{CHAPTER TWENTY THREE}

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The midday sun shone brilliantly, contradicting the forecast of rain from the news. Instead, the streets bathed under the relentless, searing heat of the sun.

A piece of advice— never trust everything the scientists say.

Before Lisa gracefully stepped out of the taxi, a glimpse of her red heel teased the onlookers, a prelude to her elegant exit onto the street. With finesse, she settled the bill with the driver, all the while applying her iconic red lipstick—a ritual she believed held a touch of magic.

"There's no way he's not gonna want me back," she confidently stated, slipping the lipstick into her bag. After a swift glance in the car mirror perched by the street, she ensured every detail was impeccable for this self-initiated meeting.

As she wrapped up the full fit check, she slyly glided over to Henry's stairs, effortlessly avoiding any telltale clatter from her heels. With a hand shielding her face from the scorching sun, she moved with a graceful stealth.

Upon reaching the summit of the stairs, she noticed beads of sweat forming, prompting her to grab her compact mirror and powder cosmetics to conceal the perspiration that threatened to ruin her meticulously done makeup.

Lisa, positioned by Henry's door, fixated on her reflection in the mirror, observed a sweat had smeared the lipstick she had freshly applied.

"Shit, I thought this was waterproof... Ugh! And I spent a fortune on this," she lamented, clicking her tongue in disappointment.

With sophistication, she meticulously reapplied her lipstick, stashed it away, and then let out a nervous sigh while deftly organizing her hair. Right as she was about to knock, a sudden word uttered from inside the house amazed her, freezing her in grief.

"You mean Lisa? I'm so glad I ended things with her; she was overly clingy and draining. You know, someone like that was never my type," Henry's voice dripped with scorn as he shared with the person on the other end of the phone.

Lisa stood frozen in absolute disbelief. Her entire world crumbled at those words. This was the person she poured her heart into, the one she believed reciprocated her love, the one she desired to mend things with. She was left shattered. 'Was this truly my worth to him'—she wondered.

All she could fathom was approaching him and delivering him a hard slap, yet the act felt futile. She condemned herself for investing emotions in someone who could be so callous. She wished fervently for the earth to open up and consume her as she stifled a sob, her tears intermingling with her running makeup, tracing paths down her cheeks.

While tears flowed down her cheeks, her phone unexpectedly beeped, snapping her back to reality. She glanced at the message, absorbing its contents, then hastily made her exit.

"You know I wanna be by your side more than anything, but I can't abandon our plan yet. I had to endure the agony of working at that dreadful office, and even dated Lisa just to get to her friend," Henry's phone conversation persisted.

"And we're on the brink, okay? I just need to draw closer to Hanna, earn her trust, have her over, slip a little something in her drink... and coax out the passcode to the company's funds."

"I know...I know all the plans. But, babe, I just miss you. It's so empty here without you."

"I miss you too, baby, but remember I'm doing this for us. This time, it's huge, unlike any other; we're gonna score big money this time, babe."

A heavy sigh slipped out of Henry's lover over the phone before replying, "Sure, babe, I'll wait. But come on, fill me in. What was with that out-of-the-blue request for me to fly over to you the other day? We both saw Lisa catching us in our intimate act, yet you played it cool like you didn't even notice her. Was that all part of the plan too?"

"It wasn't...but like I told you, she was beginning to get too clingy, and I just couldn't deal with it anymore. So, I had her come over, knowing you were here. Plus, she's not needed anymore. Hanna seems like a trusting and naive soul, unlike the other wealthy girls we've duped."

Their conversation softly ebbed away, a mere epilogue in the background.

I perched on the edge of my car, anticipation coursing through me as I awaited Lisa's arrival, while engaged in a phone call with Henry.

"Would you like to meet up or hang out sometime?" Henry inquired.

I honestly hesitated to give a response, given his deceit about resigning from his job and the revelation from Lisa that he was sacked. His image became less clear to me, and I pondered how Lisa would react if she discovered we spent time together. Nonetheless, viewing it from another angle, I believe our meeting could fuel conversations about possible reconciliation.

"Uhm..." Just as I was about to reply, I caught sight of Lisa in the distance. Her features were almost unrecognizable under the intense sun, which had bronzed her skin to a deep tan.

Lisa's imminent arrival spurred me to quickly utter, "Okay, let's meet up. I'll text you the spot. Gotta go now. Bye." I promptly ended the call before she got any closer.

"Who was that?" she asked, her face reflecting sadness as though she had recently cried.

"Uh... um... it was Jackson," I stuttered. Fortunately, I concocted a flawless lie. It pained me to deceive Lisa like this; it was a departure from my usual honesty. Yet, I knew she would thank me later in the future. Ultimately, I was acting in her best interest.

"Oohk," she responded.

"Why do you look so pale and forlorn? Are you alright? Please don't tell me you're unwell."

"I'm not Hanna, I'm perfectly fine," she retorted, her eye roll conveying her reluctance to engage in further conversation.

I knew something was wrong, but I had to respect her boundaries. Since she wasn't up for discussing it, I knew privacy was what she needed.

"Hold on," I said. "You know you can't tag along with me all gloomy; come on, cheer up a bit." Regardless of her mood, I was determined to brighten her spirits. There was no way she was accompanying me with that expression.

Lisa and I chose today as the perfect moment to pay a visit to the baby in the video with that distinctive birthmark we both viewed on her phone. It clicked as the ideal decision, especially given the striking resemblance of the birthmark to the young boy who came to my rescue that fateful night. If destiny is at play, he could very well be the baby's father.

Since Lisa's encounter with the boy was physical and claimed she could identify him, it felt like a stroke of brilliance to have her accompany me. With my memory still clouded, his recognition eluded me. Should he not be the one, then the quest continues. Expressing my gratitude to him felt like the slightest thing I could do.

"Alright, I'll give smiling a shot..." she uttered, mustering a forced and unnatural grin as we climbed into the car, primed to uncover where this adventure would take us.

I was captivated by the cabin's charm on the farmhouse, every nook adorned with exquisite vintage interiors that transported me back to the 90s. Despite its wooden floors and classic decor, it emitted an essence of luxury in every corner, blending seamlessly with the rustic surroundings of the farmhouse, where lush greenery and vibrant flowers added a touch of natural beauty to the picturesque setting of the cabin.

A blonde lady, dressed in a satin dress and a large white t-shirt, her blonde hair tucked behind her ear, guided us to the couch opposite the wooden dining area inside. Given our recent phone conversations in the preceding months, our meeting today came as no surprise to either of us.

"Would you care for anything?" she asked with a smile, her dimpled face enhancing her already radiant beauty.

"Uh... just a glass of water, please," Lisa hesitated.

"And for you?" she inquired, turning towards me.

"I'm good," I promptly responded, shoving my hair back. The task at hand consumed my thoughts, fueling my eagerness to unveil the information I sought.

Right about to leave to fetch the glass of water for Lisa, a baby's cry cried out from the room. "That must be her," I remarked, flashing a bright smile.

"Definitely," she responded. "Please, if you would excuse me," she requested.

There was no need for permission; we all understood that tending to her baby took precedence. Lisa and I observed her depart towards her crying infant, as a sense of contentment washed over me prompting me to let out a sigh.

She walked in with the snoozing baby in her arms, balancing a glass of water on the table. She settled on a wooden stool beside the couch where Lisa and I were seated, gently cradling her baby. The birthmark on the baby's head, just like in the video, added to her charm. But my visit was more than just admiring her cuteness. A subtle cough from me shifted the room's ambiance. They caught on that I was about to dive into the discussion, and they seemed all set for it.

"Ahem," I coughed. "I can't seem to locate your husband. Did he step out or something?"

Upon hearing my words, her expression switched, tears forming in her eyes. "My husband is no more... he passed away two months ago."

I was caught off guard by that bombshell, and the look in Lisa's eyes mirrored my astonishment. It left me wondering why she hadn't filled me in during all our chats. Despite my nerves, I wanted to convey my heartfelt sympathy.

"I'm deeply sorry for your loss," I uttered sincerely.

"Thank you, but it's fine. My focus now is to be strong for my baby," she said, holding back the tears that threatened to spill.

"You should have informed me over the phone, then I could have given you space to mourn your husband in peace."

"There was no need for that. You needed information on that, and I wanted to help you in any way I could. And besides, I didn't find it wise to tell you on the phone about the death of my husband; it was better to do so in person."

Her bravery knew no bounds as she bottled up so much pain for the sake of her child, and the way she considered sharing such news with me—was truly admirable.

The tension soon subsided, urging Lisa who had been quiet all along to seize the timing as an opportunity to inquire. "If you don't mind, could we see a picture of your late husband?"

"Oh, yes... Let me just grab it," she responded, handing her child to me as she exited to get it.

My face grew with anticipation at her departure, contemplating the reality awaiting discovery. Lisa sensed my anxious demeanor and bestowed upon me a reassuring look as sweet and gentle as could be.

"Here it is," her voice resonated from behind as she approached us, handing me a framed picture.

I exhaled softly as she retrieved her child from my arms. My heart quickened its pace, nudging me to briefly close my eyes before unveiling the framed photo. The birthmark on his head caught my attention; the man in the picture shared the baldness of the young boy in my memories. However, the face eluded clear recognition, shrouded in the haze of my memory. I handed the photo to Lisa, confident in her ability to vividly identify him.

Lisa took the photo from me, and the moment her gaze fell upon it, her eyes widened, revealing a hint of shock.

With a lump in her throat, Lisa whispered, "He's definitely..."