eldest brother.
Welcome home."
The second brother, Cyril Vale, removed his mask and offered her a gentle, warm smile—soft enough to melt anyone on sight.
"Little sister," he said,
"I'm your second brother.
Welcome home."
And lastly, the third brother—
Lucien Vale.
More energetic than his two elder brothers, he bounced a step closer, eyes bright with excitement.
"Little sister! And me—don't forget me!"
He grinned, radiating warm, playful energy.
"I'm your third brother.
Welcome home!"