Chapter 5 The Truth

Ava was shocked beyond her imagination, she could not even begin to comprehend what Venessa was saying.

Bullets flew everywhere in the cafe, Ava was dazed she has never been in this type of situation before, all she could remember was Vanessa pulling and dragging her out of the cafe.

" Ava, ava, can you hear me? Ava snap out of it! Venessa said shaking Ava.

" Stop shaking me, am ok, am ok" Ava said pushing Vanessa hand away.

Vanessa look at her and said" I know this is all shocking and confusing for you but you have to just trust me, am your sister, look at my face we look the same, and am here to save you, there are a lot of bad people after you".

Ava stared at Venessa for a while and stood up, she flagged down a taxi, told him her address and got in, she turned to look at Venessa and said.

" I'll trust you this once cause we have the same face, get in let's go to my place"she said turning her face away.

Vanessa got into the taxi with Ava and the taxi driver drove off to avas

Ava's world had turned upside down in the span of a few days. The calm, gentle life she had crafted for herself as an artist and gallery owner had been shattered by a series of revelations she could never have anticipated.

First, there was the discovery of her twin sister, Vanessa-a woman she had no idea existed. They met under the most bizarre circumstances.

both of them shocked by the uncanny resemblance. Venessa it turned out, had been searching for Ava for years, guided by whispers of their shared past. She had information that rocked Ava to her core: their parents, long thought dead, were actually alive. And they were involved in something much larger than either of them could have imagined.

Then there was Landon. He had been persistent in his pursuit of her, always teasing, always pushing the boundaries of their connection. His charm was undeniable, but there was something about him that Ava couldn't quite place-a darkness, a hidden agenda.

And now, everything was starting to make sense. Venessa had told her about the organization-a powerful, secretive group that her parents had been deeply involved with. The same organization that Landon was apparently a part of.

Ava stared at the old photograph Venessa had given her-a picture of their parents, standing with a group of people, including a much younger Landon. The realization hit her like a freight train. Landon's interest in her wasn't just about admiration or desire. It was part of something much more dangerous.

"Ava," Venessa voice broke through her thoughts. "We need to talk about your abilities."

"My what?" Ava looked up, her mind still reeling from everything she'd learned.

"Your abilities," Vanessa repeated, her tone serious. "You must have noticed things-unusual things, things that didn't make sense."

Ava frowned, her mind racing. There had been moments, fleeting but unmistakable-times when she felt like she could sense things before they happened, or when her emotions seemed to influence the world around her. But she had always dismissed them as coincidences, tricks of the mind.

"What are you saying?" Ava asked, her voice shaky.

Venessa took a deep breath. "Ava, we come from a family with special gifts. Our parents... they were involved in that organization because of their abilities. And you... you've inherited them."

Ava shook her head, unable to fully grasp what she was hearing. "This can't be real. It's too much."

"I know," Venessa said gently. "I felt the same way when I found out. But it's true. And that's why the organization is after you. They know what you're capable of, and they want to control it-or destroy it."

Ava's heart pounded in her chest. "And Landon? He's part of this too Venessa hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. He's been involved for a long time. But his role... it's complicated. I think he's caught between his duty to the organization and his feelings for you."

Ava's mind raced as she tried to process everything. The man who had pursued her so relentlessly, who had teased her about being his, was not just a wealthy businessman-he was part of a dangerous conspiracy that involved her family. And he wanted her, not just as a lover, but as something more, something tied to the power she barely understood.

"What do we do now?" Ava asked, her voice trembling.

Venessa placed a hand on her shoulder, her gaze firm. "We need to find our parents. They're the only ones who can help us understand what's happening and how to protect ourselves. But we have to be careful. The organization is watching, and they'll do whatever it takes to keep their secrets."

Ava nodded, determination settling in her chest. She had spent her life creating beauty, finding solace in the peaceful world of art. But now, she realized, she would have to fight to protect that world-and the people she loved-from the darkness that threatened to consume it.

And as for Landon, she wasn't sure what to think. He was part of the danger, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye. But until she knew the truth, she would have to keep him at arm's length, no matter how much he insisted he wanted her.

Because in this new reality, wanting her could mean something very different-something that could either save her life or destroy it.

Ava and Vanessa sat in the dimly lit room, the weight of their new reality pressing down on them. The silence between them was thick with unspoken fears and the unknown challenges that lay ahead. Ava's mind raced, trying to piece together everything she had learned.

"How do we even begin to find them?" Ava asked, breaking the silence. "Our parents, I mean. If they're still alive, where have they been all this time?"

Vanessa sighed, her eyes distant as if searching for an answer that had eluded her for years. "I don't know exactly where they are, but I've been following leads for a long time. They've been moving from place to place, staying off the grid. But I think they're leaving breadcrumbs for us, clues in the places they know we'd look."

Ava glanced at the photograph again, focusing on the small details, trying to find any clue that might help. "Landon," she murmured, the name like a dark cloud hovering over her thoughts.

"What about him?" Vanessa asked, her gaze sharpening.

"He's connected to all of this, isn't he?" Ava said, her voice steadier now. "He's been involved in the organization for years. If anyone knows where our parents are, it's him."

Vanessa nodded slowly, considering. "He's definitely someone we need to keep an eye on. But he's dangerous, Ava. We can't trust him."

Ava's thoughts swirled around Landon. Despite the revelations about his involvement, she couldn't completely shake the connection she felt with him. There was something about him that had always seemed genuine, despite the darkness lurking beneath his charm. But could that be just another layer of deception?

"We need to be smart about this," Vanessa continued. "Landon might have feelings for you, but that doesn't mean he's not a threat. If he's part of the organization, he's bound by their rules. We can't let him manipulate us."

Ava clenched her fists, frustration and fear warring within her. "So what do we do? Just wait for him to make a move?"

"No," Vanessa said firmly. "We take control. We use what we know about him to our advantage."

Ava nodded, a plan forming in her mind. "He's been trying to get close to me, to gain my trust. Maybe it's time I let him think he's succeeded."

Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "You're suggesting we play him?"

Ava's expression hardened. "We don't have a choice. If Landon is the key to finding our parents and understanding what's happening, then we need to be one step ahead of him. We need to make him think he's in control when, really, we are."

Vanessa smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. "You've got more of our parents in you than you think."

Ava returned the smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Let's hope so."

---

The next day, Ava found herself in her gallery, going through the motions of her routine, but her mind was elsewhere. She knew Landon would show up eventually-he always did when he sensed she was pulling away. And she was counting on it.

Sure enough, as the afternoon light streamed through the large windows, she heard the familiar sound of his footsteps. Landon appeared, as if summoned by her thoughts, his presence filling the room with an air of confidence and control.

"Ava," he greeted her, his voice warm, almost affectionate. "I've missed you."

She turned to face him, schooling her features into a mix of surprise and delight. "Landon. I wasn't expecting you."

He approached her slowly, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of the turmoil she was hiding. "I couldn't stay away," he said, his voice low and intimate. "There's something about you that keeps drawing me back."

Ava forced herself to meet his gaze, feeling the pull of his charm but determined to stay focused. "I've been thinking about you too," she admitted, letting just the right amount of vulnerability seep into her voice. "About us."

Landon's eyes flickered with interest. "Oh?"

Ava took a step closer, her heart pounding in her chest as she executed the plan she and Elena had devised. "I feel like there's so much we don't know about each other, Landon. So many secrets. I want to understand you better, to know who you really are."

Landon's smile was slow, almost predatory. "You already know more than most. But there are some things about me that aren't easy to explain."

"Then show me," Ava urged, her voice soft and enticing. "Let me in."

He studied her for a long moment, as if weighing the risks. "Are you sure you're ready for that, Ava? Once you know, there's no going back."

Ava nodded, her resolve unwavering. "I'm sure. I want to be with you, Landon. Completely."

The words felt foreign on her tongue, but they were necessary. She needed him to believe her, to lower his guard. Only then could she find the answers she so desperately needed.

Landon reached out, taking her hand in his. "Alright, Ava. I'll show you. But remember, you asked for this."

Ava's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of fear and anticipation swirling inside her. She was stepping into dangerous territory, but it was the only way to uncover the truth.

As Landon led her out of the gallery and into the night, Ava cast a final glance at the artwork she had created, wondering if she would ever return to the life she one knew.