The agency was busier than ever, scurrying to find the whereabouts of Abbas. Tahir had also come to visit and left Saif with Anisa. He hadn't been focused on his mission lately and needed it to end as soon as possible, all for the safety of everyone he cared about.

"Oh, looks who's in the office today," Mr. Latif exclaimed

"Are there any updates?" Tahir asked.

"Why it's nice to see you too Tahir, I'm feeling just fine if you ask me," Mr. Latif mocked the absence of Tahir's manners.

"Sir, I think none of us are going to be fine, let alone, rest in peace at night up until this man is in custody," Tahir pointed to the screen with Abbas's figure just across from them.

Mr. Latif sighed and gave up. Tahir was right. No one was going to be fine until this mission was over and they had less of a headache to worry about. Just then, Mr. Amin appeared and Tahir looked away, distracting himself.

"Have you come to work, son?" He asked.

Tahir simply nodded and walked away.

Their father and son relationship didn't resume on a good note. Especially after what Mr. Amin had done. Before Tahir could entirely disappear from Mr. Amin's sight, he informed him, "I'm going to visit your mother this evening."

Tahir paused upon hearing his statement and waited for him to continue.

"If you'd like, come with me. It's been long since she's seen you as well."

In response, Tahir continued walking to his office where he was going to continue working on this case. At the agency, he had more access to documents and CCTV recordings from many buildings JSS had access to. They have already acquired permission from 90% of the entire operating and non-operating buildings and businesses since their start.

What one of the security guards gave him as evidence kept circling his mind. He remembered Abbas telling them something about "the mother." But, what did that exactly mean?

With moments of thinking, Tahir widened his eyes and rushed out back to Mr. Latif. He stormed into his office, startling Mr. Latif, "Child, what happened to your knocking manners?"

"Mr. Latif, what did you do with the woman posed as Anisa's mother?"

"What do you mean what did I do with her? I let her go. She was too fragile and I made sure she wasn't let go without our assistance," He replied with confusion written all over his face.

"When did you let her go?" Tahir asked

"Just yesterday. I sent her with some of our agents and made sure she was safely at home," Mr. Latif was growing impatient.

Tahir looked as though he was panicking but with less of an expression and the fact he was urging so many answers out of Mr. Latif wasn't easing the situation for him.

"Can you answer my questions now and tell me why this is so concerning?" Mr. Latif asked, finally.

"I think Abbas is going back to her. He's going to -" Tahir was cut off with the ringing of his phone. As soon as he saw Saif's name, he picked up instantly.

"Saif?" He answered while putting him on speaker for Mr. Latif to hear

"Tahir, Anisa got a call from Abbas,"

As soon as Saif said that, both Mr. Latif and Tahir looked at each other with an alarmed expression.

"He has the woman, Yasmeen Abadi." Saif finished.

Mr. Latif ran his hands through his hair, annoyed with himself and the situation. Tahir sighed in frustration and told Saif,

"Hold on, I'm going over there,"

"Alright. But, take your time. Anisa's fine. She's just in a state of shock. Reem is with her at the moment," Saif informed him.

Tahir nodded and hung up.

Mr. Latif understood why Tahir asked him all those questions regarding Yasmeen. But, one thing wasn't adding up. Why would Abbas take her back?

"I know what you're thinking and I'm wondering the same question, but I have a feeling we're about to find out soon," Tahir said before leaving Mr. Latif's room.

After entering the eigh-digit code on the gate doors, Tahir drove up to the driveway and parked the car in the garage. He rushed out to get to Anisa faster. Saif noticed his presence and opened the door through the garage for him.

"Where is she?" Tahir asked.

"She's in the living room," Saif responded

Tahir rushed towards the living room. As soon as he entered, he saw her sitting by the window with her dress touching the floor. She seemed too calm for what happened to her. Especially after the man that inflicted trauma on her called and threatened her with who she believes is her mother.

When she felt his presence, Anisa slowly turned to see him standing just a few feet away from her.

"I thought you had some work to do outside?" She asked him.

"I did but as soon as I heard what happened, I had to come," he walked closer to take a seat beside her on the sofa.

Tahir wasn't able to take his eyes off of hers. Even though she wasn't displaying her true expression physically, they say that the eyes never lie and he wanted to read the expressions held in them.

All he was able to see was her worry. It's as though she chose to block off other emotions that hit her.

"Talk to me, what happened?" He asked

"Well...he called and reminded me that he still had my mother," She looked down at her hands, "He said that unless I tell the authorities to remove him from the wanted list, then he will surely kill her this time."

"Don't tell me that you're thinking of doing that?" he followed her gaze

"There's no other way this is going to end," she shook her head, "There's no other way he's going to let her go. I trusted you with this. But, how is it that he still holds her captive?"

Tahir sighed, "I had her. I had your mother. But, there's something you must know."

Anisa grew more worried than she already was. She didn't take her attention away from him. Not even for a second.

"I didn't want you to hear this from me. Everything's been complicated and I felt like telling you the moment I found out. But, it's such a difficult subject," He told her, "How was I supposed to tell the woman I love that her parents were never her real parents?"

Tahir looked up at her to see her reaction. But, he was only able to see disappointment spread across her expression. Anisa looked back out to the window and sighed. Tahir scrunched his brows and asked, "Why this expression?"

"Tahir, I knew I was adopted ever since you gave me the file that my father - or should I say, adoptive father told you to give me," She explained, "It's why I wasn't myself those times. It's also why I grew weak, mentally. I couldn't even handle a small betrayal from my brother when I'm so used to that trait from him."

Anisa stood up and walked over to the table placed against the wall, underneath a mirror. On that table was a box, decorated with gold on the edges, as well as a lock. Anisa unlocked it and grabbed the letter that explained everything for her. She walked back towards Tahir and handed it to him.

"This was inside that file. It was probably the sincerest letter I've ever read from him," she said watching him unfold the paper.

Tahir began to read the letter silently as it said:

Dear Anisa, my beautiful daughter.

You're the child that brought my life together. You brought me closer to your mother and created the future that this country holds today. Had you not come into my life, nothing I possess today would be mine. And, if you're reading this letter, it means I'm not there to watch you turn into the strong, independent, wonderful woman you are anymore.

I've kept you my most sacred secret. With all honesty, you were not my biological child. Nor, the late queen's child. During my youth, I fell in love with the late queen and my mother didn't approve of our marriage back when I was crown prince. She placed a rule that unless the late queen was able to bear a child for me within the first three years, then I am to divorce her.

I had no choice. My love was stronger than my own life. But, we couldn't live without each other. You won't understand until you experience true love someday. The late queen was unable to bear a child. Her fertility rate just wasn't the best and we tried. We tried to have our own child but it wasn't working. When the time grew close, I escaped the castle.

It gave me time to fool my mother that the late queen was pregnant. We waited for months until the right time came. So, I sent men to find a child that was born in the last few hours. It just so happened to be you who was the closest.

I was going to explain the story while I was still with you. But, I couldn't bear to see your whole life crumble upon finding out. I wanted you to live your days as though they were no different and that the people around you are a true family you could count on. It's a dying father's wish to see his daughter happy. It might be selfish of me, but I hope you don't abandon your thoughts of me as your father, or your thoughts of the late queen as your mother. We loved you like no other. You're the most special thing that's ever come into our lives.

Tahir slowly brought down the letter he finished reading and looked at Anisa to see the tears that had formed in her eyes. She was also avoiding his gaze.

"Why didn't you say anything?" He asked her.

"Do you tell me anything for me to speak to you?" Anisa snapped back, coming to her sense.

Tahir was taken back by her sudden statement. Fear grew slowly inside him. There were many things he hadn't told her.

"What are you talking about?" He asked

"You know what I'm talking about. I was always the one speaking, telling you every piece of information I came across. At one point I decided to ignore it because I thought that you needed time. But, I guess I've grown impatient," Anisa sniffled, wiping away the tears that were threatening to come out.

Tahir was still in disbelief. He didn't know what to expect from her.

"I've been through a lot. I've held a lot of weight. But, despite all of that I chose to open up to you. I chose you over so many people. I didn't care what they thought. I knew that we were going to have this talk someday. I'm sorry if I caught you off guard but I didn't know that day could be this day," Anisa told him.

"And I'm also sorry if what I just did was something you don't agree with, but I did remove Abbas from every wanted list," She finally said.

Tahir's eyes widened and he stood up, towering over her.

"Why?"

"Because if there is even the slightest chance that the woman he holds captive is my true mother and that I have a chance with my real family, I'm going to take it," Anisa stood her ground, "Try and stop me if you can. But, I should remind you that I'm not the weak Anisa anymore. I've opened my eyes. I'm done crying. I'm done standing around as though I've got people to do things for me."

Tahir shook his head, "Anisa, you don't want to do this. Everything I've done to this point has all been for you and because of you. You think I'm doing all this because I'm your bodyguard? No. It's because I see you as a woman. A woman who will soon become a part of me."

A/N:

I'm not sure if this is considered a cliffhanger. Sometimes, I have a hard time deciphering 😬😅 but what did you all think of this chapter??

Don't forget to show this book some love by hitting that star button and commenting anywhere you'd like!

Thank you~

(p.s I should also warn you guys that this book is to end soon.)