Jake Wilson stood outside his house, staring at the warm glow of the lights inside. Laughter and conversation carried through the walls, the sounds of a family celebration. His family. His wife's family. His teammates.
And yet, the truth weighed on him.
No one inside knew who he really was.
Not Emma, his wife. Not Richard, his father. Not even the players who trusted him with their careers.
Only he knew that he wasn't Jake Wilson.
He took a breath, steeling himself, then stepped inside.
The Celebration – A Party for Baby Ariel
The house was alive with energy. Family members moved between the rooms, chatting over drinks, laughing as they passed around tiny baby gifts for Ariel. Balloons with "Welcome, Ariel!" in soft pink and white floated near the ceiling, and a small cake sat on the kitchen counter, untouched for now.
Jake caught sight of Emma, holding their newborn daughter, beaming as she spoke with guests.
His wife. His child.
