My eyes widened as I looked at Grayson's phone. The photo showed a boy and girl with distinct features, around ten years old.I couldn’t stop looking at the little girl's delicate and beautiful face. She had large eyes, thin lips, and, most notably, a small dimple below her mouth. She had two long pigtails with strawberry-shaped hairpins and wore a light pink dress.She looked incredibly familiar, and I wondered why she resembled Ava.The handsome boy beside the girl wore a white shirt and plaid shorts. He had one hand in his pocket and the other resting on a chair. The little girl leaned on the chair with a basketball placed on it.The boy had striking features and an aloof smile. He appeared less cheerful than the girl but had an air of sophistication. I knew it was a young Atlas."Is this... Is this a photo of Atlas when he was young?" My heart pounded, and my mind raced."Yes, it's Atlas and the real Stella during childhood," Grayson confirmed. "Now, look at the next picture.
After some hesitation, Grayson nodded. "Yes.""So, what are you implying?" I couldn't imagine where this was going. It was unfortunate that such a bright and lovely little girl had met such a tragic fate.When Grayson sent me the photo, I returned to my seat and looked at it through my phone. I felt conflicted and muttered, “Why is everything so complicated? Why did they start calling her Annalise?”I continued, murmuring, "Grayson, who do you think the current Stella is? Why have they both appeared in the orphanage in the mountains?"These questions were confusing, and I couldn't understand them."That's why I'm continuing to investigate. There are too many mysteries here, and I feel like there's a missing link," Grayson explained.I looked at him. "What do you think is wrong?""For example, after Rory's death. They confirmed his identity through official DNA testing. There shouldn't be any mistakes. So why would Stella boldly appear by Celine’s side and even be adopted as her
“Yeah, Rory is a man of integrity. Take your time going through these,” Grayson instructed, concerned about me. "Chlo, you should rest for a while. I have an appointment to attend."I asked him, “Oh, I need to go to Solaris in the next day or two. Do you have anything on your schedule?”He replied, "Well, if possible, I'd like to go with you. I want to introduce you to a client. I think you need to meet this person.""Okay, I'll tell you when I plan to leave, and you can tell me more about this person on the way," I said to Grayson.Just then, Carol arrived with the painkillers. Seeing Grayson, she said, "There's a report you need to sign.""Sure.""Oh... Chloe, we have an appointment with ATL Empire at 10 o'clock. You rest first, but we should leave soon," Carol reminded me.I quickly took the medicine from her, swallowed a pill, and drank water.Grayson told Carol to bring the report for him to check. After signing it, he handed it to me. "This is the finances for Hartz Const
I was still shocked when Atlas touched my forehead. He asked, "Are you unwell?"I wondered if he genuinely cared as I met his concerned expression. Well, he was compassionate and energetic when dealing with women.I struggled, and his lips brushed against my forehead. He touched my cheek, saying, "You're not feverish, so why do you look so pale?"His tone remained tender, which made me dizzy. I was excited but tried to control it, fearing I might get caught in an emotional whirlwind. What did he take me for?"That isn't something you should be worrying about." I pushed him away and mocked him. I instinctively stepped back but leaned against the door with a thud.Before I could react, he pinned me against the door. His gaze at me and slowly drew closer. As I watched him inch closer, an image flashed in my mind. I imagined someone else getting closer to me with urgency and panic.Then, that person held me and reassured me, saying, “Stay awake! Everything will be okay!”I was start
Harmony rushed into the examination room, fully disguised, before I could recover. "Mr. Atlas..."She froze when she saw me on the hospital bed. She approached Atlas and asked, "What's going on here?"Atlas didn't answer but gestured to the doctor and left the ward. Harmony stepped forward, looking displeased. “Chloe, what are you doing? Why are you here?""How’d you get here?" I retorted instead of answering her question."Haha, Atlas asked me to come!" she retorted boldly.I laughed bitterly. I wasn't sure what Atlas’s intentions were. Harmony crossed her arms and persisted, "Are you pretending to be pitiful? You’re such a schemer. How dare you resort to such despicable tactics just to see him?"Her words were harsh, but I had no energy to argue. I struggled to sit up. While the headache had subsided, I felt sore all over. Harmony looked at me disdainfully, warning me, "Stop shamelessly pestering Atlas, okay?""How do you know it's me who pestered him?" I asked."Who else cou
There was a sense of urgency in his quick, forceful movements. I was shocked at how audaciously Dylan shoved Atlas’s girlfriend.He quickly cautioned, "Ms. Chloe, please find shelter in the inner room. Once things calm down outside, leave the building quickly, and don't mention that you were at the hospital!" After Dylan left, Carol glanced at the consultation room and saw the small inner chamber. She quickly pulled me inside.We could hear bustling footsteps from the corridor outside. Carol and I dared not make a sound, fearing that someone might discover us.I was clueless about what was going on outside. Why would such a maneuver be necessary? Still, since Atlas had arranged it that way, I had to comply.Carol and I hid in the inner room for half an hour, waiting until it grew quiet outside. Only then did we venture outside. She led the way, making sure there were no strangers in the corridor before motioning for me to follow.Finally, we left the hospital and returned stra
I looked at the phone, and there was new information. It stated that Harmony had acute cholecystitis. Even the attending physician had given an interview.Atlas had successfully removed me from this incident entirely. It was clear he intended to show the world that Harmony was ill, with no connection to me.I couldn’t understand why he would go to such lengths. Why did he bring me to the hospital if he didn’t want anyone to know we were connected? Was it really necessary to conceal my medical condition and change the doctor?It seemed like an inconsequential detail. What would it matter if everyone knew about my illness? It wasn’t even really an illness, just a case of amnesia.I paused. Could this be related to my amnesia? No, it couldn't be.My mind was filled with surreal images, various versions of what I might have missed as a child. There were pictures of Annalise and Stella, scenes from when I fell off a motorcycle, and more…Those images were strange, and they gave me a s
I had already brewed the tea when Jared entered the room. I looked at the refined man, his eyes brimming with the depth and wisdom that only time and experience could bring.He didn't seem surprised to see me, merely giving me a subtle quirk. "Hello. We've met before."I nodded and got up. "Yes, we have. I'm Chloe, Ivanna's closest friend.""She mentioned you." I was a little uneasy about his composed manner. After all, this man was enigmatic. I felt the vast disparity in our status as a woman watching out for my best friend.Both of us sat looking calm, but there was a faint air of distance. Neither of us rushed to speak.It wasn’t that I didn't want to start the conversation, but I had never interacted with someone like him before. I had no idea how to begin. I gestured toward the tea I had poured for him. "Please, Mr. Jared."He got straight to the point. "Do you know what you wanted to discuss with me?" "Ivanna," I replied directly.What else was there to talk about