Chapter 13

**Hunter's POV**

"My back?" Esmeralda echoes my words as if  to make sure if she just heard me right or not

"Yes, your back" I repeat calmly like what I just asked for wasn't weird at all.

I had ordered that particular dress for her all because of one reason and that was to confirm if she was Daisy or not by seeing if she had the same birthmark as Daisy.

I've been so distracted all night by her beauty to remember the reason why I invited her to be my plus one for the gala though.

"Why?" She asks shifting away from me suspiciously.

"Not that you need a reminder but everyone seems to think you're Daisy even though the  chances are slim and you're probably just a doppelganger" I pause expecting her to say something but she maintains her silence.

"But for the sake of clarity, I need to check for a birthmark on your back" I finish explaining but she continues to stare at me for a few seconds like I was crazy before she looks down mulling over what I said.

I know the moment she makes up her mind because she lifts her eyes to mine and nod before turning her back to me.

I guess she must also be tired of everyone confusing her for someone else. To be honest, I don't really have high hopes of her being Daisy anymore.

Not after the last meeting I had with Mike wherein he told me he had found Daisy's engagement ring in a pawn shop. It was one of a kind so I was sure he wasn't mistaken.

I became so hopeful after hearing that only for my hopes to die when he continued talking.

Further investigations had led him to another pawn shop whose owner; after a lot of empty legal threats, revealed that a street kid had sold him the ring saying he found it on the finger of a woman at the scene of an accident.

I don't know how but Mike had his men trace the street kid down and when he was interrogated, the kid said he could barely remember anything but that he was sure the lady was dead before he got to the scene and took the ring.

The street kid who was now a young man in college then started to beg to not be arrested saying he had nothing to do with the girl's death and that he only stole the ring to support his family because his dad was suffering from a terminal illness as at then.

He thought he was being investigated for the lady's death.

Nobody thought that he had anything to do with anyone's death anyway so after it was confirmed that he had confessed all he knew, Mike had left him alone.

Which led us straight to a dead end and back to square one; no clue regarding Daisy's whereabouts.

All I can remember after the meeting is that I got drunk; really drunk and called Esmeralda. What I said to her though, I don't remember but I guess it couldn't have been that bad since nothing seemed out of place with her in the office the next day.

However, I still refuse to give up on Daisy. They never found Daisy's body, only a few of her belongings.

In fact. no body was found at the scene of the accident, not Levi's, not even Mrs. Violet's.

So I believe Daisy is still alive. She has to be.

The other alternative to that option would ruin me. It's been almost ten years since then but I still won't accept the thought that she could be dead.

Daisy can't be Esmeralda though, else, why would she not pretend not to recognize me?

If only I had stayed back with her that day....

"Well?" Esmeralda asks turning her head to look at me with a raised eyebrow making me realize that I had been staring absentmindedly at her back for a while.

If I remember correctly, the birthmark was at the far end of Daisy's back close to her left shoulder joint.

This area however was currently covered by the strap of Esmeralda's dress and I make a move to remove the strap blocking my line of sight.

I become distracted though when I notice a faint scar on her back. It wasn't that obvious but it wasn't completely faded either.

What happened to her?

Without thinking, I trace my fingers over the long gash and I feel a shiver travel down her spine.

"Hunter, what are you doing?" She asks in a little voice.

God, I love hearing her say my name.

Focus!

I suddenly stop my fingers from completing their course down her back and make a move to shift the left strap of the dress down her shoulders.

Why does she smell so damn good?

.

"The birthmark area is around here" I blurt out as I slowly slip the strap down her forearm instead of just getting it over with.

Focus, damn it!!

"Hunter, what are you doing?" She asks again and this time her voice has a little power in them.

At this point, I don't even know what I'm looking for anymore. All I can think about is how good her mouth tasted back at the gala.

I shift her hair away from her neck and without thinking, I bend my head to place a kiss on her neck for the second time this night.

I hold my breath for a few seconds waiting for her to fight me but when all that comes out of her mouth is a sweet sigh that sounds like my name, I pull her closer with her back still facing me.

My hands run down her arms because I just can't resist feeling how smooth her skin is.

I then start to kiss my way down her neck prepared to turn her around to feel her mouth against mine again when I observe something with my peripheral sight.

My eyes snap wide open and the fog in my brain clears when I see what I wasn't expecting to find on her.

A dark brown crescent shaped mark sitting prettily on her back.

Daisy's birthmark!