2025-06-30 23:14:06Eli stares at the paper and envelope in his hand, different questions going through his mind, what did it mean he wasn’t who he thought he was, heck – he didn’t think he was anybody. He was starting to suspect the letter wasn’t for him and could be for another Eli Thorne, besides the situation in which he had gotten the envelope was suspicious.
After thinking for a while, Eli decides to hide the envelope and letter, while using the key that had come in the envelope to determine if both items belonged to him.
When he was done hiding the letter in a successful spot that he was certain no one was going to find, he brought out the key from where it lay in his pocket to examine it . The key looked both normal and unique. It looked like an everyday normal key, but a letter he couldn’t quite read and understand was carved on its body, and upon closer look, it looked like the tip of the key was curved slightly in an unusual manner.
Sighing he placed the keys back in his pocket, he was tired and needed to sleep, maybe with a clearer mind he would understand what the key was for.
………….
Eli woke up to a slight shoving on his rib, rubbing his eyes – he opened them to see Elara staring at him inquisitively.
“What is this?” Elara asked, raising the key from last night to show Eli.
“What is what?” Eli asked, not noticing what she was holding as he was still feeling sleepy and his eyes were drooping.
Elara moved closer to Eli sitting on his leg - “This!” she said again, shoving the key closer to his face.
“Oh!” Eli responded, contemplating telling her the event of last night and how he really came about the key.
Elara stared at Eli, her brow raised slightly as she waited for a response from him.
“Um– I picked it from the floor thinking it was the house key, it was when I had arrived home that I realized I had made a mistake.” Eli responded finally, choosing not to tell her the event of the previous night, he didn’t want to get her worried for nothing.
Elara stared at Eli for a moment like she didn’t believe him, sensing that he was lying to her, but she quickly shoved the thought away, there was no need for him to lie, besides the key looked somewhat old and rusty, she was certain it was for nothing important.
“So what are you going to do about it?” Elara asked, not like she cared about what his answer would be, she just felt the need to ask.
“Nothing, not like I know who the key belongs to and I don’t see the need to return it to the ground where I found it.” Eli responded, making Elara scrunch up her face in surprise.
“It’s an old rusty key Eli, you don’t need to hold on to it, I am certain the owner threw it away because it’s not valuable anymore.” Elara responded, unable to hide the shock at her husband’s words in her voice.
“You never can tell, it could lead to some hidden treasure and maybe the key was meant to find me.” Eli responded to his wife teasingly.
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Elara asked in a dismissive tone.
“WHY ARE BOTH OF YOU STILL IN BED – ESPECIALLY YOU ELI.” Selva shouted from outside their room as she flung their room door open, “It’s Saturday, and there’s lots of cleaning to do,” Selva continued, her beautiful figure resting against the room door.
“Eli and I were talking about this key he found, he thinks it might lead to some hidden treasure.” Elara replied to her Mom, grabbing the key that was now in Eli’s hand from him and showing it to her Mom, she sounded serious and genuine like she supported her husband and really believe what he had said, but in reality she was looking for a means to to get her Mom to insult and mock Eli.
“Don’t tell me, you have been brainwashed further by Eli and really believe what he thinks.” Selva responded, greatly disappointed in her daughter. “It’s only poor, jobless people who don’t have important things to think about that would spend time imagining such rubbish.” Selva continued, not hiding the disgust that passed through her face any time her eyes landed on Eli.
“What if he is right Mom.” Elara continued, enjoying the scene that was enfolding in front of her.
“Why do you keep believing every word that comes out of this human mouth, – what exactly has he done to you or done for you to make you side with him every time.” Selva asked, her face turning red from anger.
“Eli is my husband, it’s only natural I listen to him and believe his words, it’s not his fault he is poor and has no family members, besides….”
“Elara that’s okay, mother is right, you shouldn’t argue with her, there is no way the key could lead to some hidden treasure.” Eli spoke up, stopping Elara from what she planned to say.
“I am sorry Mom, I shouldn’t have argued with you.” Elara responded looking genuinely sorry.
“That’s okay, it’s not your fault, this is happening all because of this man you call your husband.--- anyways, your grandma said I should tell you to go over to her house, she has something important to discuss with you.” Selva said, as she thought of numerous ways to make this man suffer when her daughter wasn’t there to support him.
“Okay, Mom, I will go when I am done with my house chores.” Elara responded, getting up from her bed and gesturing for Eli to do the same.”
“There’s no need for that, I am certain I and Eli can handle the chores, your grandma said you should come quickly, that it’s very urgent.” Selva responded, hoping that Elara would agree and not ruin her plans.
“Alright, but don’t make things difficult for Eli.” Elara responded finally, looking at her Eli with sadness, and a look that said, ‘hope you are not mad at me, you know I can’t afford to offend grandma.’
Eli looked at his wife dotingly, pulling her close to him in a tight embrace, as he patted her hair and whispered. “I can never be angry at my wife, you need to stop worrying about me so much,-- that’s meant to be my duty.”
“Don’t miss me too much.” Elara responded as she disengaged from the hug, causing Eli to smile widely and a tiny blush creeping up his cheek. His wife always had that effect on him.
“I will try not to.” Eli responded as he watched his wife walk out of the room, his eyes landing on Selva, the disgusted and angry look coming from her erased the smile on his face immediately as he quickly averted his gaze and lowered his head.
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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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