Chapter 126: An Unseen Connection-2
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Maya’s lips parted, a tremor running through her. She knows my mother’s name. Why? How? The weight of it pressed down on her chest, stealing the air from her lungs, as her thoughts spun out of control.
Swallowing hard, she stepped out from behind Damien’s protective stance, her hands trembling at her sides. Her voice came out fragile, unsteady, but laced with urgency.
“Madam… you… you know my mom?”
Dahlia’s breath caught, her eyes widening even further, glistening with recognition and disbelief. Her teacup still lay shattered on the carpet, forgotten.
“You…” Her voice cracked as she took a slow, trembling step forward. “You’re Malia’s daughter?”
The words hit the room like a thunderclap.
Ashcroft froze mid-step, his jaw falling open, all his usual playfulness gone in an instant. James stiffened, his composure faltering, eyes darting between Damien and Dahlia. Even Damien always the unshakable Blackwood-felt the ground shift beneath him, his body tightening as though a wave of realization had just crashed over him.
Pieces began snapping together, too many to ignore. The silence that followed was thick, suffocating, as though every person in the room had just witnessed the start of something they could never come back from.
Dahlia suddenly spun around, nearly stumbling, and snatched up her purse from the couch. Her hands dove inside, frantic, rummaging, scrabbling through its contents with a desperation that made her fingers tremble uncontrollably.
Damien exhaled sharply and moved toward her, lowering himself into a squat so he could meet her at eye level. Gently, he reached for her hands, still buried in the purse, steadying them with his own.
“Mom… calm down.”
Dahlia froze, her chest heaving. Slowly, her tear-streaked gaze lifted to meet her son’s. The weight in her eyes was unbearable, ancient grief resurfacing in a tidal wave.
Her lips quivered as she whispered, voice breaking.
“Son… son… I think… I think I finally found her. Malia… she… she looks exactly like Malia.”
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Planter 126 An Linseen Connection-2
The room held its breath.
Maya’s knees went weak, her pulse hammering as Dahlia’s words sank in. She thinks I look like my mom? But why… why does it sound like she’s been searching for her? Could my mom be the friend Damien said his mother has been trying to find all these years?
Then, like shards of glass slicing through her thoughts, a memory returned-Damien’s voice back in the cabin, telling her that his mother’s closest friend had suddenly cut off contact seven years ago.
Seven years ago.
The same year her parents’ car went off the road. The year her world shattered.
A tremor rippled through her chest, her breath catching painfully as the pieces began sliding into place.
Dahlia’s trembling hands finally stilled as she pulled something from the depths of her purse -a worn photograph, its edges frayed, the colors softened by time. Her fingers lingered on it for a moment before she pressed it into Damien’s hands, her eyes brimming.
Damien lowered his gaze to the photo. Two young women stood side by side, so close their shoulders touched, their smiles wide and carefree. The one on the left was unmistakably his mother, youthful and radiant. But the woman beside her-her eyes, her smile, even the curve of her face-was Maya.
His breath caught in his throat. For a heartbeat, he thought he was staring at Maya herself.
Damien’s jaw clenched, a muscle ticking as he lifted his eyes from the photo to Maya, standing pale and trembling across the room. The resemblance was undeniable.
Slowly, he whispered, voice rough with disbelief, “She… she looks exactly like you.”
Damien held the photo steadily, then extended it toward Maya. Her trembling fingers hovered over it before she carefully took it, as if the paper might shatter in her hands.
Her eyes widened, taking in the image. The resemblance was uncanny-the woman beside Damien’s mother was undeniably her. A choked breath escaped her lips, and her hands shook as tears welled in her eyes.
“This… this is my mom,” she whispered, voice barely audible, the weight of realization pressing down on her chest. Shock, disbelief, and something achingly familiar collided inside her, leaving her momentarily frozen.
She tore her eyes away from the photo, tears streaming freely now. Her gaze scanned the room, taking in the stunned expressions of everyone around her, before finally settling on
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Damien, who remained calm and steady. Then, hesitantly, she looked at Dahlia.
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Dahlia’s own tears spilled over, one hand flying to her mouth as her voice cracked. “Oh my God… I finally found you…”
She stepped forward, closing the distance, stopping just a hand’s length away from Maya.
“Madam…” Maya’s voice trembled.
“Sweetheart… I… I’m Dahlia,” Dahlia said, her voice thick with emotion. “Your mom… your mom is my dearest friend. I’ve… I’ve been searching for her everywhere. Where is she? How is she?”
Maya’s sobs broke through as she shook her head. “My mom… she… she passed away seven years ago.”
The words hit Dahlia like a physical blow. Her knees weakened, her hands clenching as if to hold onto the world around her. “What? No! No… no… no…”
“Ma… madam…” Maya reached out, her voice quivering, unsure how to bridge the gap between grief and comfort.
Dahlia’s knees buckled, the world tipping as the weight of years of searching, the sudden. shock of seeing Maya, and the cruel reality of loss hit her all at once. Her hands fumbled helplessly, grasping at the air, the photo slipping from her fingers and fluttering to the floor.
Damien reacted instantly, catching her as she swayed, steadying her against his chest. His arms wrapped around her lightly but firmly, grounding her in the room, while his eyes-dark, tense, yet full of fierce concern-never left hers.
“Oh… my God… no… Malia!!” Dahlia’s voice shattered, cracking under the weight of grief and disbelief. Tears poured down her cheeks, each one a testament to years of longing and heartache. Her body trembled violently, her chest heaving as if she could no longer draw in
air.
And then, as if the weight of the world had finally crushed her, her knees gave way. Dahlia collapsed forward, fainting into Damien’s arms.
“Mom!!” Damien shouted, panic flooding his voice as he caught her before she hit the floor completely. His hands were steady, strong, but his heart raced.
He snapped toward James, his tone sharp, urgent. “James! Call a doctor-now!!”
Damien’s grip on his mother tightened, his jaw set with fierce determination, while Maya stood frozen, heart pounding, realizing just how deep the past and its losses ran in this family. The room was silent, heavy with grief, fear, and a fragile, unspoken hope-each
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* Xhapter 126 An Unseen Connection-2
heartbeat a reminder that some truths, once found, could change everything.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.