Chapter 4

Avelina’s POV 

“Two Years later”.

I kissed Kyle’s cheek softly, breathing in his baby scent one last time. His little arms clutched at my sweater, like he knew I was letting go. My mom shifted him gently in her arms, cradling him like the treasure he was.

The airport buzzed with voices and rolling suitcases, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart.

“You’re sure you don’t want to come with us?” Mama asked, her voice thick with worry.

I shook my head. “No. I can’t leave New York, not yet. I have unfinished business here. I need to find my real family. It’s about time.”

She looked at me for a long moment. “How are you going to survive? You can barely feed yourself.”

“I’ll get a job,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “Even if it’s waiting tables. I don’t have a certificate, I know. But I’ve got two hands. I’ll manage.”

Mama’s eyes flicked to my face. “And that face you’re carrying… the same face as the sister you’re looking for—how do you plan to deal with that?”

I looked away, chewing my bottom lip. “I don’t know. But I’ll find my way around it.”

She was silent for a moment. Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a pen, digging into her purse for something else.

She scribbled quickly on a scrap of paper and handed it to me. “That’s where they live. Your real family.”

My fingers trembled as I took it. I stared at the address. She’d had it all this time?

“You had this?” My voice broke. “All these years, and you didn’t give it to me?”

“I’m sorry,” she said, voice cracking. “I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. I haven’t made peace with it... not yet.”

I took a shaky breath. “Are you hiding anything else from me?”

“No,” she said. “The rest… you’ll have to find out on your own.”

“Flight 417 to Austria now boarding,” the voice rang from the intercom.

She hugged Kyle closer, and I reached out to hold him one last time. I pressed my lips to his forehead, tears blinding me. “I’ll come for you, Kyle. As soon as I’m done. I swear it.”

Mama pulled me into a tight hug. “I’ll take care of him. Like he’s mine.”

“I know,” I whispered.

I stepped back, biting my lip so hard it almost bled. I watched them walk toward the gate, Kyle looking over her shoulder, hand waving like he understood.

“Bye,” I whispered.

Then I turned, squared my shoulders—and walked away.

—--

I shut the door to the small, dim apartment behind me, then stood in the silence, staring at the piece of paper in my hand. The address. My real family’s address. My heart beat slowly, heavy like it was dragging the weight of years of questions and fear.

Should I go now… or wait till tomorrow?

I looked around. The place was cold, lifeless. No food. Not even a slice of bread. I didn’t even know how I’d survive the night. My stomach growled, reminding me that tomorrow might be too late.

No. I’d go today.

I tied my hair into a messy bun, washed my face, and pulled on something more practical—jeans, a plain shirt, and sneakers. I tossed a face cap over my head to stay low-key. Not my usual style—I normally wore dresses and sandals—but today wasn’t about style. It was about strength. And survival.

As I stuffed a few things into a sling bag, a card slipped out from the corner of my drawer.

Mikhail’s card.

The one he gave me at the hospital. “Call me if you need anything.”

I never called. Not once.

Because I didn’t want Zayne to see me struggling. I didn’t want his pity.

I stared at the card for a moment… then tore it clean in two.

I locked the door behind me and headed out. The train rumbled beneath me as I leaned back, my fingers tightly clutching the paper with the address. The city blurred past the window. My thoughts were racing. What would I say? What would I do if they actually lived there?

By the time I reached the estate, my nerves were in knots. The streets were lined with trees and luxury cars. Elegant homes with perfect hedges stood on both sides like royalty in stone.

I started going house by house, scanning the numbers.

Then I saw it.

The house.

It was massive. Beautiful. White stone, tall windows, black iron gates with a golden crest in the middle. Everything about it screamed wealth, power… family.

My family?

I stood at the gate, heart thumping. This was it.

But was I really ready?

No, I didn't think i was. I turned slowly, my chest tight. Maybe I needed more time. Maybe today wasn’t the day—

A black Rolls Royce purred up the driveway and turned into the compound.

I froze.

The back window rolled down.

A woman inside removed her sunglasses, eyes wide. Her lips trembled. “Alina?” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “Is that you?”

Before I could even think, she flung the door open and rushed toward me, her heels clicking against the pavement.

“You came back,” she cried, throwing her arms around me. “My baby, you came back.”

I took a step back, confused. “No, I—wait—I’m not—”

But she didn’t let me finish. She held my face, smiling through her tears. “No, honey, you don’t have to say anything. We forgive you. Your father and I… we forgive you.”

I couldn’t breathe.

Before I could explain, she grabbed my hand and led me to the car. “Come. Come inside.”

And just like that, I was inside the Rolls Royce, driving through the gates into a life I didn’t yet understand.

The car rolled to a gentle stop in front of the mansion, and I sat frozen, hands clenched in my lap. The woman beside me—my supposed mother—smiled so wide, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears.

“We’re home, baby,” she said, stepping out and gesturing for me to follow.

I hesitated but moved anyway, carried by something heavier than my legs—a mix of shock and curiosity. The air smelled like roses and fresh linen. The compound was even more beautiful up close, with trimmed hedges, marble tiles, and gold-lined doors.

“Come inside, sweetie. You look like you haven’t eaten in days,” she said as we entered the grand foyer, her heels clicking against the shiny floor. “You’ve gone so lean. Last year, before you disappeared, you were chubby!”

Last year? My heart skipped.

Pieces were starting to come together. The girl they thought I was—Alina—must’ve vanished. Left home. 

I opened my mouth to speak. To finally say, “I’m not Alina.”

But she raised a hand gently. “Shh. Not now, darling. You don’t have to explain anything. You’re home, and that’s all that matters.”

She clapped twice. Maids appeared, their eyes widening when they saw me.

“Announce to the house—Alina is back!” she beamed. “Run her a warm bath, prepare her room exactly how she likes it, and make her favorite meal. Everything fresh. Immediately.”

“Yes, ma’am!” they chorused, disappearing into the hallway.

She turned to me, laughing softly as she cupped my cheeks again. “Your father, Raymond… he’ll cry when he sees you. He’s on a business trip, but once he hears you’re home—oh, he’ll fly back instantly!”

I stared at her.

I didn’t say a word.

I didn’t know how to.