The Surrogate Revenge

CHAPTER 14 — THE GIRL HE NEVER STOPPED LOOKING FOR

JULIAN’S POV

For a moment, I couldn't speak. I had imagined finding Elara for eighteen years, but none of those moments had prepared me for seeing her alive.

She was sitting only a few feet away from me, looking at me with a cautious expression, while I struggled to understand how the little girl I had spent years searching for had become this woman.

I studied her face, searching for the features I remembered. Her eyes were the same, especially the way they narrowed when she was unsure about someone.

Even the slight crease between her brows looked familiar. I had carried those memories for so long that seeing them again felt almost unreal. I looked away briefly, trying to steady myself before facing her again.

“I don't remember you,” she said quietly. I had already been warned about that, but hearing it from her still hurt. I forced myself to nod. “I know,” I replied. She hesitated before adding, “And my name is Heather.”

“You don't have to call yourself Elara because I do,” I told her. “If you're Heather, then you're Heather.” She looked at me with slight surprise, as if she had expected me to argue.

I couldn't do that to her. She had already lost enough without me demanding that she accept a name attached to memories she couldn't reach.

“But how are you so sure I'm her?” she asked. “You barely know me now.” I gave a small shake of my head.

“I knew you before you disappeared.” She remained silent, waiting. “You were stubborn,” I added, and a faint smile touched my face. “You hated losing. It didn't matter if it was a game or an argument. You always needed another chance.”

“That doesn't prove anything,” she pointed out. I almost smiled again because that sounded like her too.

“No, it doesn't,” I admitted. “But there were other things,” I told her about the way she used to disappear whenever the adults told her to behave, including the afternoon she hid behind the flower pots in the old greenhouse while everyone searched for her.

She listened quietly. “I don't remember that.”

“I know,” I said. “You don't have to.” I didn't want to make her feel like she was failing some test. I knew she couldn't force memories to return just because I wanted them to. “Before we were separated, you made me promise something,” I continued. “You made me promise that if we were ever separated, I'd find you.”

Her eyes stayed on mine. “And you did?” she asked. “I tried,” I answered honestly. “For eighteen years.” My voice became quieter. “I didn't know I'd actually have to keep that promise for this long.” Something changed in her expression, but she still looked uncertain.

I understood. She had spent eighteen years living as Heather, and suddenly people were asking her to accept a past she couldn't remember.

“You don't have to believe me today,” I told her. “Take your time. Ask whatever you want. If you don't remember something, say so.” She looked down at her hands.

“Why are you being so patient?” she asked. I didn't have a perfect answer. I only knew I had spent eighteen years wanting to find her. Now that I had, the last thing I wanted was to make her uncomfortable.

My attention shifted when she reached for the documents on the table. “Do you know Adrian Cole?” she asked. The change in her voice was immediate.

I moved closer. “Yes.” She picked up one of the papers. “What do you know about the signing?” I explained that Adrian was preparing for an important corporate agreement involving investors, and that the deal could strengthen his company considerably if it went through.

Heather scanned the document. “This part isn't right.” I looked at the section she was pointing toward.

“Why?”

“Because I know Adrian's business,” she answered. “I worked with him for years. He wouldn't normally accept this kind of risk.”

She turned the page, studying it more carefully. “Someone changed this, or Adrian knows something we don't.”

“What do you want to do?” I asked. She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked back at the documents.

“Nothing yet.” I waited as she continued. “If we interfere now, he'll know someone is behind it. I don't want that.” Her voice remained calm. “I want him to believe everything is going well.”

I understood what she was doing. Adrian believed Heather was dead. As long as that remained true, he had no reason to watch his back.

“You want to see what he does,” I said.

“Exactly.” She closed the folder. “I want to know what he's planning, what he's depending on, and who is helping him before I make a move.”

“Vivianne?” I asked. Heather's expression tightened slightly.

“Her too.”

She looked down at the folder.

“I want to know how involved she is with the signing, how much influence she has over the investors, and what connects her to Adrian.”

She paused before looking at me. “If I'm going to understand them, I need to know what holds them together.”

“And then you want to break it,” I said. She didn't deny it.

“I want them to turn against each other,” she replied simply. There was no anger in her voice, which made her determination clearer. She wasn't planning to rush into Adrian's life. She wanted to understand it first.

“If you're going to do this, don't do it alone,” I told her. She looked at me cautiously. “Why would you help me?”

“Because I can,” I explained. My family had connections and resources that could help uncover information about Adrian's company without alerting him.

We could look into the investors, the signing, and Vivianne without making it obvious that someone was watching.

She studied me for a long moment.

“Even though I don't remember you?” she asked. The question caught me off guard, but I didn't look away.

“Remembering me was never a condition of loving you.” Her expression changed, and silence settled between us. I realized I had said more than I planned, but I didn't regret it.

I reached for my phone. “I'll start with the signing,” I told her. “I'll find out what Adrian stands to lose if the deal fails and how much influence Vivianne has.” Heather nodded.

“And don't let him know.”

“I won't.” I turned toward the door, but something made me stop.

I looked back at her. For eighteen years, I had searched for the girl I remembered.

I had finally found her, but she was carrying another name and another life. I couldn't make her remember me. I couldn't force her to accept Elara. All I could do was give her the time she needed and keep the promise I had made all those years ago.

I rested my hand against the door and met her eyes one last time. She might not remember the boy who had promised to find her, but I remembered everything. And if she wanted to uncover the truth about Adrian, I would help her do it without taking control away from her.

“Heather,” I said softly, “whatever happens next, you don't have to face it alone.”