Chapter 35
Two years later…
The house was alive with soft laughter and the pitter-patter of tiny feet on the wooden floor. In the living room, toys were scattered — plushies, colorful blocks, and a small pink ball. On the wall, their wedding photo still hung proudly… but beside it now was a new frame: a picture of Celine, Arianne, and their little girl, Caden — big brown eyes, wispy hair tied into two tiny pigtails, and the brightest smile that could light up the whole room.
Celine was lying on the floor in sweats and a t-shirt, arms wide open as Caden ran toward her, her small steps still wobbly.
“Come here, baby fighter!” Celine cheered, catching her little girl in her arms. She laughed as Caden buried her face into her neck.
From the kitchen, Arianne leaned on the doorframe, watching them with the softest smile. Her heart was full.
“Mahal… ang laki na ng baby natin,” she whispered as she walked over and sat beside them.
Celine pressed a kiss on Caden’s cheek.
“She’s our little warrior, mahal. Just like you.”
Arianne placed her hand on their daughter’s back.
“Hindi lang ako… just like you, too. You never gave up on us. That’s why I wanted her to be named Caden... so she’ll always carry that spirit — a fighter. Just like her moms.”
Celine smiled and looked at Arianne, her heart overflowing.
“Naaalala mo pa ba? That night… sa comeback stage? Kung gaano ako kabado? Pero ikaw… you chose me. You stood there and chose me in front of everyone.”
Arianne leaned into her.
“And I’ll choose you in every lifetime.”
Celine pulled both of them close.
“Alam mo, mahal… sometimes I stare at her and still can’t believe we made it through everything. Lahat ng pinagdaanan natin, lahat ng luha, tapos ngayon… ito na tayo. You, me, and our little miracle.”
Caden giggled between them, grabbing both their faces with her tiny hands.
“Mommy!” she squealed.
“Ano yun, baby?” Celine asked, grinning.
Caden pressed a sloppy kiss on Celine’s cheek, then turned to Arianne and did the same.
Arianne chuckled softly, eyes glassy.
“She’s the best part of us.”
Celine nodded.
“I named her Asher if it had been a girl, remember? Because it means blessed… and happy. But you were right… Caden suits her. A fighter. A little warrior with so much joy.”
Arianne placed her palm on their daughter’s chest.
“She carries the story of how we fought… how we chose love… and how love never failed us.”
Celine rested her forehead against Arianne’s.
“Mahal… let’s raise her to know that. That even if the world tells her otherwise, love is always worth fighting for.”
Caden, completely unaware of the depth in her mothers’ conversation, tugged at Celine’s hair and babbled nonsense words.
They both laughed.
And as the sun dipped into the horizon, painting the living room with golden light, the three of them sat there — tangled up in each other’s arms, a picture of imperfect but pure happiness.
In the garden, under the soft glow of the afternoon sun, the little family spent their rare free day together.
Caden was a few meters away, sitting on the grass, busy picking little flowers and humming to herself. She looked up at her moms every now and then, waving her tiny hand, and both Celine and Arianne would enthusiastically wave back like two over-excited fans.
Celine turned to Arianne with a smug grin.
“Alam mo, mahal… I think ako ang mas love ni Caden.”
Arianne raised an eyebrow, playful fire in her eyes.
“Ha? Anong basehan mo diyan?”
Celine pointed confidently.
“Kasi kanina, nung tinawag ko siya, tumakbo siya agad sa akin. Sabi niya ‘Mommyyy!’ tapos yakap agad. Evidence yan.”
Arianne huffed, crossing her arms.
“Excuse me… kaninang umaga, sinong hinanap niya pagkagising? Ako.”
Celine gasped dramatically.
“Of course ikaw talaga! You need to feed her”
Arianne stood up and cupped her hands around her mouth.
“Caden! Baby! Sino mas love mo? Si Mommy Arianne o si Mommy Celine?”
Celine quickly added, “Caden, remember who gives you ice cream! Mommy Celine, diba?”
Caden blinked at them, confused… then giggled. She stood up, her chubby legs wobbling a little, and ran toward them — but halfway, she stopped.
“Uhm… both!” she shouted, throwing her hands in the air.
Both of them gasped in mock betrayal.
“BOTH?!” they said at the same time, then burst into laughter.
Arianne pulled Caden into her lap.
“Ang talino ng anak natin, mahal. Very safe answer.”
Celine hugged both of them.
“Smart, loyal, fighter… perfect combination.”
But Caden wasn’t done yet.
She looked up at both her moms and whispered, “I love you… both… super big.”
That was it.
Celine and Arianne melted right there on the grass.
Caden wiggled out of their embrace, her endless energy still bouncing around.
“Play again!” she declared, running back to her little pile of flowers and twigs, humming happily, twirling in circles like her own little world was perfect.
Celine and Arianne stayed seated on the grass, leaning on each other, watching their little girl with soft smiles on their faces.
Celine rested her chin on Arianne’s shoulder and whispered,
“Mahal… paglaki ni Caden… maraming papaiyaking babae ‘to.”
Arianne gasped, turning to her with playful offense written all over her face.
“Anong babae?! Bata pa lang si Caden, mahal… huwag mo agad didiktahan kung anong gender niya!”
Celine chuckled, loving how protective and mindful Arianne was.
“Okay, okay… pero tignan mo kasi mahal oh…” she pointed toward Caden, who at that very moment was standing with her hands on her hips, eyebrow slightly raised, trying to direct two butterflies like she owned the world.
“Bata pa lang angas na! Mana sa’kin.”
Arianne pinched both of Celine’s cheeks at once, making her pout involuntarily.
“Nako, ikaw talaga… ikaw ang unang papaiyakin niyan pag nagka-boyfriend or girlfriend yan.”
Celine’s eyes widened in horror.
“At sino may sabing papayagan ko siya?!”
Arianne laughed, resting her head on Celine’s shoulder.
“Ganun talaga, mahal… lumalaki ang mga bata. One day, may i-introduce na yan na ‘special friend’.”
Celine groaned dramatically.
“Ay hinde, hanggang mag-college yan tayo lang dapat ang ‘Special’ sa buhay niyan”
Arianne laughed louder.
“Eh sab mo sayo nagmana diba? Edi high school palang poporma na yan, high school mo nga ko nilandi.”
They both turned to look at their daughter again — messy hair, confident stance, eyes shining with curiosity, and a little mischief.
As they continued to watch their daughter play, wrapped in laughter and teasing whispers, the soft afternoon breeze brushed against their faces. The moment felt perfect, as if the world had finally given them the life they fought for.
But then — Ding dong.
The doorbell rang.
Arianne was the first to move.
“Baka delivery lang ‘yun…” she said, already starting to stand.
But Celine gently pulled her back down by the hand.
“Ako na po, mahal. Ikaw na lang muna magpahinga. Buntis ka pa ulit, baka si Caden na ang magasikaso sa’yo kapag lumaki yan.”
Arianne pouted but smiled, placing a soft kiss on Celine’s cheek.
“You spoiled me too much na”
Celine winked.
“Of course, asawa mo ako.”
She stood up, brushed the grass off her clothes, and headed toward the front door.
As she opened it, she blinked in surprise.
Standing there was a young woman — tall, poised, with long silky hair cascading over her shoulders. Her smile was professional yet warm, and her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Good morning, Mrs. Villamor,” the woman greeted politely, her voice smooth and clear. “I’m Aaliyah, a biography writer and director from CBN Network.”