Dante's Pov
As we traversed the hallway towards our hotel rooms, I grasped Faith's delicate hand with a tight grip, disregarding her gentle protests to release my hold.
I wasn't surprised by Faith's words. Lately, she had been more forthcoming and unreserved with me, which I found captivating and cute. I couldn't help but find her defiance charming. "You can't just drag me around like a piece of luggage," she stated with a spirited nature that struck me.
Despite the urge to pull her close and show her just how much she meant to me; I kept my composure. "Of course not," I replied in a calm voice. "I simply wish to show you the way back to your room."
I couldn't quite tell if the electric charge between us was mutual, but the energy that flowed through our combined touch was undeniable, like an electric current.
The significance of the impending moment weighed heavily on me. Everything hinged on whether Faith was truly Avelyn or not. If she was, it would change the course of my future in a profound way.
It was a crucial juncture that would shape the path of our relationship. As we neared the threshold of our room, a sense of anticipation and apprehension mingled within me, a mixture of emotions that I struggled to contain.
The fate of our bond lay in the balance, and I could only hope that the revelations to come would simply tell me that Faith was indeed Avelyn.
As soon as our lips had touched, I knew without a doubt that the person I was kissing was Avelyn. The sensation of jitters in my stomach was overwhelming, and no one else had ever been able to evoke such a powerful reaction in me. In fact, if she hadn't stopped me, I would have been tempted to deepen the kiss even further.
After arriving at the hotel room that belonged to Faith, my mind was still racing from Gabriel and I's conversation.
Standing before her room's door, I couldn't help but notice the flush on her cheeks as she darted inside the room, giving me a glare and slamming the door shut in my face. Her little antics amused me, prompting a chuckle to escape my lips before I turned and headed into my own room to set up the Zoom meeting.
With my heart racing with anticipation, I couldn't afford to let any distractions get in the way of my mission. I needed to know if Faith was really Avelyn, and I was eager to hear what Gabriel had discovered.
"Is Faith, Avelyn?" I asked Gabriel, cutting straight to the point the moment the video was connected.
"It wasn't easy to find out," Gabriel admitted. "After digging around for a while, I discovered that Faith's background was quite difficult to trace."
I leaned in closer to the screen. "And?" I needed to hear something different from what I actually knew.
Gabriel took a deep breath. "After visiting every school that Faith had claimed to attend on her resume, including her high school, I couldn't find any trace of her identity. But I managed to uncover some records that showed she had indeed changed her name from Avelyn Harrison to Faith Emerson."
A wave of relief washed over me. Finally, after all this time, I had confirmation that Faith was really Avelyn.
I knew it all along that Faith was my Avelyn. The feeling of finally getting her back overwhelming, I simply couldn't do without stealing that kiss from her as she was looking so tempting at the time but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
My mind was consumed with questions about why she had gone to such extreme lengths to alter her name and conceal her true identity. The anticipation had been building inside me for two long years, and I was growing increasingly impatient for answers.
What had led her to take such drastic measures? These thoughts continued to swirl around in my mind, and I could not shake the feeling that there was something important that I was missing.
"Do you have evidence of this?" I questioned him, trying to remain calm despite the turmoil brewing inside me.
"Yes, I do," he replied, a hint of hesitation in his voice. I could tell that he was hesitant to tell me what he had learned as if afraid of upsetting me, but I needed to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
"Make sure to forward everything to me," I ordered him, my voice firm and unwavering. I needed to see the evidence for myself, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what he was saying was true and to prove to Avelyn that I knew of her true identity if she tries to deny which I know she will.
"Of course, Dante," he replied, nodding his head in understanding.
But as I mulled over my next steps, a troubling thought crossed my mind. "What about the kids and her lover?" I asked, my bitterness at the idea of her having a lover making my tone sharp.
"That's another unusual thing about all of this, sir," Gabriel replied, a perplexed look on his face.
"What about it, did you find unusual?" I asked, feeling increasingly curious about the developments that were unfolding.
"During my time following Avelyn," Gabriel continued, his voice low and measured, "It didn't seem as if she had or has a lover at all. She wasn't spotted with any kind of male associate, but rather a nanny and a work associate that works for your company." His words left me reeling, and I struggled to process the information.
My mind raced with possibilities. Could it be true that Avelyn didn't have a lover after all? That the person who had fathered her twins was unknown? It was a startling revelation, and it made me question everything I thought I knew about her.
I contemplated the implications of Gabriel's words. If Avelyn didn't have a lover, then who was responsible for the birth of her twins? And why had she run away from me all those years ago? The more I thought about it, the more unsettled I became, my mind swirling with unanswered questions and a growing sense of unease.
Despite my initial relief at the idea that Avelyn might not have had a lover, I knew that this information only added to the mystery surrounding her. There were still so many unanswered questions, and I was determined to uncover the truth, no matter where it might lead me.
"Also, her kids, sir," Gabriel continued, his voice measured. "I didn't manage to get any information about adoption from any adoption center concerning Avelyn's children. I've also tried obtaining information from every hospital regarding Faith Emerson or Avelyn Harrison's possible pregnancy but was unable to find any relevant records, sir. Furthermore, I didn't observe any male associates of Avelyn's visiting her children, which would suggest that he's, their father. I was wondering if I needed more time to follow up, but I understand how impatient you can be, sir." Gabriel expressed, his tone reflecting a mixture of diligence and apprehension.
"The fact that I have to go above and beyond troubles me, Dante," Gabriel continued, his tone somber. "Avelyn was essentially erasing all her footsteps so that you couldn't find her, or someone else couldn't find her either way. It's very troubling. So far, I haven't found any reasons why Avelyn ran away. It's also strange that she ran away and has no other significant other in her life," he explained, his words tinged with frustration and confusion.
Hearing this revelation was quite a mystery to me. I had always assumed that Avelyn's departure was due to another man, but to discover that this might not be the case left me deeply puzzled.
The more I delved into the mystery, the more clues I uncovered. Thankfully, the bigger picture was beginning to come into focus. Now that I knew she was Avelyn, I felt a sense of determination to confront her and demand answers. I was resolved to bring her back home where she belonged.
I made a mental note not to rush into informing her parents about finding her. I didn't want to risk any premature leaks to the media. Instead, I planned to surprise them when I returned home with Avelyn by my side.
"I've also found something else quite shocking," Gabriel expressed, his tone serious.
"What is it?" I inquired, growing increasingly intrigued by the unfolding developments.
As Gabriel's words stumbled out in a halting fashion, I felt my impatience begin to mount, irritated by his apparent lack of communication discernment. "I find myself at a loss for words," he spoke hesitantly, "But Avelyn's children are twins who bear a striking resemblance to her, which means they were not born at separate times, nor were they adopted..."
Despite my anticipation for further elaboration, he simply sat there, his demeanor awkward and uncertain, leaving me to speculate and surmise on my own.
"Just fucking say it," I hissed impatiently, unable to bear the silence any longer.
After a prolonged silence, he spoke once more. "It appears that Avelyn's babies are roughly two years of age, sir. While I cannot confirm this with absolute certainty, my evaluation suggests that Avelyn may have been pregnant with her children at the time she ran away. It may also be the reason why she left."
His words reverberated within me, feeling as though I had been struck by a heavy blow. I found myself grappling to adapt to this newfound knowledge, trying to process the implications of what he had just revealed.
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