Chapter 12
900 Words
Chapter 12.
Three weeks have passed since that memorable gala night-the night Laura and Axel stood side by side under the crystal chandelier. But what happened that night was not the end of the game, but a new chapter, a much more dangerous one.
Photos of the two of them were everywhere, from international business media to top lifestyle magazines, all vying to frame them as a couple.
But underneath it all, Laura knew that the spotlight was a threat.
Every article, every photo, every quote was like a shard of glass that sparkled from afar but could hurt if stepped on carelessly.
And so the truth-seekers began to dig.
An independent media published a light-hearted investigative article about Laura. There was nothing immediately suspicious just a glimpse of who she was, where she came from, and how 'clean' her digital footprint was. But Nadine, now Laura's life shield, reads deeper than what's written.
"They smell something," she muttered, placing a file on the glass table in Laura's apartment.
Laura gave her a quick glance. "They call me 'low profile'."
His tone was even, but his eyes were sharp.
"That's not a compliment. It's a warning," she continued.
Nadine opened her laptop, her hands moving quickly, showing a digital map of the online trail that was beginning to be drawn. "Old forums. University archives. One or two scientific journal articles you helped write. We need to clean everything up. Even your old email address that used to connect you to Alessia Samantha."
Laura was silent. One hand held a cup of coffee that was getting cold. In her silence, her mind was spinning.
"So, Alessia... must really die?" he asked softly.
"Not dead. Just buried deep enough so she doesn't wake up," Nadine replied without hesitation. "You still have a purpose; it's not over yet."
But lately, Laura's nights have been spent with Axel. Her mission, her intentions, even her grudges began to blur in a complicated haze of togetherness. Feelings that were once so firm are now a multi-faceted puzzle.
On the terrace of Axel's penthouse apartment, under the calm night sky, they sat together. Classical jazz played softly. The summer breeze gently brushed Laura's hair, which was tied up in a simple bun. Her face was tired, but Axel looked at her as if time had stopped just to record her.
"Can I tell you something I've never told anyone?" Axel asked, his voice low.
Laura turned her head with mock calmness. "Sure."
Axel let out a long breath. His gaze wandered to the sky, then back to the face of the woman in front of him.
"Once upon a time... I was once in love. With a woman who appeared when I was still a nobody. Her name was Alessia."
Laura barely blinked. Her body tensed, but she did not move. Only her breathing changed rhythm slightly.
"She was... different," Axel continued. "Full of ideas, stubborn, overly emotional. But she brings out something in me that I never realized."
He chuckled.
"But I was... too focused on my ambitions. I thought at that moment when I reached the top, I could make up for everything. But she didn't wait. He left without a trace."
Laura looked down. Inside her, a thousand versions of feelings raged, anger, sadness, bitterness, and fear that began to melt back.
"I still dream of him sometimes," Axel whispered. "Sometimes I hate her, sometimes I hate myself. But since you came, I feel like maybe this is a second chance for me."
He reached for Laura's hand, grasping it.
"You make me believe that I can still fix things. To love right."
Laura tried to smile. But it was a bland smile. Behind her calm face.
Because she knew the truth. Alessia never left.
Alessia was destroyed. Accused, erased from her life, obliterated from the official company narrative. She didn't disappear she was forced to disappear. And now, she sits here. But in a more subtle way. More piercing.
That night, Laura locked herself in the bathroom.
She sat on the cold marble floor, her body trembling. The water from the faucet dripped softly, as if marking the passing time. She looked at her face in the mirror. Her hair was different, her speech had changed. But those eyes... Alessia's eyes were still the same. And now, those eyes were crying silently.
---
The next morning, Nadine arrived earlier than usual. With documents. But also with something heavier. a threat.
"Laura," he said in a strained tone, "you need to see this."
She turned on her laptop, opening an email titled "INFORMATION ABOUT 'LAURA SMITH'."
The contents of the email were a ticking time bomb.
An old photo of Alessia when she was a research assistant, screenshots of deleted social media accounts, and a dark forum thread discussing conspiracy theories about the 'disappearance' of Alessia Samantha and the appearance of 'Laura Smith' in close proximity.
And most painful of all. someone matched a small photo of Galen with a young photo of Axel, spreading speculation that there was a blood connection.
Nadine closed her laptop screen.
"This is just the beginning. If they keep digging, your identity could be revealed, and Axel could find out everything-not from you."
Laura stared out the window. Her face was calm, but her eyes were frozen.
"Then," she said quietly, "it's time for me to strike first."
- Writer
