Chapter 1: The Stranger With My Name

Ezra woke up to the sound of footsteps and a quiet tension that filled the room like smoke.

She sat up on the edge of the couch, still dressed in yesterday’s clothes, her duffel bag untouched beside her. The military suite was clean, cold, and almost too quiet.

Captain Joshua V Kwon stood by the window, back straight, mug in his hand—untouched.

He didn’t look at her right away. But he didn’t need to.

She could feel it.

The pull.

Ezra didn’t know him. Not really.

But something about his presence made her chest feel tight, like she was supposed to recognize him.

And when their eyes finally met—it hit.

Déjà vu.

Sharp and overwhelming.

Her pulse jumped. His expression shifted—barely—but enough to prove he felt it too.

> “You feel familiar,” he said.

Ezra nodded slowly.

> “It’s not normal. But it feels real.”

They stared at each other for a few long seconds. The air between them got heavier. Neither spoke, but neither looked away.

> “I wasn’t supposed to be here today,” Joshua muttered. “But the second I saw you yesterday… I couldn’t walk away.”

Ezra didn’t answer.

Because part of her had felt the same.

She didn’t marry him for love. She didn’t even think it through.

She just wanted out.

But this—whatever this was—felt real in a way that scared her.

Joshua stepped forward.

> “I didn’t tell you everything.”

Ezra stayed quiet.

> “I have twin sons. They’re two years old. Born through surrogacy. I raise them alone.”

Her breath caught—but not from shock. From something else.

> “They both have a unibrow. Just like yours.”

Ezra blinked, stunned.

> “What?”

> “Not similar. The same shape. Same thickness. And yesterday, the way you frowned—it’s exactly like one of them. I’ve never seen it in anyone else.”

Ezra’s heart pounded. Her chest ached suddenly.

She took a step back, pressing her palm against her chest.

> “Why… why does that hurt?”

Joshua didn’t move.

> “I don’t know.”

Ezra looked at him, and her voice dropped.

> “I feel like I already care about them. Like they’re mine. I’ve never met them.”

Joshua stared at her like he didn’t trust what was happening in front of him either.

Then—without a word—he pulled out his walkie and clicked it.

> “Bring the twins in. Now.”

Ezra’s eyes widened.

> “What? Why?”

> “You said you felt something. Let’s see if it’s real.”

Five minutes later, there was a knock.

The door opened. The butler walked in, holding two small hands—one on each side.

Joshia and Jeshua.

Golden skin. Dark fluffy curls. Big almond eyes. And the unibrows.

Ezra’s chest twisted on sight.

The boys looked around the room, calm and alert. Joshia scanned the space like he was guarding something. Jeshua looked directly at Ezra.

Then—without hesitation—both twins let go of the butler’s hands and walked toward her.

Jeshua reached her first.

He touched the edge of her pants and looked up.

> “Mamma,” he said softly.

Ezra froze.

> “What… did you just say?”

Joshia stepped in next. He didn’t speak, but his hand reached for hers, gripping two of her fingers tightly.

> “Mamma,” Jeshua repeated, hugging her leg now.

Ezra dropped to her knees, arms trembling.

She didn’t plan it.

She didn’t think.

She just opened her arms.

Jeshua climbed in.

Joshia leaned forward, rested against her shoulder.

Ezra wrapped both of them into her chest and held on like her heart depended on it.

And maybe… it did.

Tears slid silently down her cheeks.

Joshua watched, frozen.

These boys had never called anyone Mamma. Not even their nanny. They usually avoided strangers.

But now, in this moment, both were calm. Attached. Like they knew her already.

Ezra looked up at him, crying—but not out of sadness.

> “Why do they know me?”

Joshua had no answer.

But he felt it too.

Whatever this was—marriage, fate, accident—it wasn’t random.

And now?

They weren’t strangers anymore.

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