[BONUS Chapter for reaching 1000PS! Thank you all!]

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[EVE]

"W-what . . . what happened?" I stammered, my voice unsteady with a mix of confusion and panic. My eyes darted around the unfamiliar space, my heart pounding in my chest. At least my clothes were still intact—that was a small relief.

Cole leaned back slightly, his lips curving into a faint smile. His amusement was subtle but unmistakable. Yet, his expression betrayed nothing else, remaining as poker face as ever.

"I’ve done nothing to you if that’s what you’re thinking," he said, his voice calm yet tinged with dry humor. "Except . . . stare at you."

I raised an eyebrow, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, that’s not creepy at all."

Cole chuckled lightly, the sound both disarming and infuriating, before his expression turned serious. He shifted closer, sitting on the edge of the bed, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made me squirm.

"What?" I asked, my discomfort evident as I tried to avoid his piercing stare.

"You’ve been calling out for your parents in your sleep," he began softly, his words cutting through the fragile calm of the moment. "Is this . . . something that happens often?"

Caught off guard, I fidgeted, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear in a vain attempt to appear unbothered. "Well . . . if you were me—someone who doesn’t know her parents—you’d probably dream about them too."

My voice wavered despite my efforts to sound casual.

Cole’s eyes softened as he reached out, gently taking my hand in his. His warmth was startling, his touch firm yet comforting. "You don’t have to pretend around me, Eve," he said, his tone low but filled with sincerity. "I might not fully understand how it feels, but I know this—I care about you. And I hate seeing you sad or weighed down by things you can’t control. I promise, I’ll help you find your real parents."

His words sent a rush of warmth to my cheeks. I turned my gaze away, my voice barely above a whisper. "T-thank you . . . but it won’t be easy. The orphanage where Sullivan said he adopted me—it burned down years ago. There’s no trace left . . . not even records or staff to ask."

Cole’s grip on my hand tightened ever so slightly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a reassuring gesture. "Don’t worry," he said firmly. "We’ll find a way. It might take time, but I’ll make sure we get there. We can narrow down the timeline, check birth records, and even use DNA matching at hospitals."

I shook my head, my doubt surfacing. "I’ve already tried. Nothing’s come up so far. And . . . it takes money and time—two things that aren’t exactly easy to spare."

"You don’t have to worry about that," he replied, his voice steady. "We’ll speed things up by focusing on the most likely places. If your mother gave birth at home, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, let’s start with the orphanage. There might be something left—anything that could lead us closer."

For a moment, his unwavering confidence made me believe it might actually be possible.

"Right," I said, pulling my hand away as I stood. "Let’s get started. Are we there yet?"

"We’re just about to land," Cole said, his smile returning, softer this time but no less disarming.

As the plane began its descent, a strange mix of excitement and apprehension swirled in my chest.

Despite my best efforts to remain grounded, hope bubbled up within me—a fragile, fleeting thing. It was foolish, I knew, to pin my dreams on finding answers here, but hope was the only thing that had kept me searching all these time.

When we landed in Berlin, the bustling energy of the capital city was a stark contrast to my quiet thoughts. From the airport, we drove for hours to a remote town on the outskirts, the journey marked by winding roads and a landscape that grew increasingly sparse. By the time we arrived, night had fallen, and exhaustion weighed heavy on me.

The hotel we’d booked stood as a beacon of luxury amid the sleepy village, its lights casting a warm glow against the cold winter night. Relief washed over me as we stepped inside, only to dissipate moments later when the receptionist delivered the news.

"We only have one master suite left," the clerk said with an apologetic smile. "It has a king-sized bed, so you two don’t need to worry about comfort, and the room is the top of the line in our hotel."

I blinked, the words taking a moment to register. "What? There’s no other room available?"

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"Unfortunately, no. With the holidays, we’re fully booked," the clerk replied, though her attention kept drifting to Cole, her polite smile lingering just a bit too long on him.

I ignored the odd exchange, my focus laser-sharp on the problem at hand. "Are there any other hotels nearby with vacancies?"

The clerk hesitated. "There are a few, but I’m afraid they’re all full as well. The more affordable ones are usually the first to sell out, and not to brag, but we’re one of the top ten hotels in Germany."

I bit my lip, frustration bubbling up. I didn’t care if this hotel was ranked number one in the world—I just wanted my own space. The idea of sharing a room, let alone a bed, with Cole felt like a disaster waiting to happen.

"Could you please call around? Maybe someone had a cancellation?" I pressed, refusing to give up. Enjoy more content from novelbuddy

"Of course. It will take me a few minutes to check. In the meantime, feel free to have a seat," the clerk offered.

I turned to wait, fidgeting anxiously. Cole, on the other hand, leaned casually against the reception desk, exuding an infuriating sense of calm. His relaxed demeanor was a stark contrast to my inner turmoil, and it only made my nerves worse.

"You should just take the room," he said after a moment, his voice smooth and unbothered.