The system declared that I had fulfilled my mission. I could return to my original world, healthy, whole, alive.
But I hesitated.
Somewhere along the way, I had fallen in love with Hugo. The thought of leaving him shattered me more than the illness that once consumed me.
In the end, I chose to stay.
For a time, life was sweet. We were deeply in love, inseparable.
When Jasper was born, our little family felt complete.
Hugo was the perfect husband; he handed over all his assets without hesitation, planned romantic surprises to see me smile, and left work early to cook by my side. When I was wheeled into surgery for a C-section, he wept uncontrollably, unable to bear seeing me in pain.
Jasper was just as extraordinary. Even as a child, he was mature beyond his years, a prodigy in every sense. He excelled in Go, programming, and music theory and collected awards like they were mere stepping stones beneath his feet.
But more than anything, father and son adored me. Cherished me. Made me feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
Then, Ava returned.