Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, close to Cliffside villa ~

Aiden is driving toward their home with one hand on the steering wheel and other holding Sarah's.

"You are calm.", Aiden noticed that Sarah is quiet. Usually when he blindfolds her, she complains a storm.

Sarah squeezed his hand gently. "I know you are by my side…"

Naturally, she is curious to find out what is with this blindfolding, but it only means that he has something planned (again), and it will be a surprise.

Last few weeks Sarah feels that Aiden is playing some game of testing her limits. His strange refusal of physical intimacy under pretense that it will be better the longer they wait. Even if she bought the story initially, later she found out that he is sneakily talking to JoAnna and there is definitely something he is hiding. But she decided to trust him, and not poke around that. However, that does not mean that she will not change her behavior and strike back by showing him that she is not phased. Yes, whenever he shows any sign that he is plotting something against her, she will show herself as a calm and composed person who can't be easily shaken.

Aiden saw that she is smiling. "You are not even going ask me why I covered your eyes?" He thought that she is agreeing to his demands easily. To easily, no matter how silly they are. That makes him slightly uncomfortable, it's not how Sarah usually behaves.

"You will tell me when you are ready. I trust you." She relaxed in her seat completely, and Aiden can tell that under the blindfold her eyes are closed.

Sarah's words made Aiden feel mix of emotions. Trust. Yes, he knows that she trusts him. But would she say the same if she remembers that he tried pushing her away? And if she remembers seeing all those photos from his past? He is frustrated that he is circling back to these questions again, but he can't stop himself.

Sarah heard notification from her phone that she received a text message. "I've got a text and I can't read it like this." She pouted slightly.

"We will be home soon. You can read it then."

~ Los Angeles, Cliffside villa ~

As they entered living room, Aiden held Sarah's hand, guiding her to sit on the sofa. She heard some shuffling from the side before Aiden's voice came from her front. "You can remove the blindfold and check that text."

It took a minute for Sarah to get used to the light. She could see from large glass windows that sunset is going to be beautiful. Glancing around the area, there is nothing unusual other than new furniture. But this seems more comfortable, so she does not want to bring it up.

She can see only two of them, where is the staff they hired? And did she imagine those shuffling sounds?

Sarah checked message. "It's from Sophia… but I don't understand it."

She looked at Aiden who was eager to get her attention. 'He has something planned and can't hide his excitement.'

"Do I have time for a quick call?" Considering his fidgeting, she guessed that answer will be 'no', but she still asked. She felt weird that her impulse was to ask him for a permission. 'Since when do I need his permission to make a phone call?'

Aiden frowned for a moment. "Make it quick."

"Thanks…" The moment she thanked him, Sarah felt another wave of awkwardness. 'Did I just thank him because he is allowing me to make a phone call?' She could not believe herself. 'Since when am I this… submissive?'

Sarah dialed Sophia and went straight to her question as soon as Sophia picked up: "Katherine who? … You are kidding, right?"

Sarah spaced out. Pieces of information were coming together in her mind, and it was too much information: a girl named Katherine is the reason Sophia and Mark broke up many years ago, and that Katherine was pregnant and committed a suicide?!! And now Sophia saw her? Or maybe her twin sister…

Sarah knows some bits and pieces of Sophia-Mark story, but not everything. If she was not only thirteen years old at that time, she would know much more!

Sophia was always so secretive that she never openly admitted that she was in a relationship with Mark, and they never saw them doing anything more than talking. JoAnna and Sarah guessed that there was something between Sophia and Mark based on their awkward interaction after that internship, and then over time, they got some hints of what happened… until they eventually stopped probing into the matter. It was a long time ago.

Sarah paused thinking how this information is massive because with this, Sophia admitted that she was in the relationship with Mark, and it seems he impregnated Katherine who committed a suicide? If child is not Mark's, then it would not be important for the story.

Sarah heard Sophia call her name, and snapped out of her thoughts: "Yes, yes… I will look into it and get back to you as soon as I have something. Send me the information you mentioned, and also the exact time and location where this was recorded? It will help me use surrounding cameras to track her movements." Sarah ended the call and stared into space in front of her.

Aiden was happy that phone call didn't last long. Knowing Sarah and her sisters, they are capable of chatting for hours about any random topic. But this was literally under five minutes, so he is happy. He looked at Sarah and saw that she is shaken.

"What got you so shocked?"

"I need to do identify a zombie." Sarah responded.

Aiden grimaced. "Say that again?"

Sarah realized how her explanation does not make sense. "A girl died six years ago. Sophia thinks she saw her today. We have a video to work with..."

"That can wait, right? If she is dead, she is not going anywhere." Aiden eagerly looked at Sarah.

Sarah was not able to resist his puppy-eye look. He rarely used it, but it was a hundred percent effective in making her do whatever he wants.

As soon as she nodded, he showed a victorious smile.

"Great! Let's go.." He extended his arm and Sarah took it.