The sharp, relentless beeping of a timer pierced the tense silence in the room, sending a fresh wave of terror through me.

“W-What the hell is that?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Gabriel didn’t answer. He was already tearing through the room like a madman, throwing pillows, ripping open drawers, and flipping furniture. The beeping grew louder, faster, and more urgent.

“Gabriel, what’s going on?” I shouted, my panic rising with each second.

He stopped, his face pale. “It’s a bomb. Everything was a trap."

A TRAP? W-WHAT?

I froze, my heart dropping into my stomach. “A b-bomb? Are you serious?”

Without answering, he dove under the bed, yanking at something. A second later, he emerged holding a small device with a tangle of wires and a bright red countdown.

15 seconds left.

My breath caught in my throat. “We need to get out of here! Now!”

“No!” Gabriel barked, his eyes wild. “If I can stop it, we might have a chance.”

I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him toward the door. “There’s no time! Let’s go!”

He shook me off, his fingers frantically searching for the right wire. The clock ticked down mercilessly—10 seconds, 9 seconds.

I screamed, desperate. “Gabriel, please! We’re going to die!”

Finally, he cursed under his breath, pulled his gun, and fired at the CCTV camera in the corner of the room, shattering it with one shot. He whirled around and fired again, this time at the speaker embedded in the ceiling.

“Let’s go!” he yelled, grabbing my hand.

I stumbled after him as he dragged me toward the balcony. My legs felt like jelly, my mind spinning with panic. “W-Wat are you doing?”

“We’re jumping,” he said, his tone grim.

“What? No! I can’t—Gabriel, I can’t swim!”

He didn’t hesitate. “You’d rather stay and die?”

The timer hit 3 seconds.

I barely had time to scream before he wrapped an arm around me and hurled us both over the railing.

The explosion tore through the ship just as we hit the water. The force of it was like being hit by a speeding truck, slamming me into the icy waves. Saltwater filled my mouth and nose as I thrashed, desperate to stay afloat.

Gabriel’s arm was suddenly around me, his grip like iron. “Hold on!” he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames and the crashing waves.

I clung to him, coughing and sputtering, as he swam with powerful strokes away from the burning wreckage. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, but I didn’t let go.

The cold water sapped my strength, and darkness crept into the edges of my vision. The last thing I remembered was Gabriel’s voice, shouting something I couldn’t make out.

When I opened my eyes, the world was blindingly bright. I coughed, sputtering up seawater, and realized I was lying on sand. The distant sound of waves lapping at the shore reached my ears, but it was Gabriel leaning over me, his hands pressing rhythmically against my chest, that held my attention.

“Come on, Ana. Breathe!” he said, his voice raw with desperation.

I coughed again, taking in a shaky gasp of air, and his shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank God,” he muttered, sitting back.

I struggled to sit up, my body aching all over. “You… you saved me.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, his tone curt, but I could see the relief in his eyes.

I looked around, taking in the deserted beach and the endless ocean beyond. “Where are we?”

“No idea,” Gabriel admitted. “But at least we’re alive.”

Silence hung between us for a moment before I asked the question that had been burning in my mind since the explosion. “Why did you save me, Gabriel?”

He didn’t meet my gaze. Instead, he busied himself checking the gun strapped to his side. “You shouldn’t have been involved in this mess,” he said finally.

“That’s not an answer,” I pressed. “You could’ve let me die. Why didn’t you?”

He sighed, running a hand through his wet hair. “Because I owe you that much after you protected me from all of those bullies back the . They could've killed me. Ana, you were my friend and it's something that I cherished the most. After everything your family went through because of Elizalde… it’s the least I could do.”

I frowned, confused. “W-What are you talking about?”

Gabriel hesitated, his jaw tightening. “I used to work for Elizalde,” he admitted. “Years ago. I owed him my life—he saved me from the fire at the orphanage.”

I stared at him, the pieces slowly clicking into place. “You worked for him? But you’re not on his side anymore?”

He shook his head. “Not now. I learned my lesson."

“What did you learn?”

Gabriel’s gaze darkened. “He’s the one who embezzled money from your family’s company, driving it into bankruptcy."

The world seemed to tilt around me. “What?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Before I could press him further, he stood abruptly, brushing sand off his pants. “We need to move. If Elizalde knows we survived, he won’t stop until we’re dead.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he said sharply. “You wanted to know why I saved you? There’s your answer. Now get up.”

I stared at him, my mind racing with questions. But for now, I pushed them aside. Gabriel was right. If Elizalde was behind all this, then he wouldn’t stop until I was gone for good.

And if I wanted answers, I had to stay alive.

“B-But why does he need to kill the innocent parents who adopted me and... me if he embezzled our wealth already?" I asked, my voice trembling.

“You need to remember something,” Gabriel said, his tone sharp and urgent as we trudged through the damp jungle. The air around us was thick with the scent of earth and decay, and the canopy above let in only shards of sunlight. “Elizalde wants you for a reason, Anastasia. It’s because he thinks you’re someone else.”

I turned to him, confused. “W-What do you mean someone else? I’m his wife, Gabriel. Who else would I be?”

He stopped walking and faced me, his dark eyes filled with something I couldn’t place—regret, maybe? Fear? “Elizalde believes you’re the same person... his missing ex-wife. And before you say anything, I know it sounds insane, but it’s true.”

“What? That’s ridiculous!” I said, shaking my head. “I l-looked like the same as her? F-First, I didn't know that he has an ex-wife. I mean, I've never even met his first wife. He just... lied to me. How could he think that way?”

Gabriel sighed, his shoulders tense. “Because you have a twin.”

I froze. My chest tightened, the breath knocked out of me by his words. “A twin? T-That’s impossible. I don’t have a twin.”

“You do,” he insisted. “Or at least, you had one. That’s why Elizalde is obsessed with hunting you down for you to tell him where she is."

I felt the ground shift beneath me. Memories of my childhood swirled in my mind, blurred and fragmented. Could it be true? Could I have a sister I never knew about?

“And what about you?” I asked, my voice trembling. “H-How do you know all this?”

Gabriel’s jaw clenched, and his gaze dropped to the ground. “Because Elizalde drilled it into us. Every damn day after he saved us from the fire, he reminded us that we owed him everything—and that we need to find his ex-wife that looks exactly the same as you. It was the reason why he befriended your parents. To marry you. He made sure we knew who you were, Anastasia. After a lot of investigations, he proved to us that you too are not just look-alike…you are identical twins.”

I staggered back a step, the weight of his confession sinking in. “So all this time… you’ve known? You’ve known who I am, and you’ve been waiting to… to what? To kill me if I didn't tell you where the damn she is?!"

“I’ve been waiting to make this right,” he said firmly. “To save you. To make up for everything Elizalde’s done to you and your family. But you need to trust me, Ana. Because this is only the beginning.”

The jungle grew darker as the hours dragged on. Gabriel led the way, his movements steady despite the uneven terrain. I followed close behind, my mind spinning with everything he’d revealed.

But just as we reached a small clearing, a rustling sound made us both freeze.

“Stay close,” Gabriel whispered, his hand hovering over the gun at his side.

Before I could respond, masked men emerged from the shadows. There were at least six of them, their faces obscured by black fabric.

“Run!” Gabriel shouted, but it was too late.

Two of them grabbed me, forcing me to the ground, while the others swarmed Gabriel. I screamed as they hit him, their fists and boots slamming into his body again and again.

“Stop it! Please, stop!” I begged, struggling against the hands holding me down.

But they didn’t stop. Gabriel’s body went limp, his face bloodied, and my vision blurred with tears.

Pain exploded in my head as something hard struck me from behind, and the world went dark.

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the cold. The air was damp, and the stone floor beneath me was unforgiving. I opened my eyes to find myself in a large, dimly lit cell.

Gabriel was lying beside me, his face swollen and bruised. Around us were other guards— two men with hollow eyes.

“G-Gabriel?” I croaked, crawling toward him.

He stirred, groaning as he sat up. “Are you okay?”

“I’m f-fine,” I lied, even though every inch of me ached. “Where are we?”

“A holding cell,” he said grimly. “Elizalde’s men brought us here. Remember that he planned everything. The bomb and this..."

Before I could respond, the cell door creaked open. Two guards entered with a small girl running towards me, smiling at me.

Gabriel’s eyes widened. “Damn,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

“W-Who is that?” I asked, panic rising in my chest.

He didn’t answer. He was too focused on the girl. Meanwhile, the girl held my tied hand tightly as if about to cry.

“Mama, w-we found you, I love you.” she whimpered, her tear-streaked face turning toward me.

SHE HUGGED ME TIGHTLY.

I heard his breath caught. “Just pretend that you're her. S-She's your ace." he whispered. His jaw clenched tightly.

I nodded. “H-Hello baby,” I said, my voice filled with equal nervous and frighten.

The men began to close in on us, their expressions hostile. One of them cracked his knuckles, his gaze fixed on Gabriel.

“Looks like you’ve got nowhere to run now,” the man sneered.

Before they could attack, the sound of heavy boots echoed down the corridor. The cell door swung open again, and my heart dropped when I saw who stepped inside.

Elizalde Winston.

The room fell silent, his lips curling into a cruel smile. He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“STOP! Don't you see my daughter was in here too? Who let her be in here, huh? ” he said to his guards authoritatively.

He walks towards us, gripping her daughter's arm, stepping back away from me. He crouched, gazing at his daughter. “Koleen, what are you doing here? It's late, you should take some—"

It was the first time I heard his voice turned into a caring one. Now, I knew it! I had to use the child to know the truth.

“W-Why did you put Mum in jail, P-Papa? Don't you love her anymore? We found her now." her voice shaken, making Elizalde hug her tightly.

After a few minutes, the guards rushed towards them to get the child who's now having tantrums. I just gaze at her as they walked away from us.

He pulled back, looking at me and his smile widening. “Did you really think you two could run from me? I planned this. WHAT A DRAMA."

I glared at him, my fear giving way to anger. “W-Why are you doing this?”

Elizalde chuckled, his eyes glinting with malice. “Oh, Anastasia. You really don’t know, do you?”

He leaned in closer, his voice a cold whisper. “You’re not the one I want. You’re just the bait. Your twin sister is the one I need—and with you, I’ll finally bring her back," he whispered. “You're just lucky ‘cause my daughter sneaked here and saw you. And with that, you need to pretend that you're her Mommy, got it?"

Weeks passed, and the weight of my decision finally settled on my shoulders as I signed the Non-Disclosure Contract Elizalde handed me. This was my life now—pretending to be a mother to Koleen, his child. Though the arrangement felt like a chain around my neck, I convinced myself it was temporary. It had to be.

But life, as always, had other plans.

One ordinary afternoon, the call I received from our housekeeper sent a shiver down my spine. Koleen was rushed to the hospital. The words struck like lightning, leaving me frozen for a moment. Her asthma had flared up again, they said. I didn’t think twice. I grabbed my things and hurried to the hospital, my heart pounding against my chest with every step.

When I arrived at the Emergency Room, the sight of the red sign flashing “No Entry” felt like a slap. I tried to reason with the nurses, begged them to let me in, but they wouldn’t budge. I was Koleen’s mother—or at least, I was supposed to be—but even that didn’t give me the right to be with her. The irony stung more than I cared to admit.

Minutes turned into hours as I sat in the cold, sterile waiting area, helpless and worried sick. When the doctor finally approached me, the look on his face was enough to send a chill down my spine.

“I’m afraid Koleen’s condition is more serious than we thought,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

“W-Wat do you mean?” I asked, my throat tightening.

“She has kidney failure,” he said, his words sharp and unyielding. “It’s rare for her age, but we suspect it’s linked to a pre-existing condition. She’ll need immediate treatment and lifelong monitoring.”

“K-Kidney failure?” I repeated, my voice barely a whisper. “But… how? She’s just a child. She only has asthma… how did this happen?”

He explained how her condition might have been developing silently for years, worsened by stress and her frequent asthma attacks. But his words barely registered. I couldn’t get past the thought of Koleen—so full of life—now facing something so grave.

As much as I wanted to stay by her side, the hospital’s rules wouldn’t allow it. So, with a heavy heart, I left her in the care of the nurses. My heart ached as I walked away, knowing she’d wake up without me by her side.

But there was something else gnawing at me, something that refused to be ignored. Elizalde. He needed to know.

I drove straight to Winston Corp.— the Pharmaceutical company. the anger bubbling in my chest threatening to spill over. Koleen was his daughter, and he needed to act like it but we called and texted him for a couple of times but NO ANSWERS. And as I pushed open the heavy door to his office, I froze in my tracks.

There he was, tangled in an embrace with Brittany Jones. Her hands clung to him, her lips pressed against his like she had every right to be there. Brittany—my ex-best friend. Now, the investor on his business.

The sight tore through me, a jagged edge cutting deeper than I thought possible. My feet moved before my mind could catch up, storming into the room with a fury I didn’t know I had.

“Seriously, Elizalde?!” My voice echoed in the spacious office, sharp and cold. “Your daughter is in the hospital, and this is how you spend your time? With her?”

Brittany pulled away, her smug expression quickly replaced by one of mock surprise. “Oh, Anastasia, I didn’t see you—" she said but I cutted her off, her voice dripping with condescension.

“I’m not talking to you,” I snapped, turning my attention back to Elizalde. “I called you, texted you about Koleen. Do you even care that your daughter is sick, huh? Or are you too busy playing house with this… this investor?”

Elizalde’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he calmly walked to his desk, pulled out a folder, and placed it in front of me.

“What is this?” I demanded, my hands trembling as I picked it up.

“A divorce contract,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. “I think it’s time we end your relationship as Anastasia Jermanó."

My breath hitched as I stared at the papers in disbelief. “Y-You can’t be serious.”

“I’m very serious,” he said, his tone firm. “Sign it, Anastasia. It’s better for everyone involved.”

Everyone involved? His words echoed in my mind, twisting like a knife in my chest.

Brittany’s laughter broke through the tension, her voice light and mocking. “Oh, Anastasia, don’t look so surprised. You had to know this was coming. In fact, you're just nothing but a... richy bitchy!"

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to wipe that smug smile off her face. Instead, I grabbed a pen from Elizalde’s desk and opened the folder. I could feel their eyes on me, watching, waiting for me to give up.

NOT FOR KOLEEN.

But I wasn’t about to let them win.

I held the pen over the dotted line for a moment, letting the tension build. Then, in one swift motion, I tore the papers in half.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Elizalde demanded, standing up from his chair.

“I’m not signing anything,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “You think you can just replace me? Replace Koleen’s mother? Think again, Elizalde.”

Brittany’s smirk faltered as she exchanged a glance with Elizalde. Good. Let them squirm.

“I know what this is about,” I continued, my gaze never leaving Elizalde’s. “You married me for what? For my money, huh? Now you had a relationship with her? F-For how long have you been in a relationship with... her?"