Chapter 4
Yvonne transferred the money in record time. By the time Alessia received the notification, the sun was just beginning to dip behind the rooftops, and she had finally managed to track down the Morton family.il
It wasn’t that Alessia couldn’t handle a GPS–she could. But the Mortons lived in a tucked–away comer of the city, surrounded by rows of weather–beaten apartment blocks, the kind that had clearly seen better decades.-
As she rolled her suitcase through the narrow streets, Alessia passed a few shirtless guys loitering at the comec cigarettes dangling from their lips. They whistled at her, but she didn’t spare them a glance, just kept her head down and moved on, checking each building one by one. Alessia had always been wary of strangers, so she never considered asking anyone for directions; that stubborn Independence cost her some extra time &
The structure hunched under centuries of neglect, its windows framed in corroded lace. Sunlight dared not cross the threshold, inside. the dark sat thick and patient.E
It was hard t
ard to imagine the Mortons–once a wealthy family–now living here, in such shabby surroundings. Once upon a time, their daughter had wanted for nothing, but now, stripped of all privilege, it was no wonder she was desperate to reclaim her place
Shaking off these thoughts, Alessia climbed the steps. The main gate was so old it barely functioned as a barrier, anyone could come and go. The hallway was lined with all sorts of junk, and the air was thick with the sour smell of spoiling food.
Alessia wrinkled her nose, frowning in distaste.
The Mortons‘ apartment was at the far end of the second floor. For all their misfortune, the family still held onto some dignity–their doorway was spotless, a sharp contrast to the mess outside.X
After double checking the apartment number, Alessia lifted her hand to knock just as the door swung open from the inside. She reacted quickly, stepping aside before the door could hit her
A head poked out, startled to find someone standing there.
“Sorry, are you alright?” The voice was calm and gentle, with a warmth that put Alessia at ease.X
I’m fine. I was just about to knock.”
“Who are you here to see?” He opened the door wider, and in the dim hallway light, Alessia finally saw his face clearly 8
He was tall–at least six foot two–and had to duck slightly to avoid hitting his head on the doorframe. His features were soft and non–threatening, and even in the yellowish light, his skin seemed almost translucent. The crisp white shirt he wore probably his uniform from the bistro–looked especially sharp on his broad shoulders and slim waist. He was the kind of person who’d stand out in any crowd.
“Heading out?” Alessia asked, turning the question back on him.
“Yeah, I’m off to my part-time job,” he replied, his tone easygoing
“Well, I’ll cut to the chase. I’m probably your sister–biologically speaking” Alessia’s words were sincere, but the abruptness caught him off guard.
“What?” Zachary Morton stared at her in shock.
Before he could say anything else, a woman’s voice called from inside the apartment, Zachary, you’re still here? Don’t forget to pick up your medication before you gol”
Both Alessia and Zachary turned toward the sound.!
“Mom,” Zachary called back. Alessia found herself meeting the woman’s gaze–a woman in a simple dress and apron, her hair streaked with silver, yet carrying herself with unmistakable grace.
“Hello,” Alessia greeted her first.
“Hello, sweetheart. Who are you looking for? It’s no
not very safe around here at night–are you on your own?” The woman wiped her hands on her apron, her voice full of concem.
“Uh… Ileana–ng. I mean, she goes by Ileana now. Didn’t she mention anything to you?” Alessia hadn’t expected the encounter to unfold quite like this.8
“Ileana?” At the mention of the name, both mother and son exchanged a look tinged with disappointment.
“To put it simply, I’m probably your biological daughter. We were switched at birth. She’s gone back to her family, so it makes sense for me to move out. The rest… can we talk inside?”
