That winter, Alex made the momentous decision to return home to England for Christmas.
Despite his growing anxiety, Jill tried to reassure him.
“Don’t worry. Nao will be absolutely fine. Who could possibly find fault with her?”
One weekend evening, after dinner with everyone except Naoaki, the household gathered to discuss their holiday plans.
Kazu announced that he would be traveling to Japan with Naoaki to celebrate New Year’s in his grandfather’s hometown.
Kacy and Lu shared their own international travel plans, and Miguel mentioned he’d be spending the holidays with his family as well.
Naosa smiled warmly. “Alex is going to England. I suppose I’ll be spending Christmas alone. Perhaps I should visit France instead?”
Alex studied her for a moment before speaking.
“Nao, would you like to come to England with me this year? I want to introduce you to my family.”
Her face lit up like sunrise.
Hands clasped over her heart, she exclaimed, “I’m absolutely overjoyed! I can’t believe I’ll finally meet your family!”
Her eyes sparkled. “Please tell me everything about them—what they like, what kind of gifts they’d appreciate! I want everything to be perfect!”
Everyone smiled at her infectious joy.
Alex smiled too—but dread churned in his stomach.
I just don’t want to see her hurt…
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He called his mother, Nancy, to share the news.
When he offered to book a nearby hotel, she informed him that everything was already full.
“You can stay in your old room,” she said matter-of-factly. “It’s exactly the same as you left it.”
Alex agreed, asking only that she give it a good cleaning beforehand.
Naosa, glowing with happiness, took this as a warm invitation.
He told Nancy that his fiancée’s name was Naosa Miyashita—half French, half Japanese.
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When Christmas arrived, they packed their carefully chosen gifts and left with excitement.
Naosa chatted cheerfully throughout the flight. She had spent days selecting each present, handwriting cards, and wrapping everything with artistic care.
Alex, meanwhile, silently prayed to any god who might be listening.
She had also planned what she called their “quintessentially British adventure”:
matching Mind the Gap hoodies, a ride on a double-decker bus, fish and chips, Hyde Park’s Christmas market, mulled wine, festive lights—the works.
Alex couldn’t help laughing. Her enthusiasm was impossible to resist.
During the drive from the airport, she gazed out the window in quiet awe.
These are the landscapes that shaped Alex, she thought, committing each one to memory.
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Alex smiled at her wonder, but as they neared his childhood home, a heavy silence fell between them.
They stopped before the modest house where he’d grown up.
“My old room’s in the basement,” he said. “It’s small, but we’ll be comfortable.”
Naosa nodded warmly.
When Nancy opened the door, Naosa greeted her politely.
Nancy froze—she had expected someone who looked Asian, but the woman before her defied every expectation: pale blonde hair, striking blue eyes, her father’s gentle features softened by her mother’s grace. She was breathtaking.
Nancy called into the house, “Alex has arrived!”
A thunderous voice answered from within—Reginald’s unmistakable bark.
“You show up unannounced after three years of absence? What sort of Asian manners are those?!”
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The O’Neills were devout Catholics—except Alex, who had long abandoned church attendance.
Naosa, meanwhile, had no religious upbringing. Her mother’s family claimed divine ancestry, and she saw Christmas simply as a season of light and love.
Panicking, Alex ushered her downstairs to the basement and told her to wait there.
Curious, Naosa wandered the room. Photographs lined the walls—some from his time in Africa.
In one, Alex smiled beside a beautiful woman, both seated on a sunlit boulder.
Her heart dropped.
Then shouting erupted upstairs. She couldn’t make out everything, but the word Asian surfaced repeatedly—and then, unmistakably, the name Emily.
She turned back to the photo. Emily.
The realization struck like a blow.
They’ve been waiting for her… not for me.
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Her chest constricted. She fled the house, walking aimlessly through the freezing streets, hardly aware of how far she’d gone.
Dad, I’m sorry. You did nothing wrong. Mom loved you deeply. I love you too…
A frail voice pulled her from her thoughts. An elderly woman was wandering barefoot along the icy road.
Rushing over, Naosa wrapped her scarf around the woman’s shoulders.
“Are you all right? Do you remember your name—or where you live?”
The woman smiled faintly. “Margaret.”
Naosa smiled through her tears. “That’s a beautiful name, Lady Margaret.”
Moments later, a police car happened to pass by, and Naosa quickly waved it down, explaining the situation.
The officers gently helped the woman inside.
As the car drove away, Naosa whispered, “Maybe I should’ve told them I was lost too…”
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Back at the house, Nancy went to check on Margaret—and found her gone.
“Margaret has wandered off again!”
The family’s argument ended instantly. Simon called the police. Nancy and Karen rushed into the night to search, returning empty-handed.
Worried, Alex went to check on Naosa—only to find the basement empty.
Then he saw the photographs.
She must have seen them.
His heart cracked open.
He grabbed one of the pictures, stormed into the living room, and slammed it onto the table in front of Karen.
“Did you do this?” he demanded, his voice trembling.
Karen flinched. “Yes,” she admitted quietly. “I didn’t think you’d react like this… I’m sorry.”
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Alex’s voice shook with anguish. “She’s been looking forward to this for weeks. She spent days choosing gifts for every one of you—writing cards, planning everything. She just wanted to make you happy. And you—”
He turned toward Reginald, his expression breaking.
“She’s always said that if even one member of my family disapproved, she’d wait forever rather than cause conflict. She respects you more than her own happiness. And I—”
His voice gave out.
No one had ever seen Alex cry.
Reginald turned away. “You’ve been manipulated by that woman. Pathetic.”
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Then the phone rang—it was the police.
They’d found an elderly woman matching Margaret’s description. She was safe.
When Margaret was brought home, everyone sighed in relief.
But Alex froze.
Margaret was wearing Naosa’s scarf.
“Margaret,” he asked softly, “where did you get this?”
She only smiled, unable to remember.
The officers explained that a young woman had helped her but hadn’t given her name.
Alex asked for the location and begged to be taken there.
He searched the streets—and finally saw her, sitting alone on a bench.
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“Nao!”
He ran to her and pulled her into his arms. She was freezing.
They clung to each other, weeping quietly as he warmed her hands between his own.
“Let’s go,” he whispered. “Let’s pack up and leave.”
She nodded.
Back at the house, she stayed outside while Alex went to retrieve their things.
“Did you find her?” Nancy asked anxiously.
Alex didn’t answer. He just gathered the bags and nodded.
Nancy and Simon followed him out.
Nancy took Naosa’s hands. “Thank you—for helping Mother. Please, come inside, you’re freezing!”
But Alex said firmly, “We’re going home. To our real home.”
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Sensing his restrained fury, Naosa spoke gently. “Alex, let’s go inside for a moment. I want to say goodbye properly—and apologize for worrying everyone.”
Reluctantly, he agreed.
Inside, Nancy seated her by the fire. “I’ll make something warm.”
Before Simon could speak, Naosa bowed her head.
“I’m so sorry for causing concern.”
She repeated the gesture toward Karen—and even toward Reginald.
Reginald stood speechless, struck by her grace and composure.
Alex said quietly, “You have nothing to apologize for.”
Nancy returned with hot chocolate.
Naosa smiled softly after a sip. “It’s wonderful. I’m completely devoted to chocolate—it never fails to make me happy.”
She offered the mug to Alex. He took a sip, then drew her close.
No matter what anyone says, he thought, she’s the only one for me.
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As they stood to leave, Reginald’s voice cut through the silence.
“Holidays are for families. What do you plan to do—walk out before Christmas?”
Alex and Naosa exchanged a glance—and smiled in quiet understanding.
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