INTIMACY

"Mom! Mom! We got in! We got in!"

I was in the kitchen preparing dinner when the excited shouts of my sons echoed from the study.

"Mom! We both got into Corvell!"

The two of them rushed out, throwing their arms around me in unison.

I looked up at my boys, now towering over me by a head, and my heart swelled with pride.

"You two are incredible. You'll always be Mommy's pride and joy."

My husband had been gone for many years. As a single mother, I had raised the boys on my own for eighteen long years. And now, seeing them admitted into one of the nation's top universities, I could hardly put my joy into words.

Back then, my husband and his mistress, Janey Winston, had died together in a car crash, leaving behind twin boys. Against the protests and scorn of everyone around me, I insisted on raising the illegitimate children of my husband and his mistress as my own.

In the blink of an eye, eighteen years had passed. The boys had grown tall and strong, and under my relentless care and devotion, they had both secured places at Corvell University.

Now, seeing the fruits of all those years of effort, I couldn't be prouder.

"Mom, we owe it all to you for raising us so tirelessly all these years…"

"Yeah, Mom. Without your patient guidance, we'd never have made it this far…"

The twins had always been filial and considerate. They knew how much I had sacrificed for them, and often promised that once they graduated and found good jobs, they would ensure I lived out my old age in comfort.

Their words filled me with warmth. And then I remembered—two days from now would be their birthday.

In previous years, I had always booked a private dining room at a hotel for their celebrations. But this year, I thought, why not combine their birthday party with a banquet to celebrate their admission? It would be lively, joyful, and memorable.

I went ahead and reserved a grand hall at the finest restaurant in the city.

At the same time, I shared the news of their admission in the family group chat.

The moment the message went out, the notifications exploded—99+ in an instant.

[Sammy and Scott really did us proud…]

[If only Jeremy knew how accomplished his two sons have become. He could finally rest in peace.]

I skimmed through the messages, then sent the banquet location to the group.

With everything arranged, I silenced my phone, set it aside, and quietly waited for the day of their birthday banquet to arrive…