I became a surrogate for my twin brother—but when he held his newborn daughter for the first time, his face went pale, and he whispered, “I can’t take her home.” Then he told us to look at her back… and the truth that came out days later left me shaking

me up when Gabriel’s father left.

The man who had always told me that family meant you didn’t run when things became difficult.

And now he had done exactly that.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel toward you right now,” I admitted.

Ryan’s eyes filled.

“Neither do I.”

“I love you.”

He nodded.

“But I’m furious with you.”

“I know.”

“No. Stop saying that as though knowing makes it better.”

He lowered his eyes.

I took a slow breath.

“After Mom and Dad died, I spent years trying to hold onto whatever family we had left. When you asked me to carry your child, part of me thought maybe this was a way to bring something good into all that loss.”

My voice shook.

“I carried your daughter for months, Ryan. I changed my life. I went through pregnancy again because I trusted you. Because I believed I