he room was quiet, save for the soft sound of the twins' breathing as they slept soundly in the bed. Isa stood by the window, watching the lights of the city flicker in the distance, her mind racing with everything that had happened in the past few hours. The unexpected help from Jey, the unspoken apology in his actions, the way he'd stepped up to care for Sofia and Mateo-it had all thrown her off balance in a way she hadn't expected.

She turned, her eyes catching Jey as he sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently brushing through Sofia's hair. It was a small, tender moment, and it hit Isa harder than she expected. He hadn't been this present in years, hadn't shown any interest in being the father the twins deserved. Yet tonight, it was as if something had shifted in him.

Jey noticed Isa's gaze, his eyes meeting hers. He gave a small, almost shy smile, one that was rare these days. "They're good kids, Isa," he repeated, his voice quieter now, the weight of the day heavy in the air between them.

Isa nodded, walking over and sitting on the other side of the bed, her gaze lingering on the twins. They were the only thing that mattered right now, the only thing that made this complicated world make any sense. The fact that Jey was here-here with them, spending the night, looking after them-was something she never expected.

"I know," she replied softly. "They're everything."

She could feel the tension in her chest, the war between her emotions. A part of her wanted to be angry, to shout at him for the years of absence, for the times he chose his own comfort over his children. But then there was this moment-this small, fragile bridge he was building by simply being present-and she couldn't bring herself to destroy it.

After a few moments of silence, Jey spoke again, his voice low. "I... I'm sorry, Isa. For everything. For not being here for you when you needed me. For not being there for them. I don't know what came over me."

Isa turned to him, her expression soft but unreadable. It was hard to know how to respond to an apology that came so late, but that didn't mean she didn't hear the sincerity in his voice.

"I don't need an apology, Jey," Isa said quietly. "I need you to stay. I need you to show up. Not just tonight, but every day. For them." Her gaze dropped to the twins, her heart swelling with the love she felt for them. "They deserve more than just someone who's here when it's convenient."

Jey swallowed hard, his eyes moving from Isa to the kids. He was quiet for a long moment, and when he spoke again, there was a new resolve in his voice. "I'll do better, Isa. I don't expect you to forgive me overnight. But I'm not going anywhere this time. I'll be here."

Isa took a deep breath, the weight of his words settling over her. She wasn't sure if she could believe him fully just yet, but for the first time in a long time, she saw the possibility of change. A real change. Not just for her and Jey, but for Sofia and Mateo. They deserved a father who was present, one who wasn't just a name in the background, one who showed up when it mattered.

With a soft sigh, Isa leaned back against the headboard, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. The exhaustion from the day weighed on her, and for once, she allowed herself to sink into the feeling of relief-relief that Jey was here, relief that she didn't have to carry the weight of it all on her own anymore.

Jey, sensing the quiet peace that had settled over the room, stood and walked toward the small couch in the corner of the room. He glanced back at Isa, unsure, before finally sitting down. "You need anything?" he asked softly.

Isa opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "No. Just... stay. With them. Stay for now."

And he did.

The rest of the night passed quietly. Jey stayed awake for a little while longer, watching over Sofia and Mateo, making sure they were comfortable. His presence was almost surreal to Isa-this was the man she had once loved, the man she had once built a life with. In some ways, it felt like no time had passed. In others, it felt like an eternity.

Eventually, Jey settled into the couch, his back resting against the cushions as he drifted into sleep. Isa didn't sleep, though. She sat by the window, staring out at the city lights, wondering what the future held for them. It was impossible to know what would happen between them, but in this moment, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time-hope.

As the hours passed, Isa finally let herself drift off to sleep. Her last thought before closing her eyes was simple: She wasn't alone anymore.

And maybe, just maybe, they could start over.