The past few days have made things clear, that is that I am absolutely in love with Alex. I can't help it and I wish that I didn't. It just hurts so much, waking up next to him and then realizing he is not mine. I wish I could just push him out of my heart completely, so I didn't have to feel this way.

This is all my stupid heart's fault. What gave it the idea that it could fall in love with Alex? I don't even know when this happened, but it did.

I was still in bed and haven't mustered the courage to get up. Alex had left the room an hour ago.

But today was no day to be sad, I was going to find out about Alexander's past, at least I think I was. My trip here wouldn't be a waste after all. I can't believe I came to Italy just to stay in a hotel room.

Alex walked in minutes later, and I couldn't help but smile. Maybe I was finally going to have something that I could hold against him.

"You should get ready, we'll all be waiting downstairs," Alex spoke, he sounded cold and distant. I wonder what was wrong with him.

I proceeded with my morning routine, I took a shower and got dressed.

Everyone was already waiting in the anteroom, which meant it was time to proceed with my plan.

I needed everyone to go out so that I could leave and hopefully return without being seen.

"Is everyone ready? We are going on a yacht for the day. It's going to be so amazing; we have a spa and everything ready for the ladies, not to mention the wine." Lisha announced.

"I won't be joining you today; I am feeling a little bit sick. I cannot even look at the water right now, it will just make me want to throw up." I announced.

I should have thought of a better excuse beforehand.

But it was going to work right? The baby card always does.

"Well, I'll stay here and look after you," Alex spoke.

"Yes, we'll just have to cancel today and maybe go tomorrow," Cindy suggested.

"No, you should go on without me. I would not want to mess up your day." I insisted.

My plan was just about to fall apart right in front of my eyes.

"It wouldn't be the same without you anyways," Steven said.

"I'm pretty sure you all have better things to do than to babysit me. When are you going to start planning your wedding for example?" I spoke.

"Well, that is a great idea. Now that I think about it, Crystal Turnings also happen to be here on holiday." Lisha exclaimed.

"Thee Crystal Turnings?" Cindy asked dragging out her words.

"Who is that?" Alex asked.

"You don't know who she is? She is one of the best wedding planners. She does a-list weddings all the time. She is amazing." Cindy explained.

"We still have time to plan the wedding, we'll do it some other time," Alex spoke.

"Nonsense, you should use as much time to focus on your wedding," Lisha said.

"I agree with Alex on this one. We are going to take things slow." Cindy said.

"I insist. I remember how it took me months to plan my wedding, even then, I felt like everything wasn't the way I wanted. "Lisha added. "You too are going to have changed your minds by the time you finally get married. I'd ask Crystal to come over here, but she was a little trouble taking instructions at times because she is such a genius. We would have to go over to her place. I'll call her now," She continued.

"We would but, Zoe isn't feeling well right now. We can't leave her on her own." Alex spoke.

"You guys should go on without me, I'll call you if anything was to happen," I answered.

"I don't think it's such a good idea," Alex said.

"You should go, I'll even call you if I need someone to move my pillow for me," I added.

"Well, that's settled," Lisha said rubbing her hands together.

I could tell I had made a lot of people unhappy. They should probably thank me later; they weren't convincing anyone that they were a couple.

I waved everyone out, I waited in the room till I was sure they were gone, and no one would see me.

I stepped out of the hotel.

All I had to do was get a cab that will take me to the house. I'd make sure to be back before they returned. Hopefully, no one would notice I was gone.

"What are you up to?" I heard a voice.

Startled, I turned around to see Logan.

He was probably mad at me for pushing Cindy away. They probably had plans.

"I just thought I could get some fresh air," I answered.

"I could drive you around, I can get a car." He answered. Why was he being nice?

The last thing I wanted was to involve someone else in this. What if he told Cindy, she would probably tell Alex. I didn't need him to find out I was going behind his back, that would make me a hypocrite.

"It's okay, I'll just be taking a walk." I lied.

"I insist," he said.

Before I could disagree, he was already calling someone to get a car.

How was I going to get rid of him?

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone of whatever it is that you are up to. I just need a break from this place." He smiled.

Maybe I could trust him. If any of this was to get out, I knew exactly who to blame.

"Fine," I said.

We could into the car. I gave him the address to the place. He didn't ask any questions, he just drove.

Maybe this was a bit crazy. What was I going to say? What if she kicked me out or no one was there?

No, I needed to do this. The least I could do was try. But what was I hoping to find?

With google maps, it wasn't that hard to find the place. The mansion now looked much older than what I had seen in the pictures.

I stepped out of the car taking in my surroundings. It was great being out here, even the air smelt different.

I looked at Logan, he insisted that he'd stay in the car and that I'd call him if I needed anything.

He looked surprisingly uninterested; I know if I was in his position, I'd be asking all sorts of questions.

Alex was going to hate me for this. Was this really smart? I was never going to understand him unless I knew about his past. Maybe I should have just asked.

I walked to the big gates which had been left open. The place looked abandoned, with tall weeds of grass growing against the house.

I knocked on the door.

There was no backing out now.

I switched my phone off. If I was going to get any valid information, I didn't want any distractions.

Minutes later, an elderly woman opened the door. She looked to be in her eighties.

She squints her eyes, staring at me. It was as if she was trying to see if she could recognize me. She had a problem with her eyesight.

"Good day ma'am." I greeted.

I knew I should have taken the time to learn some basic Italian.

"I'm Zoe. Claire used to live here?" I said recalling Alexander's mother's name.

It took her a while to respond.

"Of course, I knew I recognized you from somewhere. You must be Claire's daughter." She spoke.

I wanted to interject and correct her, but someone was yelling in the background.

"Nonna!" I heard someone yell.

"Please come in dear," she said. She opened the door wider allowing me in.

I stepped into the house.

It did not match the outside appearance. The inside was well held together, decorated with well-polished antic furnisher. I could see my reflection on the floors.

I girl popped up into the corridors, she looked like she was around my age.

"This is my granddaughter Abriana." The lady spoke. I still hadn't even asked for her name. "This is Claire's daughter Zoe." She spoke.

I wanted to correct her but somehow, I couldn't get the words out. Maybe it was better this way. That way Alexander wouldn't find out I was here. What are the chances of someone named Zoe also showing up here?

Abriana looked at me with the brightest smile.

"Nice to meet you." She said in a thick Italian accent.

Abriana held her grandmother's hand and led the way to the dining room.

The dining room was just as magnificent, it looked like you could through a whole party in here and still have plenty of space. Claire's family must have been loaded. I wonder if she would hate me for going behind her son's back.

"So, you knew Claire, my mother," I spoke. I hated lying.

"Knew her, I raised her along with my daughter." She spoke.

"How had she been, I haven't heard from her in years." She spoke.

She didn't know that Claire was no longer alive. I hated being the one to give her the news.

"Claire passed away," I slowly spoke.

It took her a while to digest the news. After all, she did raise her. She must have been attached to her.

"Oh, my beautiful Claire." She cried. "Life was never easy for her, just when everything was going well for her, she was taken from us."

She then began telling me some of Claire's childhood memories: her birthday parties, how much she loved painting and making a difference around her she was stubborn too.

I would have loved to have met her; I could tell why losing his parents changed Alexander so much.

"I hope you don't mind me. Telling you all these stories," She wept. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Not at all, I love hearing about her." I smiled.

"Abriana, please get me my box and my glasses." She spoke.

Abriana nodded and walked out of the room.

"So how is your elder brother doing?" She asked.

She must have been talking about Alex.

"He is doing good," I answered.

"That's good to hear, Claire was always so worried whether she would keep her baby or not." She spoke.

I wonder why she would be worried. I bet Alexander's father also didn't want a child. Or maybe she was just confused, she did think I was Alexander's sister.

Abriana returned with a small wooden box and reading glasses.

She handed me a picture of an ultrasound with a note behind it.

"Claire and I tried to stay in contact for a while. Your parents were so excited to have you." She spoke.

I analyzed the picture and read the note behind it, that's when things started making sense.

She thought I was Alexander's sister, the one who died before she was born. She didn't know that either, that is why she assumed.

She must have been at least twenty-eight weeks pregnant when she had the ultrasound. I understood Alexander's pain, that baby never got the chance to leave.

She continued handing me more pictures, this time it was of a younger Claire.

She laid the pictures out on the table. I sat closer to her as she explained every picture.

"She was always so free-spirited growing up, she wanted to rule the world." She spoke. "That smile didn't last though."

She handed me another picture. "Sebastian and Claire were really close growing up, no one expected that it would turn into anything more." She spoke.

I took a closer look at the picture.

Wait, was this the same Sebastian? I could recognize those cold grey eyes any day, even in a little boy. So that's why he is Alexander's godfather, he grew up with Claire.

"Her parents nearly killed her when they found out she was pregnant with Sebastian's child." She continued.

I nearly choked on air.

"My mother had a baby with Sebastian?" I asked.

"Yes silly, your brother." She spoke.

Her expression suddenly changed. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that, your parents probably hadn't told you yet." She spoke.

That didn't make any sense. Alex said he didn't have any family. I would have known if he had a brother out there somewhere, right? He would have mentioned something, if not to praise his so-called brother, it would be to talk about how useless he is.

"Her parents were so cruel to her. That had her sent away to the states. I never saw my happy girl again. The last thing I heard was she was married to the guy with the fancy planes, your father. I keep forgetting his name." She spoke.

It took me a while to digest the news.

Was Alexander the child Claire and Sebastian had?

Suddenly everything made sense. Why Sebastian was so protective of Alex and so secretive as to even hide things from him. He was Alexander's father.

And then I remembered Sebastian's words, "There were things that Alex should never find out about." Could this be one of those things?

There had to be a mistake somewhere, maybe I was just misinterpreting this. Or maybe she was just confused.

Everything made sense though, I just couldn't ignore it.

Did Alexander know about any of this? Does that mean he wasn't really a Forbes?

I think I might have discovered Alexander's weakness. I couldn't get much out of it, but it would surely destroy him. Him finding out that his father was never his father and that his godfather is actually his real father, would be the perfect revenge.

I needed a chance to breathe, even for me, this was a lot to take in.

With everything going on around him, Alexander had no chance of ending up a normal person.

"Do you want anything to drink Zoe?" Abriana asked snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I'm alright," I answered. "I think I should go," I said.

"Are you sure you alright?" Abriana asked.

"Yes," I answered. "It's getting late, I should probably get going."

The news took me by surprise, I could only imagine the impact it would have on Alexander. What would he do when he finds out?

The two of them walked me out.

I was still trying to process everything. Could I be misinterpreting this whole situation?

I had to be right, Sebastian was Alexander's real father, and it was going to destroy him.

"Are you okay," Logan asked as I stepped into the car.

"Yes," I answered. I will be, I wasn't the one who was about to find out their whole life was a lie.

As always, Logan didn't press on the issue. We just drove back to the hotel in silence.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Logan asked again placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Yes," I reassured him stepping out of the car.

I hadn't said a word since.

"Thank you for accompanying me today," I said.

He let out a small smile.

I returned to the hotel room.

I surely hope Alex wasn't here. I didn't know how to face him right now.

"I see you are back," Alex said, startling me as I walked into the room.

I don't know what scared me more, the fact that he was in front of me or the news I had found out. All I could do was look at the floor.

"Zoe?" he questioned bringing me out of my thoughts.

I looked up. Did I have the right to tell him? Was this really a good idea.

If everyone hid the truth from him, maybe he had the right to know.

"There is something I need to tell you," I finally spoke.

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Please tell me what you think, I know it has been a while. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.