Raymond’s POV
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Stella Blair, Dakota’s mother, stood near the salon’s entrance, tears streaming down her face as she stared at the empty space where Elle and her group had just been. The raw emotion radiating from her hit me like a physical blow. I’d seen Stella grieve for Dakota, had watched her struggle through two years of loss, but this was different. This was hope–desperate, overwhelming hope.
“Dakota, I heard her whisper, and my chest tightened.
Harper stood beside her, wearing that familiar expression of concern mixed with skepticism that I’d come to know so well. When she spotted me approaching, relief flickered across her features.
‘Raymond called. He’ll be here soon,” I heard Harper say as I drew closer.
Stella’s reaction to my imminent arrival was immediate–her tear–streaked face brightened with anticipation. “Raymond has spent more time around her than we have,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “He knows Dakota better than anyone else did. He’ll be able to tell
us for sure.”
If only it were that simple, I thought as I finally reached them.
I took in Stella’s condition–the red–rimmed eyes, the trembling hands, the way she clutched at hope like a drowning woman clutching driftwood. Without hesitation, I dropped to one knee before her, a gesture that felt as natural as breathing despite the years that had
passed.
‘Stella,‘ I said softly. Even after two years, even after Dakota was gone, the Blair family remained family to me. Dakota had been everything to me, and that meant her mother would always hold a special place in my heart. Some bonds couldn’t be severed by death.
The moment Stella saw me, whatever composure she’d maintained crumbled completely. Her hands shot out to grip my shoulders with
desperate strength.
“Raymond! I saw her today. I saw my Dakota!” The words tumbled from her lips in a rush of excitement and conviction. “She’s alive, Raymond. She just doesn’t remember me yet. But that’s my daughter–I know it is!”
My throat tightened.
I drew a steadying breath, buying myself time to think. “Stella, does Mr. Blair know you’re here in Moonshade Bay?”
Her expression shifted to defensive irritation.
“Raymond,” she pressed on, her grip tightening on my shoulders, “tell me she’s Dakota. Harper keeps insisting she’s not!”
She gestured emphatically, frustration bleeding into her voice. “But her voice, her expressions, those eyes–everything about her is exactly
like Dakota! How can she not be my daughter?”
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Chapter 111
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“I’ve just entered into a partnership with Rayne Group on an energy project,” I said carefully. ‘I’ll be inviting Brad Rayne and Elle West to visit the project site for inspection.”
I met her eyes directly, seeing the hope flare brighter. “That way, you’ll have the opportunity to see her up close.”
The transformation in both women was immediate and dramatic. Hope blazed in their eyes like twin flames igniting.
“You’re serious? Stella whispered.
Her voice cracked with vulnerability. “Raymond, you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
Never to you, I thought, feeling the familiar ache of old loyalty to Dakota’s family. “No, Stella, I wouldn’t lie to you. The project is still in the preparation phase, but once everything is ready, we’ll head out there.”
I glanced up at Harper, sending her a silent message. She caught my meaning immediately–bless her quick mind–and moved to support
my improvised plan.
Later, back at their hotel, Harper cornered me for a private conversation. I’d been expecting this–Harper was too intelligent to let the
situation pass without deeper analysis.
“Raymond,” she said, cutting straight to the heart of the matter, “let’s not dance around this. What do you think the chances are that Elle
West is actually related to the Blair family?”
I considered the question seriously, weighing everything I’d observed about Elle against everything I remembered about Dakota.
“My contact with her has been limited, I continued, “but Stella is right about one thing–Elle does share many habits and mannerisms
with Dakota. To call it pure coincidence seems… unlikely.”
I paused, thinking about the research I’d already conducted. “Besides, when Stella went into premature labor all those years ago, didn’t
the doctors say she was carrying twins?”
Harper frowned, her expression troubled. “But that second child was pronounced dead at birth. Even though the delivery was rushed, the doctor was certain the baby had stopped breathing before they gave up resuscitation efforts.”
“Perhaps miracles do happen in this world,” I said quietly. “I won’t hide this from you–I’ve investigated Elle’s background.”
Harper’s attention sharpened, and I could see her analytical mind engaging.
“According to people in her community, Susan West found Elle abandoned outside–brought her home as a foundling. When Susan
discovered her, the umbilical cord hadn’t even been cut.”
The memory of my investigation made my voice grow more intense. “Everyone assumed the baby wouldn’t survive. But after a day and
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night of fighting, she somehow pulled through.”
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I watched Harper’s face as the implications hit her.
“Are you suggesting that the doctor who delivered Stella’s babies was somehow involved in a cover–up?” she asked, her voice barely above
a whisper.
“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “The only people who might know the truth are the doctor who performed the delivery and… Elle’s
adoptive mother, Susan.”
My jaw tightened as I thought about the delicate balance I was trying to maintain. “But I can’t approach Susan directly. Elle has been extremely suspicious of me, and I’ve only recently managed to earn a small measure of her trust. I don’t want to jeopardize that by
moving too quickly.”
Harper nodded approvingly. “You’re right to be cautious. This situation requires delicate handling.”
She sighed heavily, and I could see the weight of family responsibility settling on her shoulders. “I’ll take Stella back home and wait for word from you. God, seeing Elle has completely bewitched Stella. I can’t imagine what will happen when my brother meets her.”
“Don’t worry,” I assured her, meaning every word. “I’ll keep this matter at the forefront of my priorities. Even if you hadn’t asked, I would pursue this investigation to its conclusion.”
Harper gave me a grateful smile and turned to leave. But as the door closed behind her, I felt something shift in my chest–a new possibility taking root in my mind.
If I could confirm that Elle was indeed a Blair…
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
