Logan, standing by the door, shrugged.What could he say?Milo was his son, it was only natural that he took after his old man in both looks and temperament.Arlie beamed at his brother. ‘Dad said that we’re not going to school tomorrow. We’re going to celebrate.’‘Celebrate?’ Milo snorted. ‘Why don’t we celebrate after we deal with the bad guys? Those two monsters took my brother away so easily and even lied to Mommy, making her believe Arlie was dead all these years.’Milo turned to look at Logan pointedly. ‘Aren’t you going to do something about it?’Logan knew he was referring to Connie and Brayden.He immediately replied, ‘Of course, I won’t let them go like this. I’ll make sure that they get what they deserve.’It might not be easy to convict Brayden, but Alessia had a recording of her phone conversation with Connie, who could be charged with human trafficking.Logan made a note to call Heath later.‘Why don’t you call him now?’ Milo demanded. ‘What if they run off before the po
The chair toppled over.Connie fell backwards, hitting the floor with a thud.The police officers guarding the door came in and checked on her. ‘She passed out.’Alessia left the room with Logan.She held up her phone. ‘Do you think the recording can be used as evidence?’‘That’s up to the court to decide. I’ll give a copy of it to Heath.’Logan thanked Heath, then drove off with Alessia.She was quiet.‘How are you feeling?’ Logan glanced at her.‘I don’t know.’ Alessia scrubbed her face with both hands. ‘It’s a lot to take in.’‘Do you believe her?’‘About my parents? I don’t know. But I guess it makes sense—why she hates me and Veronica so much. But she shouldn’t have hurt my baby.’She turned to Logan. ‘Do you think the court will convict her? I mean, given the state she’s in.’‘If she’s sane, she’ll be put behind bars. If she’s not, she’ll be locked up in a psych ward. Either way, she’s going to be put away for a long time. And Brayden will be there to keep her company.’Alessia
Alessia bit her lip. ‘Marriage? Logan, we’ve been through a lot, and I appreciate the sentiment, but marriage is a big step. And it just feels too soon.’‘I know, Alessia. But think about it, for Arlie and Milo. They deserve a stable family, with parents who are committed to each other.’Alessia was hesitant. ‘I understand, but I’m still dealing with the aftermath of the whole thing, and there’s also my grandma’s ashes that I need to take care of.’Logan said softly, ‘I get it. I don’t want to rush you. How about we compromise? We can register for marriage first, just make it official, and then we can plan the big wedding ceremony for later when things settle down.’Alessia pondered this. ‘Register first? That could work.’It would give her time to handle everything else.And to be honest, though she still felt uncertain about tying the knot with Logan, there wasn’t really anyone else she wanted to marry.Logan held her hand. ‘Exactly. We’ll take it one step at a time. The important t
The park offered a sanctuary, a silent witness to Alessia’s pain.A distant rumble of thunder echoed, a subtle reflection of the storm within her.Alessia felt the weight of the betrayal, the shattered dreams, and the uncertainty of the future.The man she thought she knew had been a stranger all along.As she wiped away tears, Alessia’s phone buzzed with a message.She hesitated before checking it, expecting the worst.It was a message from Logan. ‘Alessia, where are you? Answer your phone.’That was when she noticed the dozen missed calls from him.Alessia switched off her phone and stuffed it back into her purse.With a heavy heart, she stood and made her way through the park, leaving the sanctuary of solitude behind.***Logan, bewildered and desperate for clarity, rushed back to the city hall.The once familiar corridors felt alien as he approached the clerk who had dropped the bombshell, demanding answers to a puzzle that seemed impossible to solve.‘What the hell is going on?’
Minutes after Logan left, a yellow taxi slid to a stop in front of Ralph and Naomi’s house.The engine hummed as the door swung open, revealing a pair of long, toned legs gracefully stepping onto the pavement.The woman emerging from the taxi was a vision of confidence and mystery.Ralph and Naomi, who had been sitting out on the terrace, couldn’t believe their eyes.Their daughter, presumed lost to the world five years ago, was standing before them, alive and well.Sirena waved at them. ‘Hi, Mom and Dad, I’m back!’The coffee mugs clinked against each other, forgotten, as they rushed to embrace Sirena.‘Sweetheart, is it really you?’ Naomi exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.Ralph was equally overwhelmed, wrapping Sirena in a tight bear hug.Sirena grinned, a glint of mischief in her eyes. ‘Surprise, Mom, Dad. Missed me?’‘Missed you? We thought we’d lost you forever!’ Ralph said, his voice cracking with emotion.‘I’ve been through some stuff,’ Sirena replied mysteriously, pull
‘Alessia, we need to talk,’ Logan began, the urgency evident in his tone.Alessia sighed on the other end, her silence urging him to continue.‘Look, today has been insane. I need to tell you everything, from the moment Sirena and I drunkenly got married online to the legal mess I’m trying to untangle. It’s complicated, but you deserve to know,’ Logan confessed, his words pouring out in a rush.As he laid out the convoluted details, from the unexpected marriage to the struggles of annulment, Alessia’s silence lingered.The weight of the revelations settled heavily on both of them.Finally, Alessia spoke, her voice a mix of shock and contemplation. ‘Logan, I need time to process this. I can’t believe what I’m hearing.’Logan’s heart sank, but he understood the gravity of the situation. ‘I know, Alessia. I messed up, and I’m trying to fix it. I just... I need you to understand.’A heavy pause filled the air before Alessia responded, her words measured. ‘Logan, before we talk about us, y
Logan committed the name to memory. ‘Nomsa could be a crucial lead. Do you have any contact information for her?’Elaine nodded. ‘I do. Let me find it for you.’She searched through her papers. ‘Here it is. Nomsa’s contact information. I hope she can provide some insight.’She hesitated, then added, ‘I was busy with my own work back then. You really should be talking to Sirena’s parents. They were involved in the investigation every step along the way, even flew to Sierra Landa.’‘They probably don’t want to see me right now.’Logan explained that he just visited them earlier, trying to get a copy of Sirena’s death certificate to prove she was really deceased, so his marriage to her could be voided, then he could marry Alessia.Elaine’s eyes widened. ‘Of course Naomi and Ralph would be mad. You were forcing them to confront the reality of Sirena’s death.’‘But they should have closure, and this investigation would bring it to them,’ Logan said defensively. ‘It’s not just for me; it’s
Alessia turned around as Yvonne Sawyer, a familiar face from a previous interview, approached with a warm smile.Alessia forced a smile. ‘Just trying to distract myself, you know? Work has become my escape lately.’Yvonne noticed Alessia’s low spirit. ‘Something on your mind, dear?’Alessia sighed. ‘Just personal stuff.’She wasn’t about to share her family drama with a woman she’d just met twice, no matter how nice Professor Sawyer was.Yvonne looked sympathetic. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. How are you holding up?’Alessia shrugged. ‘I’m trying to stay busy.’Sensing her reluctance to talk about her personal life, Yvonne changed the subject. ‘You know, I have connections in the art community, and there’s a big exhibition happening in Hamborough soon.’Alessia was intrigued. ‘An exhibition?’‘Yes, and I thought it might do you good to immerse yourself in the world of art for a while. There are fascinating artists there, stories waiting to be told. Would you be interested in interv