chapter 51

Justin sat at the breakfast table, stirring his cereal absentmindedly. Amaira, sipping her coffee, glanced at him.“You seem quiet today,” she observed.Justin hesitated before putting down his spoon. “Mom, can I go out for a bit?”Amaira raised an eyebrow. “Out? Where?”“Just around the city,” he said casually, avoiding eye contact. “I want to see London properly before we leave.”Amaira exhaled, glancing at the time. “It’s still early… but I don’t want you wandering alone.”“I won’t be alone,” Justin quickly said. “I—I made a friend here yesterday, and he offered to show me around.”Amaira’s protective instincts kicked in immediately. “Who is this friend? Do I know them?”Justin shook his head, forcing a sheepish smile. “No, just someone I met. He’s really nice, though!”Amaira sighed. “I don’t know, Justin—”“Please, Mom?” He gave her his best puppy eyes, the same ones that usually melted her resolve. “I’ll stay safe. I promise.”She stared at him for a long moment before sighing. “Fine. But be back by lunch.”Justin grinned. “Thanks, Mom! You’re the best.”***Nicolo sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone while Alex stood nearby, fidgeting.Alex cleared his throat. “Um, Dad?”Nicolo looked up. “Hmm?”“I was thinking…” Alex started hesitantly. “Since it’s our last day here, can I go out for a bit?”Nicolo frowned. “Out? Where?”Alex shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. “Just around the area. I wanted to explore.”Nicolo set his phone down. “I can send a guard with you.”“No!” Alex blurted out too quickly. Then, realizing how suspicious that sounded, he quickly added, “I mean, I want to go alone. Just to feel a little independent.”Nicolo studied him for a moment, his sharp gaze making Alex squirm.Then, to his surprise, Nicolo smirked. “You remind me of myself at your age.”Alex blinked. “So… does that mean yes?”Nicolo sighed, rubbing his temple. “Fine. But don’t get into trouble.”Alex grinned. “I won’t! Thanks, Dad!”Nicolo waved him off. “Be back in a few hours.”Alex nodded and quickly left before his father could change his mind.With their excuses in place, both boys made their way to the café, unaware that the biggest shock of their lives awaited them.***Alex’s hands clenched into fists as he stared at Justin. His mind was spinning. He had always known he had a twin. His mother had told him. But now, seeing Justin sitting right before him, it wasn’t just a story anymore.It was real.His twin brother was real.“Justin,” Alex breathed, feeling his throat tighten, “you’re my brother… my twin.”Justin, however, looked conflicted. His brows furrowed, and he shook his head. “I… I don’t know.” His voice was hesitant. “I have a father. A real father.”Alex’s heart pounded. He leaned forward. “And your mother? Do you really think she’s your real mother?”Justin opened his mouth, then closed it. Something flickered in his eyes. He had never questioned it before. But now…He hesitated, and then, for the first time, he admitted something he had never said out loud. “I don’t… like her.”Alex was taken aback. “What?”Justin exhaled shakily. “Selena. She’s supposed to be my mother, but she doesn’t feel like one. She acts like she cares, but I can tell she doesn’t. It’s fake.” He hesitated, his mind going back to last night. The warmth, the care, the love… “But the woman I was with last night… she felt real.”Something clicked in Alex’s mind. His eyes widened as he realized what Justin was saying.They had switched places.“You were with my mom,” Alex whispered in shock.Justin looked just as stunned. “And you… you were with my dad.”A deep silence filled the space between them. The weight of the truth was suffocating.They had been searching for each other without even knowing it.Alex’s breath hitched as the truth hit him like a storm. If he and Justin were twins… and Justin’s father was Nicolo… then that meant—His father wasn’t dead.His mother had lied.His hands trembled under the table. His entire life, he had believed that his father was gone, that he had no choice but to grow up with just his mother. But now… now he was sitting across from his twin brother, who had been living with their father all along.Alex clenched his fists. “She lied to me,” he murmured, more to himself than to Justin. “She told me he was gone.”Justin frowned. “Who?”Alex looked up, his face pale. “My mom. She told me my father was dead.” He swallowed hard. “But if you’re my twin… and if Nicolo is your father…” His voice shook. “Then he’s my father too.”Justin’s eyes widened as he processed Alex’s words. “Wait… so that means…” He trailed off, stunned.Neither of them spoke for a moment.Alex’s mind raced. Why would his mother lie? Had she been hiding him from Nicolo all this time? Did Nicolo even know he existed? He had to find out.But first… what was he going to do now?Silence hung between the twins as they stared at each other, their minds reeling from the truth.Justin was the first to speak. “Something’s not right,” he said slowly, his young mind trying to make sense of it all. “If your mom told you that your dad was dead… and my dad never knew I had a brother… then maybe—”“There’s a misunderstanding,” Alex finished, his eyes narrowing in thought.Justin nodded. “What if they were separated for some reason? What if they still care about each other but something went wrong?”Alex leaned in. “Then we need to fix it.”Justin blinked. “Fix it?”Alex grinned, excitement flashing in his eyes. “If we bring them back together, we can stay together forever. No more being apart, no more lies.”Justin hesitated. “But… my dad thinks Selena is my mom.”Alex crossed his arms. “Are you sure? Or did someone tell him something that made him believe that?”Justin thought about it. His father never spoke much about his mother, but whenever Selena was around, she always tried to act like his mom. What if she had something to do with it?“What do we do?” Justin asked.Alex smirked. “We make them meet. And we make them realize they still care.”Justin’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. “Like a mission?”Alex grinned. “Exactly. Mission: Get Mom and Dad Back Together"