"Did Damien stay over last night?"

"Mamá!" Ella jumped almost a mile into the air. Due to her startled jump from the unexpected presence of another person, her hot tea spilt over her hand, scorching her skin slightly.

"Ella, honey," Elizabeth quickly neared Ella, grabbing a cloth and soaking it with cool water before moving to soothe Ella's burn.

"Thank you," Ella distractedly showed her appreciation as she moved to gather her purse and other belongings from the kitchen. "And no, he did not. Isn't it too early for you?" Ella place the lid over her beverage container, carefully holding it so that it wouldn't burn her again.

Elizabeth followed her daughter as she put her heels on at the front door, her keys clashing together in her hands from how much Ella was moving around.

"The room was a little chilly." Elizabeth explained, wordlessly offering her daughter some help as Ella slipped on a coat. Now, in November, it had been getting chillier outside, and Ella had yet to fix the thermostat from when it had been summer just about two months ago. Having been super busy, Ella didn't spend too much time in her house, so she barely noticed the temperature inside.

"Lo siento. Change the temperature to your liking. Bye! I'll see you when I get off, okay?" Ella kissed her mom's forehead before rushing out, shutting and locking the front door to her house before getting into her cold vehicle. "Oh, it's getting colder!" Ella murmured to herself as she buckled in and turned on her car. (I'm sorry)

It had been about four months since her parents arrived in the states. They had only intended to stay just to ensure that Ella was okay, but then they wanted to wait until things were resolved, which they were. Thanks to Damien, he took care of Vanders quickly and almost painlessly for Ella. After that, which had been just last month when Vanders was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Elizabeth and Timotheo stayed until things cooled down and Ella wasn't so much in the spotlight for being the wrongly accused victim of the former mayor and politician, James Vanders. Now, they seemed to agree that it was time to head back. They had stayed for far too long away from their home.

Ella, meanwhile, loved having her parents home, but she knew that they were basically just waiting until they could go back to Spain. That was their home, and nothing was going to change that it seemed. Ella also felt bad that she was almost barely home these days due to her workload returning back to normal after her reputation being cleared. Thankfully, little Melissa was also born just three weeks ago, and that surely kept her parents busy.

"Ella! Good morning!" Hope's expression brightened up significantly once she saw the familiar, beautiful, young psychologist.

"Hi! I'm so late!" Ella smiled tightly before rushing to Damien's office.

Hope chuckled, a puzzling expression on her face as she slowly sat down beside Barnes who was also staring at Ella's disappearing form.

"Is she not aware?" Hope pondered quietly.

"Of Damien?" Barnes smiled knowingly. "Ella isn't like that. To herself, she's just another person." Barnes explained, laughing softly before getting back to work.

"I don't know who's got it worse. Ella or Damien?" Hope watched as the couple left Damien's office, both seeming much more calm and smiley now.

"It's obviously Damien. Ella smiles all day, but that dude..." Oliver popped up, also sighing dreamily as he watched the couple until they disappeared into the elevator.

Hope glared at Oliver. "Go back to work, Mr. Pruette."

"Oh, come on, Hope! It was an accident!" Oliver called out after a stomping Hope. "I'll buy you another one!"

"I'm allergic!" Hope stopped to give him one last, hard glare before stomping her way out of his view.

"She's allergic?!" Oliver turned to Barnes who was basically immune to the bickering of those two. They resembled siblings to the max.

"Did you really not know?"

"I just thought she was getting red because she was angry." Oliver mused, now understanding Hope's anger towards him. "Well, now I really have to apologize."

"For what?" Katherine entered the firm, a cup of steaming coffee in hand.

"Hope's allergy." Barnes mumbled, just wanting to get some work done without having to break up a fight between the grown and adult attorney's for one day, at least.

"Oh, you knew, you jerk. Everyone knows." Katherine snorted, lifting her cup to take a swing of her coffee, ignoring a trailing Oliver.

"It's like they're getting paid to fight each other." Barnes yawned, shaking her head before focusing back to her job.

In the meantime, Damien was walking with Ella inside the corner's office, hand in hand when he felt Ella's recoil a bit when his thumb brushed her skin.

"I burnt my hand this morning." Ella explained when Damien looked down, lifting her hand to inspect it closer. Damien didn't get to respond because soon after Jake Stewart, the coroner, opened up his door.

"Long time no see, Mr. Petrotti." Jake smiled brightly which was odd for someone who constantly worked with dead bodies. "Ah, you must be Ms. Cortesa." He shook Ella's hand before guiding them inside his office. "So! What can I do for you guys today?"

Damien looked at Ella. As far as he was concerned, she was basically the one running this whole operation. She was the one who had suspicions and wanted answers herself.

Ella cleared her throat, "I... it's a bit of a sensitive topic, so I ask that you please try to follow with what I'm asking." She bit on her lip a bit, nervous as to know whether or not to ask such absurd questions.

Jake frowned, lacing his fingers on top of his desk. "Go ahead."

Ella nodded, "Was the DNA a little off for Mr. Parker?"

Jake's eyes widened a bit, and he looked at Damien in surprise before he looked back at Ella. "Where is it that you work again?" The information that she knew... well, it was sensitive information. No one really knew of that mishap except for him, his assistant, and two detectives who vehemently suggested they keep it to themselves. It wasn't like the DNA didn't match to Mr. Parker, it was just a tiny bit different. They concluded that the test must've been the one at cause or some weird phenomenon was happening.

"I'm a private psychologist. Dr. Ella Cortesa." Ella reached inside her purse to pull out her business card. Jake accepted the piece of paper and stored it for safekeeping.

"To be quite honest, Ms. Ella," Jake watched her carefully, "the DNA was a little off, but what I would like to know is how you know."

With both men staring at her confused now, Ella sighed, reaching to rub her forehead. Her theory was a little crazy and out there, but she had done thorough research, and she was sure that something fishy was happening.

"Could it possible that you didn't test Mr. David Parker?"

Jake chuckled, finally having an answer himself. "No. That was definitely him, little lady."

Ella looked at Damien, trying to see if maybe he was catching up to her and seeing what she was trying to say.

"It looked like him, right? Identical?" Ella offered, now even more-so nervous than before.

Jake's smile fell a bit. "Well, of course. They brought him straight here after the crime. What are you trying to say here, Ms. Cortesa?"

"I think David Parker has a twin. I think that the person that died is not actually David." Ella revealed, and Jake's mouth fell open, his brain racing to catch up and make sense of what she was saying. He wanted to tell her no, that she was wrong. For his sake and for Damien's, it would be better is this wasn't true, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

Moving to his computer, he quickly pulled up David Parker's file, scrolling through all of the notes and attachments. Ella turned to Damien, who still seemed taken aback by the information. They waited in silence, not one person speaking as Jake's fingers flew across his computer keyboard and mouse, furiously jabbing down buttons as his eyes followed every word.

"We're screwed." He finally said.

Ella looked at him, waiting for him to elaborate, and he shook his head tersely, removing his tie with one hand and moving the computer screen towards his guests with the other.

Right there, in big letters, was the birth certificate of none other than David's twin, Dean Parker.

Ella sighed, feeling slightly relieved that her suspicions had been right but also feeling slightly guilty for complicating this case more for Damien.

Later, once they had gotten a copy of the certificate and put in the request to compare those two DNA, they left, both quiet yet whirring with questions internally.

"You did well, Ella." Damien stopped Ella before she got into the car. He could see how she was feeling a bit down. "I'm, once again, impressed." Damien smiled, pressing a gentle kiss for her forehead before helping her in and closing her door.

"I'm just sorry that you'll have to go through this plot twist in trail. That won't be easy for you." Ella explained to him once he had gotten in.

"It'll be okay," He promised, patting her hands on her lap tenderly before placing that hand back on the steering wheel. While driving on the highway, he didn't necessarily feel comfortable with driving with one hand when Ella was inside the vehicle. "I have that new assistant. She seems to be getting used to how I work now."

Ella chuckled, talking to Damien about work and the assistant until they made it back to the office, Ella walking hand-in-hand with Damien to Kim's office where they would explain the newfound situation to him.

"Mr. Petrotti!" The new assistant, Ms. Neele, rushed up to Damien, holding various files in different sizes in her small arms. "I got all of the related files to the Han case."

Damien breathed in. "I said Ahn, Ms. Neele. The Ahn case." Damien clenched his jaw, but refused to scold her again today. Besides, he had more urgent things to take care of.

"Why don't you go ahead and explain things to Jihye. I'll stay and help." Ella slipped her hand from Damien's, squeezing his arm in reassurance as he agreed. He really did need the help.

"Come back once you're finished." Damien kissed Ella's head briefly before leaving, and as soon as he was gone, the three women that were watching sighed in unison.

"He's very handsome."

"He's so sweet."

"He's freaking whipped."

Ella had to chuckle at the last one. If anyone was "whipped", it would be her. She had every reason to be whipped too.

"Thank you so much!" Ms. Neele expressed, allowing Ella to show her how to pick out the files in alphabetical order, which was easier than going by number.

"It's no problem. I know Damien's schedule can be hectic, so thank you for helping him." Ella handed some files to the blonde woman before taking some into her hands.

"No offense, but when I heard he had a girlfriend, at first, I thought she was lucky, but then I was like, she must be miserable. I also, even though he's hot, didn't think you would be this gorgeous."

Ella just looked at Neele, a fake and polite smile overtaking Ella's features. "Thank you...?"

"Alright, blabbermouth. Leave Ella alone, now." Hope entered the closet, a lollipop in her mouth as she moved to take Ella's files away. "They're requesting your presence, your highness." Hope teased, pushing her out. Once Ella left, Hope shook her head at Neele. "You really can't get one right, can you?"

Neele blinked. "I... I was complimenting her!"

"Yeah, because calling her boyfriend a hot tyrant is a compliment." Hope scoffed, making a face of distaste and ushering her out. "Let's get moving before your personality rubs off on me. Go."

Ella, shaking her head at Hope's loud antics, knocked on Kim's door before entering. "Hey. You guys needed me?"

Kim nodded, gesturing for her to sit with them at the plush seats that surrounded his coffee table.

"Damien told me about what was happening. Good job, Ella." Kim patted Ella's head tenderly, a habit that Ella had learned to get used to from Jihye's Korean culture. "Jal Haesseo." (Good job in Korean)

Ella sighed, smiling appreciatively but still feeling a heavy heart. "We just have to figure out where exactly is David, and why Jamie is lying." Ella quietly pondered, her eyes losing focus as she thought of a strategy of how they were going to get that information.

"We'll need to get their bank statements as well as the call log from jail. She's been calmer lately. I'm thinking someone is helping her." Damien offered, already creating a list of things to do in his mind.

"We'll need to recheck CCTV footage of what ensued after the crime. Also, last time I checked, she hadn't pulled out the insurance money, but if David is alive, he can't be without money..." Ella narrowed her eyes, staring at nothing in the distance while her mind whirred with possible ways that both criminals could be thinking of to get away.

"As for that twin, we need to contact any family members. That man couldn't have been hidden his entire life." Damien shook his head, giving out a low huff as he loosened his tie.

Kim stares at both blankly and with his lips pursed. He really did have to thank Damien for working so diligently and regularly. Even when Kim wanted nothing but to give up as boss, Damien had always been there to reign him back in.

"Well, as great as these plans sound, I'm sure you guys are going to get it all figured out." Kim smiled innocently when Damien frowned in his direction. He didn't understand why Kim was speaking as if he was alluding to the fact that he wouldn't be helping. Damien still felt like he needed Kim's guidance throughout this process. By far, this had been one of the most complex and intricate cases Damien had ever encountered. He needed his teacher to guide him through.

"What are you planning?" Ella questioned, also sharing the exact, same, inquisitive thoughts as her Italian boyfriend.

"Remember that camping trip?" He looked at both adults with such a kid-like expression, one of pure joy and excitement. "It was like, ages ago, but I think we all need a break. Think about everything we've been through! We should use this to find peace, get closer-"

"I think we're close enough already." Damien grunted, remembering how Oliver still sometimes butted into Damien and Ella's private date nights. It wasn't just Oliver, either, but the girls also seemed as though they needed Ella's attention and opinion on everything from how their outfit looked to how they should approach a man. How was Ella even supposed to tell them how to flirt?! Ella was Ella; she didn't need those useless tricks to draw the attention to her, not that she even needed attention to begin with. She already had a faithful, good, and adoring boyfriend in Damien's humble opinion.

"No, no. We need to be closer!" Kim waved his hands in dismissal. "Please? Ella? Ellie? My beautiful, darling, intelligent, little Ellie?" Kim turned to Ella's big, brown eyes that were already amused.

"I already said yes quite some time ago. I'm still on board." Ella agreed. She could use some time to go out and have fun.

Even though it seemed like she was barely working these past couple of months, it wasn't like she was just sitting around doing nothing. Ella was still running around, helping her patients whenever and whichever way she could, and when she wasn't, she was busy trying to recover her health physically or mentally due to harsh situations that surrounded her lately. She really did want to go out and have fun with them. Besides, she loved all of the employees there and wouldn't mind spending time with their goofiness for a couple of days.

"Yes!" Kim fist-pumped the air. Now, with Ella on board, the rest of the crew was bound to agree, especially Damien. He seemed to be almost inseparable from Ella these months. "Damien, you should take your time thinking, then. If you want want to go, then that's fine too-"

"I'll go." Damien grunted, unhappy with Kim's sassiness and smugness. "Now," Damien stood to his towering height, making Kim flinch back. "We will return to work, if you'll excuse us."

Kim cleared throat, nodding as he remembered he was the one in power anyway. "Yes, you may leave." He turned his nose up, pretending that he also had a busy schedule to get to. The last thing Kim heard was Ella's soft laughter before the office door shut, and Kim was left alone in the office. "Aigoo!" Kim raises his fist to the seat that Damien had previously occupied. "You giant dummy."