Niklaus's point of view

What do you mean you can't find anything more on her?! " I yelled into my phone.

How can that be so?

It was just a day after the knocking out incident; I should have known to trust Maya standing behind me. However, I was convinced beyond every unreasonable doubt that Reina was Maya.

But there were just some things that didn't make sense. I had watched her fight that assassin sent after us, sure Maya had been fearless but not against one with a gun. However, the way Reina went after him, it was as if she scanned him; knowing his weak point, area to incapacitate, and the right time to strike. Also, those moves? It wasn't just something one would learn from a martial art center and execute it perfectly.

Reina was perfect and focused, knowing a slip would result in the loss of her life. Which got me thinking, either I had mistaken Reina for Maya or she was Maya who had gotten herself involved with some shady organization.

I pressed my temple, my heart throbbed. After she had knocked me out, Micheal was the one who tracked me through the GPS location of my cell phone and brought me home- thankfully she cleared the assassin.

So far, all I knew about Reina was she was an aristocrat from some mysterious family - highly suspicious- studied and spent most of her life abroad - there was even picture evidence to support that. But I refused to believe it without analyzing the images myself. We were in a technological age where one could photoshop a picture and it looks entirely convincing.

"What about the surname, Armani? Did you search for that?" I inquired.

"Yes, I did. There are not so many families with that surname but they don't fit the 'mysterious' theme,"

"Alright. Get me the address of where she lives," I ordered.

"I did but there's something strange," was his sudden report

"What is it?" I pressed the phone closer to my ears as if I was going to hear better. I was so damn curious this time, hoping this was good news.

"Until today, she had not been living in that apartment," He revealed.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I got this information by chance but Reina had not been living in that room until today,"

My brow furrowed suspiciously, "If she had not been staying there then where had she been living since she arrived in the country?" I asked, rubbing my chin. Reina keeps getting mysterious

"The first thing that came to my mind was a hotel but I've searched almost all the hotels in the city but none accommodated her. So I narrowed down the places she could have gone to the past weeks but I couldn't get anything from the cameras. It's almost as if her information was purposely wiped out, "

"She's hiding something," I mumbled, staring at her information the private investigator had sent to my laptop that was resting on my lap. That picture must have been taken without her consent because she was looking away from the camera. That face? It must be her.

"Sir, don't you think she's dangerous?" was his question

"Huh? "

"Someone who can hide her presence like this, she's not someone you should mess with,"

My mouth curved into a smile, dangerous? I find her cute and this hide and seek game made my blood throb- I was someone who enjoyed the thrill of the chase - she turned this into one.

" It's fun, "

" What? "

"Forget about it, I need you to do something else, "

"Anything sir,"

"Find out if she has a child,"

"Child?" he was surprised, " But sir Niklaus, she's a single lady who just-"

"Just do as I say," I gave my formal order, "She'd probably try to hide that secret the hardest, do everything to dig that out. Inform me right away if you find something,"

"Alright, sir,"

The line went dead.

I wiped my face with my palm, exhaling loudly. As much as Reina insisted she wasn't Maya, the moment I find her with a child, it would be game over.

Either she tells me what the hell is going on with her or she can forget about the child forever. Yes, I would do exactly that, I made up my mind.

At once, the doorbell rang but I didn't bother myself since Amanda had gone to answer neither was I expecting anyone or so I thought.

"Isabelle?" My eyes widened, what the hell was she doing here and with luggage. Didn't I tell her I'll be returning soon once I settled the problem at hand?

As if that was not enough, Jennifer and her son made her appearance. I swallowed, I should have known this would happen after that video went viral.

"Uncle Nik!" Young Neon ran to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I looked up and found Jennifer scowling at me - yeah, it was time to face the music.

"Jennifer," I called her name but she ignored me and strode into the house with her heavy luggage.

"Neon, stay with Isabella, I'll be back," I nudged him to Isabella who took him, going after Jennifer.

"Jennifer," I called after her but she ignored me, entered her room, and wanted to bang the door at my face but I grabbed the door.

"Get out!" She roared, turning her back to me.

"Jennifer, listen to me," I grabbed her arm, turning her to me amid her struggling.

"No, let me go. You're a cheating liar!" She roared.

"I'm sorry!" I apologized, she stilled.

"I'm sorry, alright," I let go of her but she didn't move a muscle yet tears streamed down her face, "I'm sorry that I'm a cheating liar but I couldn't help myself,"

"Because she looks like Maya?" she questioned with tears in her eyes.

I didn't reply, yet the look on my face answered her.

"Niklaus, for fucking sake, Maya is dead! You told me you confirmed it yourself!"

"I know I said that but I think I made a mistake or someone intentionally made it look like way," My brain registered this new information. Someone seems to be pulling the strings from behind and my mind tells Reina has an idea who.

"Niklaus, there are people who look alike in this world and it's been seven years already. If she was alive, why didn't she call you? Why now?"

"She must have a reason for that,"

"Niklaus..." Jennifer took a step back, looking hurt, "Did you ever love me?" she asked out of the blue.

My adam's apple bobbed up, I swallowed deeply. Why was that question so damn hard to answer, "Jennifer, I have feelings for you, you're a nice woman. "

"Yeah," She laughed, wryly, "Obviously, you love Maya too much,"

I wet my lips, "I'm sorry, Jennifer but I can't do this anymore,"

More tears flowed down her face, she began to hit me on the chest, "You shouldn't have bothered me! You shouldn't have made me feel this way for you if you weren't going to take responsibility!"

I grabbed her hands, enveloping her in a hug as she sobbed her heart out. I hated seeing her cry and it hurt me the most that I was the one who made her shed tears.

I was responsible for this heartbreak but I didn't mean to. I had prepared to spend the rest of my life with her, lavishing and spending on her the care I could have showered on Maya if she were alive. But then, things have changed. I made a promise to Maya and now I've found out she's alive, I'm going to do everything to fulfill that.

"You're a good woman Jennifer, I'm sure you would find a better man who isn't an asshole like me," I comforted her.

"No, Niklaus," She fisted the front of my clothing, "I can't just let you go like this, we've gone through many things for the past seven years. I'm sure we can work something out" Jennifer pleaded.

"Jennifer, I'm sorry but -"

"You don't even have the evidence to confirm she's Maya yet," she pointed

I pinched the bridge between my nose, tired already "We just talked -"

"Fine, let's do this," she came up with a deal, " Until you have solid evidence that confirms that woman is Maya, we're still a thing,"

"I don't want to hurt you further, Jennifer,"

"You're hurting me by not agreeing to this, Niklaus.." she poked me on the chest, "You owe me this at least, Niklaus,"

My mouth hung open and closed helplessly, what was I going to reply to that. Couldn't she see I'm trying not to make things harder for her?

"I promise to leave by myself if she indeed turns out to be Maya, please Niklaus. Don't throw me out because of someone you're not sure of yet," She cried harder.

"Fine," I gave in after a long, deep, contemplation, "Let's consider that then,"

"Thank you," She hugged me tight this time, "Thank you, Niklaus,"

Sigh, what have I done?