03/25/2026
The rain was merciless that night.
It slammed against the windshield like bullets, lightning tearing the sky apart every few seconds. Ethan Cole could barely keep his eyes open. Fourteen hours of work, two jobs, and still… it never felt like enough.
But none of that mattered right now.
All he wanted was to get home to his daughter.
Alice.
Three days.
That’s all he had left before a judge would decide if he was worthy of keeping her… or losing her forever.
His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
“I’m not losing her…” he whispered to himself.
Then suddenly—
Through the storm, he saw them.
Two figures.
Standing on the side of the empty rural road.
As he got closer, he realized… twin girls. Identical. Beautiful. Drenched in rain, standing beside a sleek black luxury car with its hood slightly open.
One of them waved desperately.
“No one is stopping!” she shouted, her voice nearly lost in the thunder.
Ethan slowed down.
He shouldn’t.
He had enough problems. Enough pressure. Enough at stake.
But something about their faces… that helpless look…
It reminded him of Alice.
And without thinking—
He pulled over.
Water splashed under his tires as his old car came to a stop behind their expensive one.
“What are you doing, Ethan…” he muttered.
Too late.
He was already stepping out into the storm.
Rain soaked through his clothes instantly as he walked toward them.
“Car trouble?” he called out.
The girls looked up at him—relief washing over their faces.
“It just died…” one of them said, shivering.
“We’ve been here for almost an hour… no one stopped.”
“Until you…” the other added quietly.
Ethan gave a small nod and walked toward the hood.
“Let me take a look.”
It didn’t take long.
Battery issue. Simple. But not something they could fix in this storm.
“You’re not going anywhere tonight,” he said. “Not without help.”
The girls exchanged worried glances.
Then one of them hesitated.
“We could call our father… but… he’s always busy.”
Ethan paused for a second.
He knew that tone.
Too well.
“Look,” he said, “I can give you a ride. There’s a hotel not far from here.”
Their eyes widened.
“You’d do that?” one asked.
Ethan shrugged.
“Can’t leave you out here.”
A few minutes later, they were inside his old car. Rain tapping loudly against the windows as he drove.
“I’m Sophie,” the girl in the front seat said softly.
“And I’m Maya,” the other added from the back.
“Ethan,” he replied, focused on the road.
There was a brief silence.
Then—
“Why did you stop?” Maya asked quietly.
Ethan didn’t answer right away.
Finally, he said—
“I have a daughter… she’s six. If she was out here… scared… I’d hope someone would stop for her.”
The car fell silent.
“What’s her name?” Sophie asked gently.
“Alice.”
“That’s beautiful…” she said.
Then, after a pause—
“Do you… get to see her often?”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Every chance I get…” he said.
“…which might not be for much longer.”
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Both girls leaned forward slightly.
“What do you mean?” Maya asked.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
“Her mother is trying to take her away. Says I’m not good enough. Not rich enough. We go to court in 3 days.”
The twins exchanged a glance.
“That’s… horrible,” Sophie whispered.
Ethan let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
“I’m doing everything I can… but sometimes it feels like it’s not enough.”
Silence again.
Then—
Maya leaned forward.
“Our father is like that too,” she said.
“Always working… always busy…”
Ethan gave a faint smile.
“Yeah… sounds familiar.”
But then—
Sophie and Maya looked at each other again.
This time… different.
Serious.
Almost shocked.
Sophie slowly turned toward Ethan.
Her voice dropped.
“…Our father…”
Ethan glanced at her briefly.
“…is a judge.”
A flash of lightning filled the car.
Ethan’s hands tightened on the wheel.
“Our father…” Maya continued quietly…
“…is the one deciding your case.”
—
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Read Part 2
