Chapter 60: She is Alive!

Erick just finished taking a shower when Elle knocked on his room. She brought some sleeping garments. Erick let her enter. There was an awkward atmosphere between the two.

They couldn't look at each other's eyes. Erick already changed into his sleeping clothes. She could smell his faint intoxicating masculine scent mixed with the soap he just used. He was so dashing with his fresh-from-shower look.

'Damn...Am I really staying with this handsome Adonis tonight?'

"You can take a shower now. The bathroom is on the left. There is also a clean towel hanging inside." Erick spoke up first.

"Okay. Thank you." She simply said before going in the direction of the bathroom. Of course, she already knows where it is. She already visited his room much time without his knowledge.

Erick sighed when Elle left. He must be calmed outside but deep inside he was a little bit nervous.

''I guess I have to sleep in my study room tonight. It will surely be uncomfortable for us if we will sleep in the same bed,'' he mumbled to himself.

After 20 minutes Elle got out of the bathroom. She didn't see Erick inside the room so she felt a little bit relieved.

Elle was drying her long black hair which was still wet from the shower, using the towel when Erick entered the room coming from his study.

There were still small water droplets scattered on her forehead. She looked so fresh and smelled so nice. Erick stopped on his track upon seeing her.

As Elle felt the presence of another person in the room, she turned around to see Erick standing there on the side staring at her. Their eyes met but both of them looked away quickly.

Elle was standing at his bedside and Erick walked over.

"You can sleep here on the bed. I will sleep in my study." Erick said to her.

Elle glanced at him after hearing that. She was glad that Erick was really considerate even though he was still mad at her.

"Erick..." She called his name. Erick stared at her, waiting for her to continue what she was about to say. She wanted to explain however she didn't know how to start.

Seeing him looking at her intently, the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, she couldn't say the words. She unconsciously bit her lips due to her uneasiness. She tended to do that every time she felt uncomfortable with his presence.

That action didn't escape the observant eyes of Erick. It triggered a memory in his mind. Suddenly a flashback appeared on his mind. It was the same vision he saw this morning.

In this same room, he was lying and she was on his top. He was also staring at her intently when Elle suddenly bit her lips. Her simple action like that awakened the strong desire inside him. He pulled her closer and finally claimed her soft delicate lips.

His heart skipped a beat. He looked at her and the bed beside them. He suddenly frown, this time it really felt so real.

Elle noticed the changes in the expression of Erick. She followed his line of sight. He was now looking at the bed beside them, frowning.

Elle's eyes widened. 'Sh**t, did he remember something!'

Erick was about to ask her something when they heard a knock on the door. They both turned around.

Erick was the one who opened the door. It was Erick's father, Raymond.

Raymond smiled at both of them.

"Sorry to disturb you both. Elle, may I borrow your boyfriend first?"

Elle just nodded and smiled at him in agreement.

'Yes, please take him before he can interrogate me about something I don't want to talk about.' Elle thought to herself.

After that, the father and son left to talk about something. She decided to sleep early so that when Erick comes back, he wouldn't be able to ask her something.

When she saw him looking at her and in the bed, her instinct was telling her that a while ago Erick was about to ask her what happened last night between them.

Elle shook her head then she tidied herself up in the bed. She dropped her body on the soft bed. 'Hmm, this felt so good and relaxing. Let's sleep without worry for tonight.' She said to herself.

*****

On the other hand, the father and son duo was talking in the living room. They were also drinking some beer.

"How's mom?" Erick asked his father.

"She was already asleep. I think she was tired from our travels." Raymond said while a gentleness appeared in his eyes.

Erick smiled at his father. He could see how much his father loves his mother. There's a glow in his eyes every time he mentioned his wife.

"Your mother was really happy today especially she met Elle. She likes her a lot even though she just met her today. Hmm, why did you hide it from us?" Raymond said to him.

Erick gave him an apologetic smile. "I didn't have the chance to inform you both."

"Yeah, I know. You are currently taking a tough case right now. I understand you. I've been there." His father tapped his shoulder.

"By the way father, what do you want to talk about," Erick asked him curiously.

"Hmmph. You are too impatient! We haven't talked much because of your mother but now that I have this chance it seems like you are eager to finish our conversation quickly. Are you already missing your girlfriend and you wanted to be with her already?" Raymond teased him.

Erick's face flushed from his father's statement. Raymond laughed at his reaction.

"Oh no! My son is already an adult but just a mere mention of Elle, he blushed right away like a teenager. Tsk tsk." Raymond chuckled while teasing him more.

"Dad!? You and Mom are really alike. Tsk tsk. Did you talk to me just to make fun of me?" Erick felt helpless from his father's teasing.

"Alright! I will tell you something." This time Raymond became serious.

"After so many years, I found out something." Erick looked at him curiously.

"Ma. Belle is alive! It was confirmed. This time I have proof that she is alive, not dead!" Raymond said to Erick happily.

"That's good to hear Dad. How did you confirm that she is alive?" Erick asked him.

"I found a witness who saw her before. She was certain that the child was Ma. Belle Eleise Falcon. I showed her the picture. Her description was matched with Elle." Raymond explained to him.

Even though Erick's father retired from being an agent, he didn't stop looking for the missing daughter of his best friend.

"Did the witness know where is she now?" Erick asked his father.

Raymond shook his head. "It was a long time ago. And Ma. Belle stayed there only for a month. She remembered her because Elle stood out in that neighborhood. After all, she was a very smart and very lovely kid."

"She also mentioned that Ma. Belle was with someone. She thought he was her father. They didn't know his name and she couldn't remember his face since he seldom goes out."

Erick was also puzzled. "Who do you think could be that person is? Was Ma. Belle kidnap by the person who killed her parents?"

"No, she said, she didn't look like she was kidnapped since Ma. Belle could roam around in the neighborhood freely. What caught her attention was that Ma. Belle doesn't talk too much." Raymond continued to tell Erick the information he got.

"This became more complicated now. If she was alive but why she didn't go to the police to ask for help? She was the only witness to what happened to her family." Erick looked confused.

Then there was a moment of silence between them. They were in deep thought. What really happened that day? Who helped her? Why Ma. Belle did not go to the police?

It seemed like Ma. Belle Elleise was the missing link in the mystery of her family's death.

She was the only one who could give them the answer, but where is she?

Why she didn't appear after all these years? They couldn't trace her. Did she change her identity? But why?

Those were the questions running in their mind right now. But the most important thing was they knew that she was still alive. They would find her no matter what.