Chapter 27 The truth was waiting
Rafael
I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows.
Flora was asleep beside me, her head resting on the edge of the bed.
Guilt crashed over me like a wave.
I stood up. My body ached from the sedative. My head pounded.
I walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. My eyes were hollow. Lines of stress etched into my face.
I heard movement in the bedroom.
Flora was stirring.
I walked back out. She sat up quickly, her eyes finding mine with wariness.
"How are you feeling?" She asked quietly.
"Like a monster." I admitted.
She didn't argue. She just watched me carefully.
"Marco is already investigating Isabella." She said carefully.
I nodded. Then my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out. It was Marco.
"He's found some interesting things.” I said. “Bank transfers from Isabella's account to known mercenaries. Phone records showing calls to the rival family before Eva's death."
Flora's eyes widened. "So she was involved?"
"It's looking that way. But I need concrete proof before I confront her."
"What will you do when you have proof?" Her voice dropped.
I didn't answer. Because the truth was, I didn't know. Isabella was family. But if she'd killed Eva…
"Rafael?" Her voice pulled me from my thoughts. "There's something I need to tell you."
"What?"
She pulled out a piece of paper. "I found this in Eva's diary. It's from Isabella."
I took it and read the note. My hands started shaking.
"She knew about you." I whispered.
"Yes." Flora said. "But what if Eva didn't die because she wanted to leave? What if she died because she was getting too close to the truth about me?"
The thought hit me like a punch.
"You think Isabella killed Eva to stop her from discovering the connection?"
"I think it's possible. Eva was going to divorce you. But maybe she changed her mind after reading this note. She wanted to stay to find out who I am."
"And Isabella couldn't let that happen," I finished. "Because whatever this secret is, it's worth killing for."
My phone buzzed. Another message from Marco.
"Boss, I found something. Isabella has been in contact with a Dr. Irina Vasquez. She's a geneticist specializing in... you need to see this. I'm coming to you now."
Five minutes later, Marco burst into the room with his laptop.
"Look at this," he said, pulling up a file. "Dr. Irina Vasquez runs a private genetics lab in Switzerland. And she's been on Isabella's payroll for twenty-three years."
"Twenty-three years?" Flora's voice was sharp. "That's how old I am."
"Exactly." Marco pulled up another document. "And look at this payment record. A massive sum was paid to Dr. Vasquez nine months before Eva died."
Marco looked at Flora, then at me. "Boss, I think someone used Flora in some kind of experiment. And Isabella was involved."
"That's impossible," I said. But even as I spoke, I knew it wasn't. The technology existed.
"Is it?" Marco pulled up more files. "Isabella has been tracking Flora her whole life. School records. Medical records. Everything."
Flora had gone pale. "Why would Isabella track me?"
"Insurance," I said quietly. "In case something happened to Eva, someone had to replace her."
"But how? You can't just create a person!" Flora's voice rose with panic.
"No, but you can create a clone," Marco said. "Or split an embryo to create identical twins. That would explain the DNA match. You and Eva would be genetic twins, even if you weren't born at the same time."
The room went silent.
Flora walked to the window. "I'm not even real. I'm just a backup copy of Eva."
"No." I walked over to her. "You're real. You're a person. Whatever was done, however you were created, you're still a real human being."
"Am I?" Tears streamed down her face. "Or am I just Eva's clone?"
"You have your own thoughts." I insisted. "You're your own person."
"What if I'm not?" She turned to face me. "I can't even remember my childhood clearly! What if those memories were implanted? What if my whole life is a lie?"
I didn't know what to say. Because she might be right.
"We need to find Dr. Vasquez," Marco said. "To know the truth about how Flora was born."
"And Isabella," I added. "We need to confront Isabella."
“I already got a message last night.” Flora said. Her voice was shaking.
"What is it?" I asked.
She pulled out her phone and showed me the screen. It was a message from an unknown number.
"Hello, Flora. Or should I call you by your real name?"
"It's her," Flora whispered. "It's Isabella."
She swiped to another message.
"Meet me at Café Bellini. By noon today. Come alone. I'll tell you everything. Tell Rafael and the deal is off."
"It's a trap." I said immediately.
"Maybe. But it's also the only way to get answers." Flora looked at me. "I have to go."
"No. It's too dangerous."
"I don't care!" Her voice rose. "I need to know if I'm even real!"
"You're not going alone," I said firmly.
"The message says come alone."
"Then I'll have Marco follow at a distance. I will position guards around the café. Isabella won't see them."
Flora hesitated. Then nodded. "Okay. But Rafael? If Isabella tries something..."
"I won't let her hurt you," I promised. "Whatever you are, clone or twin, you're under my protection now."
She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. "Because you think I'm Eva? Or because you actually care about me?"
"Both," I admitted. "I don't know where Eva ends and you begin anymore. But I know I don't want to lose you."
Marco cleared his throat. "We have four hours to set up surveillance at the café. I'll get the team ready."
He left, leaving Flora and me alone.
The next four hours crawled by. Marco positioned men around the café and set up listening devices.
At 11:45, Flora got dressed in simple clothes. No jewelry. She looked terrified.
"You don't have to do this," I said one more time.
"Yes, I do." She took a deep breath. "I need to know the truth. Even if it destroys me."
"It won't destroy you. I won't let it."
She gave me a sad smile. "You can't protect me from the truth, Rafael. No matter how much you want to."
She left at 11:50. I watched from the security monitors as she walked into Café Bellini.
Isabella was already there, sitting at a corner table. She looked older than I remembered. Tired and even scared.
Scared? Why was Isabella sacred when she was the mastermind behind everything. She has practically ruined my life.
Except it was only a facade to deceive Flora.
Wow. I had even stopped calling her Eva. I had accepted Eva was gone.
Tears burned my eyes as I watched Flora sit down across from her.