"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ― Mark Twain

"Tim on the other line, sir," Jaime handed the cordless phone to Zandros and he took it after glancing at his wife who was sitting comfortably on the couch on one corner, adjacent to the bookshelves that encompass the whole right wall of the study room.

"Thank you, Jaime," Zandros said as he took the phone. Jaime just nodded and quietly retreated back.

"You have what I need?" Zandros' forehead scrunched up as he leaned against his chair and waited for Tim to laid out whatever useful information he brought for him.

"I have a very interesting information, Zandros," the words took all my attention, I bolted sat upright as I stared at the door, my whole attention focused on the other line. "Mrs. Aneth Kieber was Tamara and Tara's sister-in-law and she's one of the nurses who helps Mrs. Mailov on that day. There are three of them, and what really interesting is, a week after she was discharged, the two nurses were fired. And another interesting revelation is, Mrs. Aneth Kieber's husband, Doctor Lorenzo Agnelis is the chief of staff. There has been a scandal on June 1991, but the story died down. It was about these staff that was fired." Zandros becoming excited by the second. The wrinkles on his forehead fading. "I went to meet with the IT of the hospital, Mikael Anastos. He was my wife sister's husband, luckily. I asked him if they have old computers that were unused and I could buy it. He showed me a bunch of unused ones, and I bought two old computer's CPU. I was elated when I found an interesting information. I never thought my instinct was true. I retrieve some information that wasn't in their databases or probably tapped or altered so nobody finds it," Zandros massaged his temple as he propped both palms on his desk, his body leaning forward, his head hung a little lower, with eyes closed, all the while listening intently to Tim. "On the day of May 22, 1991, at five o'clock in the afternoon, two babies were registered, by the name of Alexandrous and Alexandrine." 

Zandros' mind drifted to the small conversation happens just as he walks into the room ...

"What were the names?" Tara asked Zandros as she puts on her gloves. The three nurses were busy comforting Lauren as she screams in pain. 

"If it's a boy, she wants him to be named as Alexandrous, if it's a girl, it is Angelik," Zandros responded quickly as he walked closer to his wife and held her hand. 

"What if it's twins?" Zandros looks at one of the nurses, but his whole system was focused on his wife's screaming and swearing. 

"Alexandrine," Lauren whimpers then she made a series of puffing of air trying to soothe the pain.

 "...Agatha Fahim, Loretta Franco, and Mrs. Aneth Kieber were the nurses, under Doctor Tara Asker's lead." Tim's voice drags him back to him and he suddenly snapped his eyes to his wife, she was sipping leisurely on her coffee while reading a magazine. "Do you mean, my wife delivered two babies on that day?" Zandros voice quivered a little as he tried to lower his voice, avoiding his wife to hear their conversation. The fear he felt suddenly diminishes and hope arises again. His heart beating faster that normal. He felt elated with the news and at the same time, fear for his kids when they found out, especially his wife. What will she do when she found out?

"That's what the data system shows, Zandros. The remarks say that the second baby came out next just ten seconds after, then your wife lost consciousness, out of exhaustion."

"Do you have all that information copied? I will talk to the CEO of AEH, someone has to pay for the damage they caused to my family," Zandros clenched his jaws.

"I have it all stored on a USB. I'll send it to you right away,"

"What about Tara? Why did she resign that the same year?" Though the information already supplied it all, he still wants to hear it.

"I've talked to Aneth, but she refused to tell anything. The chief of staff either was avoiding me," Tim responded briefly.

"Thank you, Tim. I'll handle the rest." Zandros hang up the phone.

"Are you alright?" Zandros looks up and met his wife's worried face. "You look tense," she remarks as she rounded his desk and then stood behind his chair and felt her hands on his shoulder, softly caressing his shoulders.

He puts his palms over hers as he leaned against the chair and tilted his head up to meet her eyes. Lauren was staring at his face adoringly. "Do you want to go on vacation, babe? You and the boys? Maybe visit Angelik?" Lauren's eyes lit up.

"That's a great idea, babe. I missed her so much. We will surprise her!" she quickly pulled her hands away and was about to walk away while she blabbered excitedly when Zandros reach her by her waist and tug her to his lap causing her to stumble on his lap, letting out a startled shrieked.

"Careful, Zandros!" Lauren smacked him on his chest causing him to chuckle. His hands draped around her.

"We can leave tomorrow, I'll call Lysander and Leandros. Kristos is coming tonight, I can talk to him over dinner," Lauren said excitedly.

"Bring the boys with you and I'll meet you there, I'll just have to finish something," Zandros said cautiously.

"Zandros, you can do it in New York, too," Lauren wasn't happy but Zandros was too desperate. He doesn't want her to know about it yet until it was proven Taryn is Alexandrous' twin.

"I promise, I will follow. Just give me a day, alright?" Zandros said as he tilted his head and gave her a peck on her lips.

Lauren pouted in disapproval. "Is it too important?" Lauren looks disappointed.

"It is, moro mou and I'll tell you what is it when I come," Zandros gave her a reassuring smile. Lauren let out a lungful of sighed.

"Alright," she said softly in a resigned voice.

"Your not mad, are you?" Zandros nuzzled his face against her chest and Lauren chuckled.

"How can I?" she mused. "I love you so much to feel upset at you," she chuckled. When Zandros look up to meet her eyes, she cupped his face and gave him a hard lingering kiss, causing him to forget all everything around him.

"I'll just go make some calls then," she panted after the kiss and Zandros nodded, smiling crazily at her.

"I love you," he said before releasing her. He watches her back heading to the door. She reaches for the knob and opens it, before leaving, she turns her head and smiled at him.

"I love you always, Mr. Mailov!" she smiled broadly and then left.

Zandros sighed. He stood up and decided to start his day by meeting Aneth Kieber. He will pay them a visit tonight at their place, together with her husband.

For now, he will find where Loretta and Agatha lived.

..........................

"Mr. Mailov?" the short skinny lady looks mortified as soon as she saw him at her door at their very old neighborhood. She looks over his shoulder and found two other guys looking stiff and stoic in their suit, both standing like an army beside the black Lincoln SUV.

"Agatha Fahim?" Zandros asked, snapping her out of her spaced out thoughts. She looks ill and feeble. Her dull bluish eyes darted to him as she spoke.

"Yes," she responded feebly.

"I'm Zandros Mai—"

"Mailov," she continued and Zandros stared at her intently as he nodded.

"Can I come in?" he motioned his hand to the door behind her. Her eyes followed his hand involuntarily then she looks back at him and nodded hesitantly. 

"S-sure," she stutters as she pushed herself to the side and motioned him to go in. Zandros had to bend his head to avoid hitting the top of the doorframe. The girl looks half of his height and he remembers her. That's the first thing he noticed from her after her wife's delivery. Agatha led him to her small, yet tidy living room. She had a small couch, two chairs adjacent to the couch, and a small rectangular wooden coffee table. The house looks very small and old. Even the furniture look like fifty years old. 

"You lived alone?" he can't help but ask.

"Yes, sir," she nodded giving him a tight smile. She was obviously uncomfortable around Zandros. She doesn't even know what to do if she sits or stands.

"S—"

"Would you like to drink?" she offers, cutting him off. 

"No, thank you! Please sit, Agatha. I'm just going to ask you some things, and I won't be long," Zandros started. His hand pointing at the adjacent armchair.

Agatha nodded as she walks to the armchair and sat. The awkward tension is growing as she stares at him. 

"You were there when my wife delivered our first baby rather babies," Zandros started. Zandros saw her gulped. "I already have all the information I needed, but I need to hear it from you," he watches her nodded as she clasps her hands on her lap, looking tense. "Why were you and Loretta was fired after Dr. Tara Asker resigned?" Zandros' eyes didn't leave her. She suddenly looks vulnerable as she looks away or down on her clasps hands. "I need to hear it from you, Agatha and I will spare you for hiding the truth from our family!" Zandros ominous tone was filled with stern and determination.

"Tara took off with one of your babies, Alexandrine. When Doctor Agnelis found out that Dr. Asker took off with one of your babies, he was scared. Dr. Asker warns us to keep the truth about the twins. You were unconscious and then your wife passed out when the next babies came out. She took advantage of the situation. We want to tell you, but Doctor Agnelis warns us. He fired us after and paid us to shut our mouth," Agatha wipes the tears that escape her eyes and Zandros held his anger at bay. Hands balled tightly into fists as he watches Agatha wiping her tears without remorseful. He has been holding his anger since he found out about the twins. Tara is dead. The person who he wanted to kill many times. 

"Do.you.know.that.I.want.to.kill.you.at.this.moment?" between clenched teeth. "My wife and I believed that we have only one child. We missed all the years of his life, and now he hated us!" Zandros grits out, his eyes spitting fire, pinning her. 

Agatha looks all the more frightened at she stares at his ominous eyes. "I-I'm s-sorry, s-sir," she stuttered, looking down at her clasps hands apprehensively. Her chest pounding loudly against her ribcage with fear. She knows this day would come and the heartless Zandros Mailov wouldn't think twice to bring death to them. 

"Your sorry won't bring back what has been done!" Zandros said in a very low seething tone. She gulps thickly, nodding her head while trying to stop her tears. The pain in his eyes doubled, tripled the guilt that has been hiding and lurking underneath her heart, and now slowly resurfacing, racking her whole being. Zandros let out a lungful of breaths. A tense breathed, full of agony and anger at the same time. "I can bail you out, but you need to testify against Doctor Lorenzo Agnelis. I will press charges against him, and you and your company will also be charged with an accessory. Your choice, Ms. Fahim," Zandros stood up. 

"I will testify against him!" Zandros stared at her. She looks determined and for the first time since he appears at her door, he saw her tough side.

"Zandros nodded. Any time, any day, an officer will come to get your statement. I hope you don't think of running away, Agatha. I have resources and I can find you, wherever hell were you!" Zandros warns her before retreating to her door. Agatha only watches his back, each purposeful strides, she knew she can't get away this time. The truth will always prevail, she knows that, but her fear dominated her rational brain and now, she has to face the consequences of her action. She thought it's time to rectify the wrong things they had done to the innocent family. 

....................

"It's Alexandrous, theios Tim," Xandrous paces back and forth in the lobby area. He left Vicky in their bungalow when he received a message from Lysander, his younger brother. 

I think it's time for you big brother to dig some information of your scheming best friend. I just saw her walking with some random guy and at this moment, I was watching their back sitting in a cozy lounge. Looks like the two shared an intimate relationship. Anyhow, if you want to get some information and not just wait, I highly recommend you, Timothy Hanes. He just proved me his genius work and I might add, he used to work with dad and his friends. 

Timothy Hanes. 

I met him once at dad and mom's anniversary. He even joked about if we need some confident information, we can approach him anytime. I thought it was just the alcohol talking. 

"Alexandrous!" his surprised tone caused him to raised his eyebrow. "What a surprise?" 

"I hope I didn't bother you, theios," I said.

"Of course not! What can I do for you, young Zandros?" he chuckled and I smiled ignoring the other vacationers ambling around him. He was standing in the middle of the lobby with his free hand tucked in his pocket. He was wearing a gray short and just plain blue top.

"I want to know anything about Cassie Ann Alanis. Anything about her."

"Cassie Ann Alanis," he repeated with a teasing tone. I ignored his tone and agreed. 

As soon as the call was ended, my eyes caught of Vicky strutting towards the lobby in her two piece bikini that was only covered with a thin transparent dress that only reach her mid-thigh. My legs instinctively headed towards her, meeting her halfway. I saw how the men ogle at her and I threw them a warning gaze as I narrowed our gap.

"Xandrous!" her eyes lit up as soon as I reach her and she stood on her tippy toes and gave me a brief kiss. My hand instinctively wrapped around her waist possessively. "Let's go back to the bungalow!" Without bothering to hear her response, I dragged her back to the bungalow. 

On our way, she was trying to free herself. "I just change and I want to go swim!" she huffed as she tried to loosen my grip around her. I stop and reluctantly release her, but keeping our distance too close. She looks so sinfully hot in her two-pieces and that thin garment couldn't hide it and I hate how the men ogled at her. 

"It's too hot, you need to wear something more fabric. I don't want you to get a sunburn!" I said. She stared at me in disbelief. 

"But all my bathing suits are two pieces. I have no other bathing suit," she flung her hands on her hips, her eyes shooting him a curious stare.

"Then wear my shirt," as I took my shirt off and handed it to her. She cocked her eyebrow at me.

"I'm already wearing one," she said. 

"That's not thick enough to cover your exposed skin from the sun," I shook my head in disapproval as I attempted to put the shirt on her.

"Wait!" she steps back, taking the shirt away.

"I get it, you don't want those guys to see me in this sexy outfit, aren't you?" as her hands glide down on her sides and gave him a straight face. I sighed. Admitting it would just make it easier.

"Alright, yes!" I said. She let out a loud chuckle and then close our gap. 

"They can only look, but they can't touch me, the way you can," she teases as she curls her hands around my neck, my shirt dangling in my back.

Still, the idea didn't suit me. "But their imagination can," I hissed uncontrollably as I pulled her closer to me by her waist. "Let's go before I became a killer!" I said and then without ceremonies, I snatch my shirt from her and then pick her up and slung her over my shoulder. She let out a loud startled yelp, that ended in endless giggles. I used the shirt to cover her ass as I headed back to our bungalow. 

..........................

Third Person POV

Tamara Asker puts down her fork and knife and stares at Taryn who was so focused on his food. "Taryn," she called. 

Taryn looks up and stared back at her with curiosity. "Zandros Mailov came over yesterday," she started.

"I know," Taryn responded briefly. His eyes were cold and no traces of emotions. He cut another piece of his pork chop and pop it in his mouth. 

Tamara inhaled deeply then sighed. She doesn't feel like eating. After meeting and talking to Zandros, her peaceful life turns upside down. She thought after her sister's death, the nightmare would never come back, but she was wrong. She thought the secret they were trying to bury was buried with her sister's tomb. 

"Are you alright, theia?" Tamara snapped his head back up and nodded at him, with a tight smile. 

"Y-yes!" she let out a soft chuckle. Taryn was looking at her intently with worries on his handsome face. She suddenly felt anxious.

"Are you not going to ask me why he was here?" Tamara hopes he won't, but she knew he saw him yesterday. She was relieved that he didn't press her about Zandros Mailov sudden visit, but at the same time, scared of what was running in his head. Ever since he was in high school, he became too discreet in all his routines, his friends, and his life. And she would never forget that he was always in troubles with his classmates or with some girls. He seems to be very polite and quiet when he's at home, he was respectful, but he was different when he's outside their house.

"Whatever the reason of his visit, I'm not interested. Anything about him, I care less, theia!" the stern and hatred in his voice were clear enough.

"Taryn, he is still your father," Tamara said softly. Taryn's stared at her, eyes piercing her like a laser, and as sharp as a razor. 

"He is not my father! I don't have a father! A father doesn't abandon his child!" Taryn stood up angrily and for the first time, Tamara saw the Mailov character in him. "I'm sorry, theia. I don't want to talk about him, or hear his name in this house!" he turns his back and leave brusquely.

"Forgive us, Taryn!" Tamara cried softly.

.....................................

A/N: Here, the confusions is slowly clearing up. I smiled when I read the comments. Some got it right. I was trying to make it suspenseful, but I failed this time. Lol. But yeah, I don't really want to tarnish Zandros' story. A lot already hated him for being a chicken, and for choosing money before love. 

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. Thank you!