Hidden Passion
Chapter 31

Anyone that listened to the conversation Lillian just had with Nester would think she had some gut and would be brave enough to go with her threats, but that was not the case. Lillian became very afraid and nervous after Nester had left. She racked her brain to think of what to do, searching for the best option and what she could do at that moment.

Lillian finally decided to visit Nathaniel at his house. Paying him a visit and finding out the truth about his illness would trigger her next action. She could not just sit still and watch another woman walk her way into Nathaniel's heart. She was able to conclude that Nester had been responsible for the arrival of the imposter. But what did she want to gain from all she was doing?

She would think of that and what to do with her later. She took her car key, carried her handbag and went out of her office. She drove out of the company and onto the main road. She had been to his house once after they had come back from the trip and she was certain the house would not be difficult for her to locate.

About thirty minutes later, she got to the front of his house and parked. She turned off the ignition and alighted, locking the car doors and entered the gate. When she had been there, she had only passed through the street with him, and he had informed her that the building was his house.

As she walked inside, she wondered why he had no gatekeeper. Could it be because of his illness as well? Could it be that serious that he did not want to risk any outsider knowing about it? But why would he leave the gates open? "What are you talking about?" Linda said, trying to play her cards right and see if she would be lucky enough to get by. She walked closer to Nathaniel who only moved away from her.

"Shut the fuck up and answer me!" he screamed. All kinds of thoughts kept running through his mind. "Who the fuck are you Linda? Why are you pretending to be Lillian? How come you have that fucking inscription on your arm?" "Because I am Lillian, Nathaniel. We were childhood friends." She had been caught but she wouldn't just give up like that. And besides, she liked him.

Nathaniel laughed. "You can't fool me. I won't let you do that. You're not Lillian at all. I've always had my doubts ever since you do not want me to be calling you Lilly. You have Linda tattooed on your hand and you lied to me. You fucking lied to me!"

Linda shook her head. He was softer than she had imagined. Love must be magic. She suddenly felt the urge to laugh but was successful in suppressing it. "No, I never lied to you." She lied. "If it's about calling me Lilly, then you can go on with that. I just thought it felt childish. No offense, please."

"What did you say happened to your parents?" He asked.

Linda immediately tensed. What would he suddenly ask about her parents? Why did he change all of a sudden? Did it have to do with the call he received? What was going on?

"I thought I asked you a question," he recalled when she was taking too long to answer.

"I already told you what happened to them, haven't I? Don't make me open up old wounds," she said, feigning hurt.

There was nothing she could say for him to believe her. He would be stupid to after hearing what his mother said. His mother would not have been mistaken, but nevertheless, he had to approach things with patience, so as to get the truth of the matter.

He realized he made a mistake. He should not have confronted her immediately. But it was never too late to pretend to turn a blind eye to it. He needed to know her aim and why she was there, pretending to be who she was not.

"I am very sorry about that. I just... I don't know. I'm really sorry," he apologized, not willingly, but because he felt he had to. His mind drifted back to his illness. How amazing would it be to recognize the faces of his loved ones? How great would it be not to see everyone with the same face?

How wonderful would it be if he were to find and recognize Lillian? Now, he had to live with an imposter. He must find a way to end things between them. He had to find evidence that the lady was deceiving him. He would have to talk to his mother again.

"It's alright," Linda said and went to hug him. "I just hope you won't doubt me again."

How could someone be so convincingly deceitful? He almost got swayed by her words. "It's alright."

"I will be leaving now, okay? I will see you tomorrow, yes?"

"Sure," he replied enthusiastically. He needed some breathing space, really. He forced a smile as she kissed him briefly and walked outside. The brief touch made him remember his intimacy with Lillian in her office and admitted that he missed her.

Wouldn't it be great if she was the one he had been looking for? Yes, but she wasn't. So, case closed.

A knock sounded on the door as he began to retreat to his room. "The door is open." He wasn't expecting anyone, though. "Uhm.. I thought you said we'll see tomorrow?" He asked as he saw who was at the door.

Lillian frowned her eyes for a moment before it softened to sadness. He had just mistaken her for the lady she met in the compound who was putting on a yellow shirt just like her. Her eyes watered as she tried to form words out of her mouth. "Na.. Nath? It's.. It's...me." A tear dropped from her left eye.

He became numb. Just who he was thinking of. "Lillian?" He hated how he had to ask her just to be sure. He never wanted that.

She nodded and rushed into his embrace in tears.

"Oh, my! I am so sorry I couldn't recognize you. I am really, really sorry. She just left now and was wearing the same shirt and I..." he tried to explain

"It's okay, Nath. I understand. I saw her leaving," she assured.

"Lilly, she's not the Lillian I am looking for," he found himself telling her even if he knew it wasn't her business.

Lillian widened her eyes.

"And I think I have found who the real Lillian is," he uttered, looking at her in the eyes.

Her eyeballs were almost out of their sockets. "What? Who... Who is...she?"

"You."