Checks the calendar. It's been so long! I'm truly sorry, lovelies. Hope you can forgive me. Here's a short update, by GOD'S Grace. Hoping to add more soon.

And also, thank you all so much for being supportive of me all this while. I truly appreciate it.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Much Love,

Phela❤️❤️❤️

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"Yvette?"

"Yes!" Aqui's head snapped up at the mention of her pseudonym.

"The Rukovoditel' is asking for more."

"Sure," Aqui forced a polite smile at the matronly leader of the Zone.

It was her second time being asked to serve that evening. And so far, she had heard nothing helpful to their cause.

I guess bumping into him earlier was the only chance I had to see him up close, Aqui sighed inwardly as she headed toward her task.

She was only allowed a moment of stay when she served. And their words were all cryptic. Yet, she remained on the alert.

As Aqui was about to head out of the dark themed yet sophisticated hidden meeting room, a voice stopped her.

"Yvette, is it?"

Her eyes widened and Aqui almost gasped when she heard the voice that called out her name.

The darkroom could only allow so much to be seen. But she recognised the accent as she had heard it earlier when she bumped into him. And also during the attack in France.

But what shocked her the most was the fact that he had remembered her name which he had briefly glanced at before.

"Yes, sir?" She adjusted her glasses and allowed the French accent to lace through her words.

He has a good memory, she noted.

"Would you mind calling in my Secretary? Just ask the guards outside."

"Of course, sir." She slightly lowered her head and headed out.

And that was when she saw it. It had been barely perceptible, yet she noticed it. And almost even... smelt it.

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As the clock struck midnight, the trained assassins hiding in the dark non-surveilled area of the H Estate felt discouraged.

They had waited for hours expecting their target, but they were not in sight.

"Rufus, do you think they knew we were coming?"

The younger assassin asked their leader, his eyebrows heightened in fear.

But one stern glance from Rufus caused him to immediately shelf his anxiety.

"Check around the yard one more time," their leader, Rufus, commanded—clearly irritated. Things were not going as planned.

It was apparent that night was their only chance of ever intruding the grand estate. And their boss, the Rukovoditel', would be less than happy if they failed.

—————

"So, the woman we just met is your mother?" Skylar asked as though in a trance.

The turn of events had been shocking, even for him. He wondered how Javier felt.

Javier only pursed his lips and shut his eyes, taking in a deep breath. He then began to massage his aching temples.

It was all too much to take in.

God, help me.

He had begun to call out to God since living with her — Aquilina.

That was yet another ache in his already wounded heart.

Who do I believe now?

His long-lost mother had suddenly appeared, whilst his wife had left him. He recalled searching the house earlier that day and finding the divorce documents on her desk.

"Trust that she will return to you, my Angelo," his mother had assured him previously.

And that was after she relayed the story of what she claimed had happened all those years ago.

Something deep within him wished to believe her. But the ache which was rooted just as deep told him not to.

He felt torn, and the turmoil boiling within him felt like an unfolding tornado. He didn't know what to do. He clenched his fists in his laps.

As if sensing his thoughts, Skylar spoke up.

"Why don't you stay at my place for a couple of days, away from everything. Till your mind is clear."

Sighing again and releasing his clenched fists, Javier nodded. It was late anyway.

"And..." Skylar droned. "I want to live longer, so it's probably best if I drive instead."

That made Javier crack a smile. It was barely visible, but, it made him realise a certain truth. The shut doors in his life didn't mean there couldn't be a window with a few rays of light.

He felt he could say, he had a friend.

—————-

Aqui felt her heart rate increase past its normal rate. She had been trained with such things.

One of her brothers had been the lead in inventing the Israeli RTS system. So she had been around a whole lot of weapons whilst growing up.

And she was certain of what she had seen as one of the guests had entered the darkroom of Zone X. It was well hidden, but a few beeping lights and its faint smell gave it away.

The person, whoever it was, carried a bomb.

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Oh... and what do you all think of the new cover? I might be going back and forth between this and the old one.

Kindly drop your thoughts on it.