Author note

Dear Reader, Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for spending time with Zara, Elias, Amina, and little Lila. This story began as a messy idea about f*******n love, age gaps, and the terrifying courage it takes to choose honesty when everything could fall apart. Somewhere along the way, it became something deeper — a story about family that stretches instead of breaks, about healing at your own pace, and about the complicated, beautiful ways we keep choosing each other even when it’s hard. This is my first book, and I know it shows. There were probably moments where the pacing stumbled, where emotions repeated, or where the characters felt a little too raw around the edges. I apologize for any mistakes, inconsistencies, or places where the story could have been smoother. I’m