2025-06-30 23:13:29His first thought was to open the envelope right there and then, but after noticing the crowd on the road and not really knowing the contents in the envelope, he decided to wait till he got home.
A loud noise from his stomach reminded him of why he had stepped out from his wife’s birthday party as he made his way to a local restaurant to get something to eat.
Eli stared at the light insect that kept fluttering around him, making it impossible to enjoy his meal, as he wondered when he was finally going to be able to dine in rich restaurants and order food from the comfort of his house when he didn’t feel like stepping anywhere. He shook his head realizing that his thoughts were just wishful thinking, and despite all he had done to climb higher, it felt so impossible for him. He could only be grateful to his wife for staying by him and sticking by his side despite all the ridicule he got from her family members and strangers as well.
Eli finished his food and left the restaurant, before sending a quick text to his wife. “Don’t forget our anniversary dinner, I will be waiting for you at the venue” Then he sent a quick photo and few directions to her, so it would be easy for her to find her way, then he went to the restaurant to book a table. The restaurant wasn’t on the list of really expensive restaurants, but for Eli, it was a lot, considering he had to use half of the money he had saved to get jewelry earlier to book a single table and get one meal, that he was left wondering what he would have done if he had decided to use the money to get the necklace earlier.
“Sir, would you like for your meal to be brought now? – the restaurant will be closing soon.” A slightly lean man said to Eli as he tapped him gently. Eli was so tired that he didn’t realize he had fallen asleep on the table.
The lean man looked at Eli with complex emotions, though he was slightly disgusted by the poor haggard man that lay sprawled across the table, he had paid to be served at the restaurant, so he had to treat him with respect.
“What time will the restaurant close?” Eli asked, stretching his bones as he sat upright.
“30 mins from now.” the waiter responded, annoyed that he had to spend extra time answering his question.
“Isn’t that too early?, – the thing is, I am expecting my wife to be here soon, – today is our anniversary, and I wanted to surprise her with a fancy meal.” Eli responded, his tone hopeful.
“I am happy to hear about your anniversary, but there is really nothing I can do, it’s past eleven and if your wife was really turning up today, she would have done that a long time ago.” The waiter replied, not wanting to believe that the man in front of him would have a wife, who in their right senses will want to marry him, despite looking neater and earning more than this man, it was difficult for him to have a girlfriend because he was a waiter, what more could he say about a man that looked homeless, he was very certain that Eli was lying to him and was hoping to use the excuse the spend the night there.
Eli was beyond shocked to hear the time as he grabbed his phone to see if the waiter was lying to him, and to see if he had gotten any feedback from Elara, but his message had not been opened and true to the waiter’s words, it was 11:30 in the night.
“Can I have the food put in a takeaway so I can carry it along?’ Eli asked, his tone defeated, his face looking like he had aged by a few years.
“That will cost extra Sir.” The waiter responded, his impatience growing.
“How much will that be?” Eli asked, hoping in his mind that the price wouldn’t be too much.
“50$”. The waiter responded, crashing Eli’s hope, he was certain he would not have enough to board a cab on his way home if he paid the extra 50, if the day was a bit brighter, he might have considered walking back, but he was tired and he didn’t have the strength to fight any body that might try to attack him that night if he chose to walk.
“Please can I get a refund instead.” Eli asked, his tone hesitant and a look of disappointment flashed across his face for a brief second. He had hoped that he could at least give the food to his wife even if she hadn’t been able to make it for the date, since he was certain she wouldn’t have eaten much that day.
“That’s against the restaurant policy Sir, but I will do it, considering the fact that you look like you need the money.” The waiter responded, sounding high and mighty as he looked down at Eli in a mocking way, not able to hide his disgust any longer, before walking off.
Eli was used to such treatments but he was shocked by the attitude of the waiter, since it seemed they were in the same class, even if they weren’t, the gap couldn’t be bigger than the tip of his finger. Some minutes later the waiter came with a bundle of cash, removing a 10$ bill before passing the rest to Eli.
“That would be my payment for standing on my feet for an extra minute trying to attend to you.” The waiter replied smugly when he noticed the questioning look Eli threw at him.
Eli sighed, not saying anything, people were always looking for who to bully, and it was always easier to do it when they considered their victim weaker than them, he wanted to ask for the money to be transferred to his account instead of carrying huge wads of cash that night, but he changed his mind, he was certain that this man was looking for a way to get him angry and find an opportunity to attack him, so instead he smiled, nodded politely at the man, before walking to another part of the restaurant to hide the money in his coat, then walked out of the restaurant not sparing the waiter a second glance.
Eli arrived at his house some minutes later, luckily he didn’t encounter any problem on the road. He headed towards the bedroom he shared with his wife Elara wondering if she had gotten home, when he saw her sleeping soundly on their bed, he didn’t know if he was to be angry at her for leaving him in that restaurant without so much as a feedback, but as he continued to stare at his wife’s peaceful face, he realized he couldn’t be angry at her. She must have been too exhausted after the party and didn’t have the strength to check her phone, so she probably didn’t know he had been waiting for her. Eli thought to himself. Besides, it gave him the opportunity to check the content of the envelope without bothering about his wife wanting to know what the letter contained.
Eli hesitated a bit, taking in large gulps of air as he tried to steady his breathing, he couldn’t understand why, but he was nervous as he wondered what the envelope contained. After gathering enough courage, he tore open the envelope, catching the key that rolled out of it in time before it could land on the floor.
Inside the envelope, a tiny paper lay, and on the paper 8 words written in perfect cursive handwriting stared at him.
“You are not who you think you are.” The words spelt, leaving Eli completely shocked and confused.
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Chapter Ninety - nine
Eli woke to the sound of a house breathing.It took him a second to place it—the faint creak of wood settling, the low hum of a refrigerator somewhere nearby, the distant clink of a spoon against ceramic. Morning sounds. Domestic ones. The kind that didn’t belong to glass-walled bedrooms or quiet penthouses or places that existed mostly to be passed through.He stared at the ceiling, unfamiliar and faintly cracked at one corner, and let the confusion pass.Right.Evelyn and Franklin’s house.He hadn’t slept like this in years.Not the kind of sleep that pulled him under without resistance, without the half-conscious vigilance that usually lingered at the edge of his mind. He hadn’t dreamed—at least, not anything he remembered. No fragments. No unfinished conversations looping endlessly.Just darkness. And rest.That realization alone made his chest tighten.He sat up slowly, as if sudden movement might break whatever fragile thing had allowed him peace. The blanket slid down to his wa
Chapter Ninety - eight
Morning arrived gently.Not with alarms or urgent calls or the sharp intrusion of responsibility—but with light filtering through the tall windows, pale and unassuming, as though the day itself was testing the ground before making demands.Eli woke slowly.For a moment, he didn’t move. Just lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of the house. The night before had been long—roads without destinations, thoughts that had needed space more than answers. He’d returned late, parked in the driveway long after the city had surrendered to sleep, and collapsed into bed with a tiredness that felt earned rather than heavy.He reached for his phone out of habit.No missed emergency calls.No red alerts.No messages marked *urgent*.Instead—A notification banner slid across the screen.Voice note received.Sender: Aurelius Group — Executive ChannelEli frowned slightly.He sat up, back resting against the headboard, and tapped play.For a split second, there was silence.The
Chapter Ninety - seven
Eli didn’t return to the bedside, immediately.He stood just outside the glass partition, one hand resting against the cool surface, eyes fixed on Elara’s still form. Her breathing remained even. Untroubled. For now, that was enough.Karim waited beside him, patient in the way only someone who had learned to coexist with dangerous silences could be.“Karim,” Eli said without looking away. “You’ll stay here.”Karim inclined his head slightly. “Of course.”“If she wakes up and asks for me—”“I’ll tell her you stepped out,” Karim said. “If she asks who I am, I’ll say I’m your friend and colleague.”Eli’s gaze shifted to him then. “No embellishments.”A faint, knowing look crossed Karim’s face. “I wouldn't dream of it.”“Good.” Eli exhaled slowly. “Don’t leave her alone. Not for a second.”“You don’t need to say it.”Eli nodded once, a silent acknowledgment of trust earned the hard way. He straightened, already compartmentalizing, already moving on to the next necessary thing.“Call me if
Chapter Ninety - six
Eli didn’t touch her.Not at first.He stood there with his hands at his sides, fingers flexing once as if testing whether his body still answered to him. The urge to reach out—to confirm warmth, solidity, undeniable presence—sat sharp beneath his ribs. He resisted it with the same discipline he used to resist panic, impulse, hope.Hope was dangerous.He leaned closer instead, lowering himself into the chair beside the bed. The faint sound of her breathing filled the space between heartbeats. In. Out. Consistent. Alive.Thirty-six hours ago, Karim had said.Thirty-six hours where the world had continued turning without this truth. Thirty-six hours where Eli had still been in that underground city trying to figure out what it wanted from him.He let his gaze trace her face, cataloging differences with ruthless precision. The hollow at her cheekbones. The slight discoloration at her temple, almost hidden by her hair. An IV line threaded into her arm, tape secure, clinical and careful.S
Chapter Ninety - five
The jet accepted them without ceremony.No pause for drama, no sense of occasion—just the soft intake of air, the familiar hush of insulation, and the quiet competence of people who were paid very well not to react. Carlos moved ahead as usual, exchanging brief confirmations with the crew, every step efficient and practiced. He didn’t linger, didn’t make small talk. There was a rhythm to the way he operated in spaces like this—measured, unassuming, in control.Eli followed more slowly.Not because he needed the time, but because slowing himself down felt deliberate. Necessary. The cabin felt the same as it always did—leather, low lighting, subtle temperature control tuned to comfort rather than personality. Predictable. Safe. He let that familiarity settle into his bones as he took his seat, loosening his jacket but not removing it. A habit he hadn’t questioned in years.The door sealed. The engines began their steady hum.Zurich slipped away without sentiment.Carlos sat across from
Chapter Ninety - four
Carlos was already dressed when Eli woke up.That alone was unsettling.Not just dressed— assembled. Hair neat. Shirt pressed. Jacket on. Shoes laced. The version of Carlos standing near the window looked like the man Eli had known for years: calm, efficient, already ten steps ahead of whatever problem was currently pretending not to exist.Morning light cut through the hotel room in clean, unapologetic angles. Zurich looked crisp outside, like a city that believed very strongly in schedules and accountability.Eli blinked, disoriented.For a split second, his brain supplied the wrong memory. Carlos chewing bread like it was a religious experience. Carlos narrating textures. Carlos joking about nutrition opinions and conceptual dirt.This Carlos did none of that.He was scrolling through a tablet, expression neutral, posture loose but alert. A mug of coffee sat untouched on the desk beside him, steam thinning.Eli pushed himself upright. His head felt heavy, like his thoughts had been
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