Everyone's two-week break was over, meaning it was time for work and school again. However, Loana was video-chatting with her boss, Pax Wan of the Daily Ago, Krypton's only news outlet. He'd been considerate enough to give his star journalist another two weeks off after a family emergency.
It had been a genuine crisis—when your long-lost twin sister, whom you hadn't seen or heard from in twenty years, showed up out of the blue in a disorderly state. And she was still behaving like a moody teenager.
Loana was still angry with Vynara. Her younger twin sister had vanished like a thief in the night. The uncertainty of whether she was alive or dead had cut through their family, leaving wounds that hadn't healed, no matter how many years had passed.
The sisters were trying to rebuild their relationship but were still far from closing the scars. And there was one person Vynara wasn't yet ready to face—their mother, Artemisa, one of the most renowned socialites on Krypton.
But the fact remained: if the Volnero household was going to heal, Vynara would have to face their mother. The 34-year-old woman looked like a troubled teenager, still afraid of being grounded.
Vynara had just finished cleaning up in the master bath, using Loana's permission to borrow her robe. "So now that I'm clean, is there anything else I've got to do?" she asked, her tone edged with irritation.
"Well, we need to finish getting you cleaned up," Loana said, gesturing to the velvety lavender dress with silver accents hanging on the bed. "Valara spent last night sewing this charming dress for you. Hope you like it."
Vynara was surprised her niece had even bothered to make something for her. She'd been gone for twenty years, and Valara was sixteen, born when Loana was 18 or 19. She couldn't even remember her niece's birthday, let alone her nephew Van's.
"Valara's a remarkably kind-hearted girl who loves her family," Loana continued. "It's simpler than her usual designs, but she wanted you to feel comfortable when we get to Mother's villa. So, for now, let's finish tidying you up."
"I'm not letting you doll me up, Lo! I'm not some toy you can dress up and play with," Vynara snapped.
"Relax, Vyn," Loana teased, a grin tugging at her lips. "I'm just trying to tame your hair. No complete makeover, I promise."
Vynara rolled her eyes but sat down at the vanity, allowing Loana to begin the tricky task of taming her tangled violet hair.
Loana worked carefully, her hands gentle but persistent as she smoothed through the stubborn tangles. "I'm not trying to make you look like one of Mother's society friends," she muttered, hoping to lighten the mood.
Vynara's shoulders relaxed a bit as she glanced at the dress again. The lavender shimmered in the light, and a strange warmth flickered inside her. It was a small thing, but the fact that Valara had spent the night stitching it together meant something. It felt… unexpected. The defiance in Vynara's gaze softened just a little.
"Valara really made that?" she asked, her voice softer than before.
Loana smiled, catching the change in her sister. "She did. She's talented—she takes after our mother's sense of style but with her own fresh twist. She wanted you to feel comfortable. It's… well, her way of saying she cares."
"She's also a gifted musician and singer," Loana added proudly. "I think you've got some of that in you. People call you tone-deaf, but you've just got your own special spin on it."
"Mom knew me well enough to make even my musical bedroom lock hard to crack," Vynara murmured, her voice quieter now. She looked in the mirror as if seeing herself through her family's eyes for the first time in years. The reflection was different—no longer just a rebellious girl, but a woman who had been through more than she let on.
"I still don't know what I'll say to her… to Mother," Vynara admitted quietly. "After all this time, there are no words for what I put her through."
"You don't have to say everything, Vynara," Loana replied softly, finishing the braid in her sister's hair. "But showing up like this—looking like you care—it's a start. Mother's not expecting perfection. She just wants her daughter back."
When they finished, Vynara glanced at herself in the mirror. For a fleeting moment, she saw the girl she used to be, hidden beneath the defiance. The lavender dress was simple but unique, and she saw the love behind it for the first time in years. She didn't have to be perfect. Maybe, just maybe, she could start rebuilding.
"Let's get going, then," Vynara said quietly. "Might as well start this journey back home."
As they packed their bags, Loana caught her sister's eye. A flicker of hope sparked inside her, something she hadn't dared feel in a long time. Maybe this was the beginning of something new. Perhaps it wasn't too late.
The seven-hour shuttle journey to their mother's villa felt heavy, and their stomachs filled with nerves. The sisters passed the time with stories—Loana did most of the talking. Vynara wasn't ready to open up about her past just yet.
As the shuttle descended, Vynara kept her eyes on her hands, lost in thought. Loana knew she was mentally preparing herself, searching for the right words to speak to their mother.
Loana glanced at her sister, her voice quiet. "Whatever happens, just know you're not doing this alone. I'm here, no matter what. We're family."
Vynara didn't respond right away. She gave a slight nod, her eyes clouded with emotions too complicated to put into words. As they climbed into the hover taxi, the silence between them felt comforting, like they were finally at the edge of something that might heal.
The grand doors of Villa Montmirail opened, and the sisters stepped inside. The familiar scent of lavender and expensive perfume hung in the air, a constant reminder of their mother's presence. The soft melody of classical music drifted from the grand dining room, where Artemisa was no doubt preparing for another evening alone.
Then, she turned. Her sharp violet eyes—like Loana's—fixed on them. The years that had kept them apart seemed to vanish. Her expression shifted from confusion to disbelief before softening into something gentler—but only for a moment.
"Vynara?" Artemisa's voice was soft, the name strange in the quiet space between them. Her gaze moved from Loana to Vynara, trying to read the daughter who had been lost for so long. The grief, the anger—everything Artemisa had buried deep inside her rushed forward.
Vynara's defiance remained, but something was different now, something uncertain beneath it.
"Hello, Mother," Vynara said, her voice calm but not as harsh as it could have been. She glanced at Loana, her voice faltering just slightly. "I've… come home."
Artemisa stood there for a long moment, her arms crossed over her chest as she sized up the daughter who once had been carefree and wild. Vynara still wore that same defiance in her posture, but there was something else—something softer. Artemisa narrowed her eyes, her voice low but sharp. "After all these years, and you think you can just walk back into my life?" she said.
Vynara flinched but held her ground. "You left me no choice," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "I didn't owe you an explanation, but I'm here now. Can't we just—"
Before she could finish, Artemisa crossed the room in three quick strides, her heels clicking against the marble. The tension between them was thick—heavy with years of unspoken hurt.
Then, suddenly, Artemisa wrapped her arms around her daughter, pulling her into an embrace. Vynara stood stiff at first, unsure how to react, but something cracked inside her. She gave a soft sigh, and slowly, she returned the hug.
"I've missed you so much," Artemisa whispered, her voice trembling.
Vynara couldn't find the words. She simply nodded, overwhelmed by emotions she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years.
When they finally pulled apart, Artemisa wiped her eyes. "You've hurt me, Vynara. But you're my daughter. And I'm glad you're here." Her voice softened, and the anger melted into something else—something raw. "Now, let's begin again."
For the first time in years, Vynara felt the weight of her own heart lift. Maybe it was time to finally heal.