One year later, the early morning sun sparkled off the Pacific as the Li family assembled atop the cliff where their journey had nearly ended. A young cedar sapling, planted one spring past, stretched green tendrils toward the sky. Lynn cradled Kai on one hip and held Milo's hand; Lucian stood beside her, a wicker basket at his feet containing memories of the year they'd built together.
Lynn knelt by the sapling. “This tree has grown stronger every day—just like us." She laid down three items in the basket: the original annulment papers voided forever, the sapphire constellation pin she'd once dropped in the fountain, and a tiny seashell necklace Milo had made for his brother. Kai reached up to place a dragon plush beside them—Milo's gift to symbolize courage.
Lucian opened a small metal
