"You don't have to come with us, just sit in your room," he said and went away, leaving a crying child behind.

Tears streamed down Ava's face as she watched her family drive away. Their departure seemed like the picture-perfect family outing, but it was far from it. She ran to her room, feeling utterly abandoned.

Third person POV

The next day, Ava made a resolute decision to bury her emotions and refocus her energies entirely on her mission. She comprehended that she could no longer afford to become entangled in her personal feelings. Her paramount objective remained the quest to locate her beloved, missing sister, Olivia.

Ava's determination to distance herself extended to her college life as well. She had always been careful to maintain a low profile, ensuring that her uncle would drop her off at a discreet distance from the college gate. In this manner, she succeeded in projecting herself as just another diligent scholarship student. However, on this particular day, the ordinary was abruptly disrupted.

A majestic, royal car elegantly entered the campus, instantly capturing the attention of every student congregated outside. What added intrigue was the enigma shrouding the identity of the car's owner. Excitement coursed through the crowd as they eagerly anticipated the grand revelation.

To their astonishment, it was Ava who emerged from the opulent vehicle, leaving the entire campus population in a state of bewilderment. She had meticulously concealed her true identity for months, skillfully upholding the façade of an ordinary student. But now, by stepping out of such an exclusive automobile, Ava's secret had been unveiled, and her true identity laid bare.

In the early hours of that morning, Ava had spoken with her uncle to reaffirm her unwavering commitment to her mission. However, the arrival of her car from Paris served as an unequivocal symbol of her newfound determination to distance herself from her father and his world.

Ava's grand entrance triggered an unexpected surge of jealousy in Amara as she watched Ava gracefully disembark from the impressive car. The Ava she had come to know over the past few months now felt like an enigma, leaving Amara baffled.

"I had believed she was destitute, but suddenly, she exudes an air of glamour," whispered one student.

"I concur," nodded another.

Gossip typically lay beneath Amara's notice, but today, it managed to capture her curiosity, a testament to the intensity of her internal turmoil.

Frustration and sadness wrestled within Amara's heart as she decided to walk away without confronting Ava, retreating to the solitude of her college life.

Observing Amara's departure, Ava realized that she had to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her before proceeding with her intricate plans. Over the course of their friendship, Ava had discerned that Amara possessed an expansive network and an innate ability to stay well-informed about all the occurrences within the college. Ava needed her as an ally and resolved to disclose some of her closely guarded secrets.

For Ava, this decision represented a pivotal step towards opening up to Amara and constructing a foundation of trust. However, conversing with her on this particular day had evolved into a formidable challenge, as Amara was noticeably upset and had chosen to ignore Ava's presence whenever their paths crossed.

"Amara! Please, at least hear me out. I need to tell you something," Ava implored, her patience waning during the lunch break.

Amara abruptly turned, causing Ava to nearly lose her balance. However, Amara swiftly steadied her, albeit with a trace of a transformation in her gaze that she quickly concealed. Ava discerned that Amara was grappling with her own emotions, and the encounter was straining their friendship.

"Talk," Amara declared tersely as she distanced herself from Ava's grasp.

Ava, who knew Amara's pure and dependable nature, felt a profound reluctance to lay bare her intricate tale. Understandably, her narrative was fraught with complexity and concealed dangers. Nonetheless, Ava needed Amara for her mission.

As they both found a secluded spot beneath a bench outside the cafeteria, an uncomfortable silence enveloped them. Ava recognized the gravity of the moment and comprehended that she had no other option but to disclose her hidden truths. Summoning her courage, she took a deep breath before commencing her revelation.

"My name is Aveline D. Luca, and I am Olivia's twin," Ava disclosed, casting a wary glance in Amara's direction. As anticipated, Amara's eyes widened in sheer horror, her gaze fixed upon Ava with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"WHAT!" Amara exclaimed, her voice laced with incredulity, and she instinctively rose to her feet.

Ava sighed and maintained her composure, even as Amara's reaction was unfolding precisely as she had expected.

"Calm down, Amara, and please sit," Ava implored, her tone imbued with an air of calmness. She was keenly aware of the necessity for discretion, as revealing her true identity prematurely could jeopardize her mission and endanger Olivia.

"But..." Amara began, only to be silenced as Ava gently placed her hand over Amara's mouth.

"Shh! Please, allow me to share the entirety of my story before you react. I am confident that your wisdom will guide your judgment after hearing the full account," Ava urged, her voice gentle yet determined. She withdrew her hand once she was certain that Amara was ready to listen.

"I won't delve into all the details about my life right now, as time is of the essence, and our search for Olivia is pressing. We suspect that something grave has befallen her, and we believe that this college may hold vital clues. Consequently, I have enrolled here in pursuit of those leads."

A profound silence settled between them as they both grappled with the weight of the revelations. While Ava was lost in her own thoughts, waiting for Amara's response, Amara seemed to be processing the avalanche of new information. Surely, Amara was already aware of Olivia's disappearance, but Ava was eager to discover how much more she knew.

Meanwhile, at Ava's apartment...

As Ava brushed her teeth, the bitter taste of toothpaste couldn't mask her preoccupation with Amara's reaction. She couldn't discern the source of Amara's turmoil. After sharing her secrets, Amara had merely stood up, promising to keep her newfound knowledge confidential, before deliberately avoiding Ava throughout the day.

Ava recognized the importance of Amara's support, and she knew that Amara's inquisitive nature would prompt her to ask numerous questions and offer assistance. However, she now found herself questioning the depth of her understanding of Amara, as this unexpected reaction could introduce further complications into her mission.

Suddenly, Ava's phone chimed, interrupting her introspection. She rinsed her mouth, splashed water on her face, and then hurriedly went to retrieve her phone.

She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that, upon returning home the previous day, she had carelessly emptied her bag without removing its contents. This led to a minor ordeal of rearranging her belongings in search of the source of the notification.

Upon finally locating her phone, Ava glanced at the screen and saw a message from Amara.

Amara: I am outside your apartment. We need to talk!

Ava was taken aback; Amara had never visited her unannounced before. She tossed her phone onto her bed in bewilderment before rushing to the door to investigate.

To her surprise, there was no one outside. Ava hesitated momentarily, debating whether to close the door, but before she could reach a decision, Amara materialized, dashing inside her apartment as if she had appeared out of thin air.

"Close that door quickly and have a seat," Amara instructed, her urgency palpable as she guided Ava out of her daze.

It was then that Ava noticed Amara had already seated herself on her sofa while she had remained rooted to the spot by the door.

How long had she been standing there?

Ava closed the door with a perplexed expression before making her way to the sofa to join Amara.

"Now, Aveline D. Luca, I need you to explain everything," Amara demanded, her tone firm and resolute. "Why did you hide all of this from me? And what about Romano? You're aware that he's Olivia's boyfriend, and he hasn't been himself since her disappearance. When you arrived, he resurfaced from wherever he had been. Ava, Aveline, or whoever you are, you were wrong."

Ava sat there, absorbing Amara's impassioned outburst. It wasn't the anger in Amara's voice that struck her; it was the raw, unfiltered emotion that had been unleashed. For someone typically characterized by composure and restraint, Amara's frustration and confusion were palpable.

Amara's penetrating gaze fixed upon Ava, searching for answers. Ava understood that there was no turning back now. She had to entrust Amara with the truth, regardless of the inherent risks.

With a deep breath, Ava commenced her narrative, beginning with her childhood and her painful estrangement from her family. She unraveled the layers of secrecy surrounding her father, her unwavering mission to find Olivia and the perilous path she had embarked upon.

Amara listened intently, her countenance transitioning from anger to disbelief and ultimately to empathy. As Ava's tale unfolded, she could perceive the skepticism gradually dissipating from Amara's eyes, replaced by a burgeoning comprehension of the intricate web of challenges that Ava confronted.

"I'm truly sorry, Amara," Ava confessed, her voice heavy with remorse. "I should have confided in you from the outset. But I believed that shielding you from the perils of my world was an act of protection."

There was a prolonged silence as Amara grappled with the magnitude of the revelations. Ultimately, she let out a sigh, her anger subsiding. "You should have known, Ava. Keeping secrets only begets more complications. We could have supported each other right from the start."

Ava nodded, acknowledging her grievous misjudgment. "I promise, Amara, from this point onward, I won't withhold any more secrets. We are united by the imperative of finding Olivia, and we require each other's unwavering support."

Amara's demeanor softened, and she offered a reassuring pat on Ava's shoulder. "Together, we will locate her, Ava."

Just as their conversation seemed to be veering toward a more constructive and harmonious exchange, Ava's phone rang, punctuating the moment. She retrieved her phone and noticed that Romano's name flashed on the caller ID.

"Romano?" Ava answered, her voice marked by both surprise and curiosity.

On the other end of the line, Romano's tone was tinged with agitation. "Ava, you need to come to the cafe near the campus. It's urgent."

What's happening? Before I could respond, he abruptly ended the call, leaving me with a puzzled expression.

"What's bothering you, Ava?" Amara asked, sensing my unease.

"Did you spill the beans to Romano?" Ava inquired, her anxiety apparent as she hadn't anticipated encountering him so soon.

"No, not at all! Why would I do that? I assured you I'd keep our secret safe, remember?" She replied, and I could discern her honesty.

However, I couldn't shake my curiosity. Why had he phoned me so late, near the cafe? What could be unfolding?