“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?"

I cannot wait to hear Elizalde’s excuses. But his call for security came too quickly, and before I knew it, two guards were dragging me out of his office. My fury burned hot as I stumbled out, but the world suddenly seemed colder when my phone buzzed in my hand. An unknown number flashed on the screen.

“Ana,” he said, his voice urgent. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Where are you?”

“I’m fine,” I snapped, brushing away the tears threatening to fall. “You? How are you? I-It’s been a while.”

Gabriel’s silence lasted a second too long before he dropped the bombshell. “I found her. I know where your twin sister is.”

My legs almost gave out. “You… found her? Are you sure? Where is she? I need to see her right now!” My words tumbled out in a frantic rush.

Gabriel hesitated. “It’s not safe. Let me handle this first. Elizalde might catch on if you make any sudden moves.”

“Gabriel, no.” I wasn’t about to let him sideline me, not after everything I’d endured. “She’s my sister afterall. I-I’m… I’m going with you. You don’t get to decide for me.”

After a long pause, he sighed in defeat. “Fine. But we need to move carefully. Meet me tomorrow. Will text ya the address. I’ll take you from there.”

That night, I visited Koleen in the hospital. Her small frame looked fragile, her breathing steady but shallow. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, fighting the lump in my throat.

“I’ll be back soon,” I whispered. “Stay strong for me, okay?”

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. Sure Elizalde didn’t come home, probably off with Brittany or handling whatever shady deals consumed his days. I didn’t care anymore. I packed a small bag, grabbed my coat, and left.

The drive to the abandoned house felt endless. Gabriel was already there, leaning against his car, arms crossed.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked as I approached.

I nodded. “More than ever.”

We set off in his car, driving for hours through winding roads and increasingly remote areas. Finally, we reached a narrow dirt path that led to a secluded beach. The air was thick with salt and the distant sound of waves.

Waiting for us was a small speedboat. My heart raced, and not in a good way. Memories of the yacht explosion that had almost taken my life came flooding back. My hands trembled as I stared at the boat, frozen in place.

“Anastasia,” Gabriel said softly, noticing my hesitation. “You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready.”

I shook my head, forcing myself to move. “N-No, I’m going. I’ve come this far.”

The ride was rough, the boat bouncing over the waves, but I held on. Every second felt like an eternity. When we finally reached the other side, I let out a shaky breath.

An elderly woman greeted us as we stepped onto the shore. She wore a faded house dress and a kind, weathered expression.

“A-Are you the ones looking for Emily?” she asked, her voice gentle but firm.

I frowned. Emily?

Gabriel nodded. “Yes. We’re looking for her.”

“Come with me,” she said, leading us down a narrow path to a small wooden house tucked away behind the trees.

The house was modest, almost shabby, but it radiated a strange sense of peace. As we entered, my breath caught in my throat.

There she was.

My twin.

Her frame was thinner, her face pale and gaunt. But it was unmistakably her. She looked up as we stepped inside, her eyes wide with confusion and something else—fear.

“Sis,” I said softly, taking a hesitant step forward. “It’s me. Anastasia. Your long lost sister.”

Her gaze flickered between me and Gabriel, distrust clouding her features.

“I… we thought you were dead,” I said, tears spilling down my cheeks. “Your family needs you.”

The old woman interjected gently, explaining how they had found Emily floating in the ocean, wearing a life vest. “It was a miracle she survived,” she said. “She’s been here ever since, recovering. Her name is Emily, we decide for her name. We found her on the seashore, unconcious. She has a lot of bruises and wound around her body.”

Emily didn’t say a word. She just stared at me, her expression unreadable.

“E-Emily, it’s me,” I tried again, my voice cracking. I stepped closer, desperate to close the gap between us. “We’ve been looking for you for the past weeks. I d-didn’t know that I have a sister…”

But when I reached out to hug her, she recoiled violently.

“Don’t touch me!” she screamed, pushing me away with surprising strength.

“Emily, please—”

“Stay back!” Her voice was high-pitched, panicked. She clutched her arms around herself, backing away like a cornered animal.

“Emily, what’s wrong? Tell me.” Gabriel asked, stepping in to help calm her down.

She shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face. “Y-You’re here. You found me. You’ll kill me.”

“W-What? No!” I asked, my heart breaking at the sight of her so distraught. “Emily, what are you talking about?”

Her lips trembled as she muttered a name.

“B-Brittany…”

And just like that, the room fell silent.