As she lay back, absorbing the news, the door creaked open again. To her surprise, it was Daniel. His face was a cocktail of emotions—concern, confusion, perhaps even regret.

“Emma,” he said softly, stepping closer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t… I mean, I should have believed you.”

Emma looked at him, remembering the love they once shared, now buried under years of disappointment and miscommunication. She took a deep breath. “Daniel, I’m not the enemy here. I never was.”

He nodded, looking away for a moment. “I know. It’s just… everything got so messed up.”

They sat in silence, the weight of their past hanging between them. Finally, Daniel spoke again. “Mom’s outside. She’s been a wreck since it happened. Can she come in?”

Emma hesitated. The hurt from Irene’s actions was fresh, and the memory of being shoved into the pool still stung. But she nodded. “Okay. Let’s clear the air.”

Irene entered, her usual commanding presence subdued. Her eyes were red, and she seemed smaller, almost fragile. “Emma,” she started, her voice shaking. “I’m so sorry. I—I don’t know what came over me.”

Emma studied her mother-in-law, the woman who had been both a thorn and a guide in her life. “Irene, I’ve never lied to you. All I ever wanted was a family with your son.”

Irene nodded, tears spilling over. “I see that now. I was wrong, and I’m sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”

Emma took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past decade lift slightly. “I think we all need a fresh start. For the babies’ sake, we should try.”

The tension in the room eased, a tentative truce forming. Daniel sat by Emma’s side, a hand gently on her shoulder. “We’ll figure this out,” he promised.

Emma nodded, hope sparking within her. They had a long road ahead, but she wasn’t alone. She had Daniel, the father of her children, and even Irene, who seemed ready to embrace a new chapter.

As she lay back, exhaustion pulling her eyes closed, Emma felt a sense of peace. For the first time in years, the future didn’t seem so daunting. It seemed bright, full of love and possibilities—just as she’d always dreamed.