Chapter 391 - 391: Breaking My Heart Twice

The meeting ended. Erick allowed Bryan to accompany him in the City X next week. The two of them including Officer Kim would lead the surveillance operation against Alfonso Ramirez.

As for Aliyah's request or rather Elle's request, Erick had not made a decision yet. He wanted to talk to her first, privately. 

Furthermore, the newly assigned task was divided among the team. It would be effective starting next week, once Erick and Bryan would travel to City X.

Carl and Allen together with Officer Kim's team were assigned to monitor Samuel Sy and Edson Tyler while June, Rose, and April were assigned to Senator Mondragon's death threat case.

So far, they were still suspecting Kevin Azumi as the one who attacked Senator Mondragon during his Campaign announcement held at RC Convention Center.

Now, the police authorities became wary against the Azumi Twins. Their movements remained unpredictable. Everyone should be more careful when dealing with those two elite assassins.

After dismissing the meeting, everyone went back to their assigned task for today. Erick and Elle stayed at his office. They had something more to discuss with each other.

Erick made sure to lock the door so that others would not be able to barge in, avoiding people to overhear their conversation.

When they were already alone, Elle confronted Erick immediately.

"You already knew that I am Ma. Belle? When did you learn the truth? And how?" Elle asked him, curiosity was written all over her face.

Erick let out a husky laugh. He could see that Elle was a little bit surprised by that revelation.

"Wait… why do I feel like you also knew about our fathers' connection? Did you also know that they were best friends?" Erick asked her back instead of answering her query.

Erick grabbed her hand before sitting down on his chair. Then he pulled Elle so that she could sit on his lap. Elle didn't protest. She sat on his lap sideways for her to see his face while they were talking.

"Yes, I learned it two years ago. I was supposed to tell you that after the rescue mission but I got injured and we got separated from each other." Elle told him honestly.

"I learned that your father didn't stop investigating what happened to our Family 18 years ago. He was searching for me. Hubby, I was overjoyed after knowing that… and I felt grateful to Dad."

Erick nodded with a smile. "We were destined to be together after all."

Erick planted a soft kiss on her cheek after saying that. Elle also nodded and let out a soft giggle.

"How about you? When did you learn the truth?" Elle asked him once again.

"Just recently. The day after I got sick and you took care of me. Dad and Mom visited me in the morning. I had a conversation with Dad about Catseye's case and Family Falcon's Massacre Case."

"I was sorting and organizing the files when Dad accidentally saw the pictures of Jefferson's corpse. Since he was handling your family's case, Dad had almost familiarized everything that happened to the victim. He saw the similarity of that picture to one of the victims. Your family's security guard."

Erick hooked his one hand around her waist as he continued speaking.

"Then he read the reports of Carlo Vello, Diego De Dios, and Jefferson's Case report. Your motive for revenge, and how you punished them were very similar to what happened to other victims of Falcon's Massacre Case. We connected the dots. The members of Los Molasses Gang were the culprits and the missing daughter of Uncle Cedrick was you."

Elle's eyes lit up after hearing that. Erick and Raymond got her message. They were able to connect it to her Family's Case. The father and son duo were so brilliant.

Elle wrapped her arms around his neck and gave Erick a peck on his lips.

"Hubby! Dad and you are both amazing!" She praised them.

Erick chuckled once again.

"That was also the time I figured it out why you told me that you are not Elle. Because Elle was just one of your other identities. Your real identity is Ma. Belle Elleise Falcon."

Elle was bewildered after hearing that. She couldn't believe that Erick would even realize that. 

"Hubby, I think I can't surpass your intelligence. Now I am falling in love with you over and over again. Please say that you are mine. Only mine. I want to keep a man like you, forever." Elle mumbled to him with her possessiveness.

"I feel like. I won a jackpot in this lifetime. How can I be so lucky? Despite the crimes and sin I committed, still, God gave me you." Elle added, feeling a little bit emotional.

Erick pulled her closer to his body, hugging her tightly.

"Don't say that. It's just fair. You already suffered enough in the past. It's not your fault. Yeah, you committed many crimes but you also deserve a second chance and to be happy. And I am glad that I was the one who was sent by Him to redeem you." 

"I couldn't imagine if another guy was by your side instead of me. I would die of jealousy. What if James was the first guy you met? Would you fall for him instead of me?" Erick said, feeling frustrated at that mere thought.

Elle's giggle bubbled up in the entire room.

"Don't laugh! I'm dead serious!" Erick pouted.

"I think I won't because, since the beginning… even if I didn't meet you yet, you already bewitched me. And I already swore that you were the man I would marry when I grew up. See… I ended up fulfilling my words. I married you." Elle said to him with her loving smile on her beautiful face.

Erick blinked several times, trying to figure out what she meant by that. He was confused by her statements.

"What do you mean?"

Elle erupted into another peal of laughter.

"The truth is… I already saw your picture when I was ten. You are the boy I was referring to before when I said that I had someone in mind whom I like to marry before. Remember? I told you that he was the son of my father's best friend. It turned out that you and he were one person."

Erick: "..."

Erick was dumbfounded. He remembered it so well. He became jealous at that time when Elle told him that. But who would have thought that he was that person? So that meant… he got jealous against his own self before… his younger version.

After realizing that, Erick burst out laughing.

'[email protected]! What a coincidence?!' Erick was rejoicing. He was glad to know that. He felt like he was the happiest man on earth right now.

Then Erick suddenly picked up his wallet. He got something inside. After that, he showed the picture to Elle. She took it from him and she glanced at the old picture of a little girl who's at around the age of 10.

Elle frowned and said, "Wait, this is me, right?"

Erick nodded with a smile. "The only picture of you that my father and I had. Dad sent Uncle Cedrick my picture so Uncle Cedrick sent Dad your picture too. It seemed like our fathers were already thinking of setting us up when we got older."

"Now, I am thinking if the supposed reunion dinner of our two families would have ended as our arranged engagement. Well… I wouldn't mind it at all. Besides, I find you cute and pretty in this picture. I only had one concerned at that time. I said 'too bad she is still too young for me'." 

Elle raised her brow and hit him on his chest.

"Why?" Erick asked her with a cheeky grin on his handsome face.

Elle glared at him and pouted. "Dummy! It's only just a four-year gap! Ahuh! So unfair! I decided to marry you but you, on the other hand, was thinking that I was not compatible with you because of my age!" Elle ranted at him.

Elle was about to stand up and leave Erick but he caught her immediately, trapping her in his arms once again. Erick was still laughing because of Elle's reaction. She's mad but he found her cute.

"Haha, wifey, calm down. I'm not yet done. I haven't done saying everything to you yet. Why are you so being impatient and grumpy? Besides, you already knew that you took all my first- my first kiss, my first dance and my first night… in short my love and v.i.r.g.i.nity!"

Elle bit her lower lip, fighting a smile. She had the urge to laugh after he mentioned the last word- his v.i.r.g.i.nity! He still looked cool while saying that.

"Okay, then continue." Elle simply said, still suppressing a laugh.

"I said to myself that I will wait for you once you've become a lady. But I got my first heartbreak when I heard the news from my father that your family were killed and you went missing. I was looking forward to meeting you. But it never happened. Dad failed to find you. Later on, you were declared dead."

Erick's embrace tightened. He was afraid to let go of her, frightened by the thought she would disappear once again.

"Oh, thinking about it, you broke my heart twice because of your death, both 18 years ago and 2 years ago. Why do you love doing this to me? Making me think that you were already dead." Erick heaved a deep sigh.

Elle didn't answer him. Pulling his head down, she planted a lingering kiss on his lips in response to his query.

'I wasn't me who did that. It's the circ.u.mstances getting between us. I will not let that happen once again. I don't want to get separated from you ever again.'