chapter 3 the secret brother

When Anna met Daniel at their favorite café later that day, she could barely contain her excitement. As they settled into a cozy corner booth, she leaned in, eager to hear what Daniel had uncovered.

"Okay, so I did some digging," Daniel began, his expression serious yet animated. "The young man in the photo—his name is Alex. And here's the kicker: he's actually her brother."

Anna's heart raced. " Her brother? But how? I've never heard anything about him."

Daniel nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of empathy and intrigue. "It turns out that Alex isn't a legitimate son. Her father never acknowledged him. But Anya—Mrs. Al-Morrar—she discovered she had a brother when they were kids. She insisted on meeting him, and they formed a close bond."

Anna's mind raced with the implications. "So, they stayed close all those years?"

"Exactly," Daniel confirmed. "Anya helped Alex in every way she could, providing support and guidance throughout their lives. But because people didn't know the truth about their relationship, they must have misinterpreted it. Their closeness probably led to rumors about an affair or something scandalous."

Anna leaned back, processing this new information. "That makes sense," she said slowly. "I remember hearing whispers about Mrs. Al-Morrar having an affair, but I always thought it was just gossip. If people saw them together and didn't know they were siblings… they could easily jump to conclusions."

Daniel nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "It's sad, really. Anya must have faced a lot of judgment for something that wasn't even true. And now, with her past coming to light, it's clear how complicated her life was."

Anna felt a wave of empathy wash over her for Mrs. Al-Morrar. "I can't believe she kept this secret for so long, especially considering how much she loved Alex." 

"Maybe it was her way of protecting him—and herself," Daniel suggested gently. "But now you have the chance to learn more about both of them. This could be the key to understanding who she really was."

Anna nodded, determination filling her heart. "I want to meet Alex. I need to know more about their relationship and what it meant for both of them. This could change everything." 

As they continued to discuss the implications of this revelation, Anna felt a sense of purpose take root within her. The mystery of Mrs. Al-Morrar's past was finally beginning to unravel, and Anna was ready to uncover the truth—no matter how complex or challenging it might be.

Anna took a few days off from work, feeling the weight of her newfound knowledge and the urgency to connect with Alex. With Daniel's help, she had managed to track down his current address. The anticipation mixed with nervousness as she prepared for the meeting.

On the morning of her visit, Anna stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her hair and trying to calm her racing heart. She had spent the last few days imagining what this encounter would be like—what she would say, how he might react. Would he be open to meeting her? Would he even want to?

After gathering her thoughts, Anna slipped on a light jacket and grabbed her purse, taking a deep breath before stepping out the door. The drive to Alex's place felt both exhilarating and daunting. Each passing moment brought her closer to the ice skater she had only seen on television.

When she finally arrived at his apartment building, Anna parked and took a moment to collect herself. She glanced at the address one more time, then made her way inside. The lobby was quiet, and she could hear her heart pounding as she approached the elevator.

As the doors opened on Alex's floor, Anna felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her. She walked down the hallway, her footsteps echoing softly against the walls. Finally, she reached his door and raised her hand to knock, hesitating for just a moment.

Then she knocked gently, each sound reverberating in her mind. After a few moments that felt like an eternity, the door swung open, revealing a young man with tousled hair and curious eyes.

"Can I help you?" Alex asked, his voice cautious yet friendly.

Taking a deep breath, Anna smiled and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Anna. I'm a journalist, and I'd love to interview you about your recent ice skating competition win."

Alex's expression shifted from confusion to intrigue as he stepped back, allowing her to enter. "Sure, come in," he said, gesturing toward the living room.

As Anna settled into a chair, she felt a mix of excitement and determination. This was her chance to gather information—not just for her article but also to learn more about him and the world he inhabited. With each question she asked, she hoped to peel back layers of his life, all while keeping her true intentions hidden. This was just the beginning of a carefully crafted conversation that could lead to unexpected revelations.

After the interview wrapped up, Anna felt a sense of accomplishment. She had gathered more insights than she had anticipated, and Alex's passion for ice skating was palpable. As she stood to leave, she thanked him warmly for his time and the candid conversation they had shared.

"Thanks again, Alex. I really appreciate it," she said, moving toward the door.

Just as she reached for the handle, Alex called out to her, his tone suddenly serious. "Wait! You forgot your camera."

Turning back, Anna felt a slight flutter of anxiety. She hadn't realized she had left it behind. "Oh, right! Thank you," she replied, stepping back into the room.

As she extended her hand to retrieve the camera from him, Alex held on a moment longer than necessary, his grip firm and unyielding. He looked her in the eye with an intensity that made her heart race. "You know," he began slowly, "I sensed something was off when you first arrived."

Anna's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

"I've been interviewed many times before," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "I know all the magazines and all the journalists. And I know that you used a fake name."

Her mind raced as she searched for a plausible response, but the sincerity in his eyes made her hesitate. The weight of his words hung in the air between them, and she realized that her cover was about to be blown wide open.

"Alex, I—" she started, but he cut her off.

"I'm not mad," he said, releasing her camera and stepping back slightly. "But I want to know why you're really here."

Anna hesitated, her heart racing as she weighed her options. The dimly lit room was filled with an uneasy silence, the air thick with tension. She took a deep breath and finally spoke, "I'm looking into your sister's death."

His eyes widened, a mixture of confusion and concern washing over his face. "What do you mean? What do you know?"

"I don't have all the answers yet," Anna admitted, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "I'm a government investegator, I was assigned to look into this matter, I believe something isn't right. I need your help to find out what happened."

He leaned forward, his expression shifting from surprise to determination. "I want to know what happened too. She went missing weeks ago, and no one seems to be doing anything about it."

Anna nodded, feeling a sense of urgency in his words. "I've been gathering information, but I need to understand more about her last days. Did she mention anything unusual before she disappeared? Any people or places that seemed out of the ordinary?"

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. "She was acting a bit distant before she vanished, but I thought it was just stress from work. She mentioned meeting someone, but she never told me who or where. I thought she was just busy with her own life." 

"Did she say anything specific about that meeting?" Anna pressed gently.

"Just that it was important," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "I wish I had pushed her to tell me more."

Anna felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "If we can figure out who she was meeting or what she was involved in, we might find a lead."

He nodded, determination replacing some of the worry in his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to help you. I can't just sit here and wait for someone else to find her."

"Thank you," Anna said, relieved by his willingness to cooperate. "We'll need to dig deeper into her life—friends, colleagues, anyone she might have confided in.

Alex: "Listen, Anna,I want to make sure you're compensated for your time and effort."

Anna: "I appreciate that, but I'm not doing this for money, Alex. I just want to find out what happened to your sister, it's my job."

Alex: "I get that, but this is important. I can't just sit back and hope someone else finds out the truth, I'm willing to pay you whatever it takes. Just tell me how much you need."

Anna: "It's not about the money. I want to help because it matters to me."

Alex: "I understand that, but I need you to understand how serious this is for me. If it means getting more resources or spending more time on this, I'm ready to do it. Just name your price."

Anna: "Alex, really, I—"

Alex: "No, listen. This isn't just about finding the truth anymore. She was my only family, and ever since she died I've been having dreams of her, in my dreams she's trying to tell me something but I always wake up before I understand what she's saying, I want to do this so my sister could finally rest in peace.

Anna: "Okay, if it means that much to you… let's focus on finding out the truth. We can figure out the details later."

Alex: "Thank you. I just want to do everything I can."

Anna returned to the hotel , her mind racing with thoughts of Alex's desperate plea for help. The hallways felt eerily quiet as she made her way to the room, where Daniel worked late into the night. She found him poring over documents, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Daniel," she called softly, not wanting to startle him. He looked up, his expression shifting from focus to concern.

"Anna, you're back. Did you find anything useful?" he asked, pushing aside a stack of papers.

She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I spoke to Alex. He's really heartbroken about his sister, Anya. He mentioned that she had a last meeting with an anonymous person before she disappeared."

Daniel's interest piqued. "Anonymous? What else did he say?"

Anna recounted the details Alex had shared, emphasizing the urgency and fear in his voice. "He believes this meeting might be connected to her disappearance. He wants us to look into it."

Daniel nodded thoughtfully, his mind already racing with possibilities. "I'll dig into it right away. We need to find out who this person is and what they wanted with Anya."

"Do you think it could lead us to find out what happened to her ?" Anna asked, her heart pounding with hope.

"It's a possibility," Daniel replied, determination setting in his features. "If we can track down that meeting, we might uncover some clues about where she went ."

Anna felt a surge of gratitude for Daniel's commitment. "Thank you, Daniel. I know this is a lot to take on, but I can't shake the feeling that we're getting closer."

"Let's get to work then," he said, already pulling up files on his computer. "We'll figure this out together."

As Anna settled in beside him, she felt a renewed

sense of purpose. They were on a mission now, and she was determined to do everything she could to help Alex find his sister.