Chapter 144

Chapter 144
Kelly

I didn’t realize how tightly I had been gripping him until we finally stilled, our bodies tangled together, our breaths uneven. 

I lay on my side, facing him, our legs still tangled beneath the sheets. His fingers traced lazy circles on my hip, not letting go. He was watching me. I let out a small breathless laugh. 

“You’re staring.”

He smirked, his fingers moving up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. 

“I’ve been waiting a long time to look at you like this.”

I smiled, rolling my eyes at him. Then, I reached out, fingers trailing along his jaw, my voice softer now. 

“Was it worth the wait?”

Adrian caught my hand, bringing it to his lips, pressing a slow kiss to my palm.

His voice was barely audible. “Every damn second”

I smiled at him as he blew a kiss my way. Few minutes later, we went back home.

....

I woke up happy. Not just from the physical warmth of Adrian’s body beside me, but something deeper. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time.  

I felt secure.

I shifted slightly, my bare skin brushing against his, and the memory of last night flooded back. The way he touched me, the way he….i pushed the memory back as I caught myself blushing.  

I turned my head, watching him in the early morning light filtering through the curtains. His face was relaxed, his breathing slow, his arm lazily draped around my waist like he had no intention of letting go.  

A small smile tugged at my lips. For once, things felt… okay. But the peace didn’t last. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, shattering the moment. I groaned, stretching my arm to grab it.  

Susan’s name flashed across the scream. Adrian stirred beside me as I answered.  

“Morning,” I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep.  

“Get up.” Susan’s voice was sharp, urgent. “I found something.”  

I sat up immediately, my heart rate spiking. “What?”  

Adrian shifted, propping himself up on one elbow, watching me.  

Susan let out a breath. “A nurse. Someone who worked at the hospital years ago when Mrs. Kim was still active. She remembers something about Kate.”  

That got my full attention.  

“What did she say?”  

“She didn’t want to talk over the phone. Said it’s better in person.”  

I glanced at Adrian, who was fully awake now, eyes sharp and alert.  

“Where is she?”  

“She lives on the other side of the city,” Susan said. “I already texted you the address. Can you meet me there?”  

I hesitated for half a second before nodding. 

“Yeah. We’ll be there soon.”  

Adrian arched a brow at the ‘we’ but didn’t say anything.  

“Good,” Susan said. “And Kelly?”  

“Yeah?”  

There was a brief pause.  

“This might be the real thing.”  

I swallowed. The truth……it had felt terrifying before. But now? I just wanted to know.  

“I’ll see you soon.”  

I hung up, exhaling slowly. Adrian brushed a strand of hair from my face. 

“What was that about?”  

I met his gaze. “A lead.”  

His expression darkened. “Then let’s go.”  

……..

The drive across the city was quiet. Adrian’s fingers tapped idly on the steering wheel as I stared out the window, lost in thought. The nurse’s apartment was in a quiet neighborhood, nothing fancy, but well-kept. Susan was already waiting outside when we arrived.  

She looked tensed, arms crossed, foot tapping against the pavement.  

“You okay?” I asked as we approached.  

Susan let out a short laugh. “Not really.”  

I understood. We were right on the edge something big. 

Adrian glanced at the apartment door. “She’s inside?”  

Susan nodded. “She said she doesn’t get visitors much. She seemed… nervous.”  

I exchanged a look with Adrian before knocking.  A few seconds later, the door creaked open. An older woman, maybe in her sixties, peered out cautiously. Her eyes darted between us before settling on Susan.  

“You’re the girl who called,” she said softly.  

Susan nodded. “Yes. This is Kelly, and Adrian.”  

The woman’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before she opened the door wider.  

“Come in.”  

The inside of the apartment was modest but tidy. A few family pictures lined the walls, but there was an overwhelming sense of loneliness here. She gestured for us to sit.  

“I’m Nurse Helen,” she introduced herself, settling into the chair across from us.  

Susan didn’t waste time. “You said you remember something about Mrs. Kim?”  

Helen hesitated, rubbing her hands together. “I do. But it’s not just about her. It’s about…the baby from then.”  

My breath hitched.  

“What do you mean?” I asked.  

Helen exhaled. “Years ago, I worked in the maternity ward. We saw all kinds of situations, but there was one case I never forgot. A baby was brought in with an emergency. She was sick from birth. Very sick.”  

I leaned forward, heart pounding. “And?”  

“She recovered. But the thing that stood out to me was what happened after” Helen’s lips pressed into a thin line. “The baby was taken away from her birth mother and given to someone else.”  

I stiffened. “You mean… Kate?”  

Helen nodded. “I don’t really know. I didn’t know much at the time, I was just a nurse following orders. But over the years, I pieced things together. The birth mother was an orphan, young, and scared. And Mrs Kim, she helped take care of the baby.”  

Susan’s hands clenched into fists. Adrian’s jaw tightened. I felt cold instead.

“What are you saying?” I whispered.  

Helen’s  eyes softened. “I’m saying that Kate… might be the child to that lady”  

The room fell into silence.  

Adrian was the first to break it.  

“So Kate isn’t Kelly’s biological twin?” His voice was eerily calm.  

“I don’t think so,” Evelyn admitted. “I think she was… placed there.”  

Susan shook her head. “Why the hell would someone do that?”  

Helen sighed. “I wish I had all the answers.”  

I swallowed past the lump in my throat.  

……

The three of us walked out of Helen’s apartment in silence. The city felt different now. Like it had shifted beneath me.  

Adrian was the first to speak. “How are you feeling?”  

I let out a short laugh. “I don’t know anymore.”  

Adrian reached for my hand. “It’s totally okay to feel that way, Kelly.”  

Susan groaned beside us. “I need a drink.”  

Adrian smirked. “Coffee?”  

Susan sighed. “I was thinking something stronger, but fine.”  

We ended up in a small diner down the street. It was cozy, quiet, exactly what I needed. As we sipped our coffee, Susan glanced at me. 

“So… are you okay?”  

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Are you? ”  

Susan nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess I am”  

…..

When we got back, Harper and Aiden were waiting for us.  Harper practically tackled Adrian the second he stepped inside.  

“Did you bring me anything?” she demanded, arms wrapped around his leg.  

Adrian laughed, lifting her effortlessly. “Just my charming personality.”  

Aiden pouted. “Lame.”  

Harper, sitting on the couch, smirked. “Told you.”  

I watched the way Adrian ruffled Aiden’s hair, how effortlessly he fit into this picture. Looking at them, I felt something close to… peace.