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continuation from the last chapter...
The same nose, the same eyes, and the same defined facial structure—all of it matched the features her fiancé carried. Her breath caught for a moment. It can't be, Haven thought.
She froze momentarily, her mind scrambling to make sense of what she was seeing, but she quickly masked her shock with a polite smile. She didn't want to seem rude by openly staring at the man's face.
"How are you?" she asked, returning his initial greeting.
His friendly smile lingered, almost obliviously teasing her unsettled nerves. "I'm good," he replied warmly.
They even have the same smile.
Haven's thoughts raced as Iyanna reached for the baby in his arms. "This is Miss Mila," Iyanna introduced, a proud smile lighting up her face as she settled the infant on her hip. "I was telling you about her earlier."
Haven shifted her focus to the baby. "Hi, Mila," she cooed, taking the tiny hand in hers and moving it gently as she spoke. Mila gave her a gummy smile.
Iyanna tugged lightly on the edge of Mila's onesie, frowning slightly before turning to her husband. "Kareem, you changed her clothes?"
"Yeah," he replied casually, "she had a blowout."
The name hit Haven like a bolt of lightning, shattering any lingering doubts. Kareem. It was all she needed to confirm what her instincts were already screaming. This man—this stranger standing before her—wasn't a coincidence. His adult face bore a striking resemblance to the boyish features she'd seen in old photos of Cairo with his brothers.
Haven wanted to say something, but she didn't dare. She couldn't afford to appear outwardly odd, bombarding Kareem with questions about his past. Family could be a sensitive subject, especially for someone who had endured the kind of heartache Cairo's family had. And what if he carried his own traumas? She decided to stay quiet for now. Having Iyanna's number was enough—a thread she could follow later when the time was right.
With a quick exchange of goodbyes, Haven made her way to her car. The moment she sank into the driver's seat, tears welled up in her eyes. She blamed it on her hormones at first, but deep down, she knew it was more than that. She had just found the missing piece to her fiancé's puzzle—a piece she hadn't even been looking for.
Pulling out her phone, Haven scrolled to Angela's contact and pressed the call button. After a few rings, Angela picked up, her voice warm and familiar. "Hey, Lo' baby. You okay?"
"Yes, ma'am." Haven sniffled, reaching into her glove compartment for a napkin. "I just... It's going to sound crazy when I say this." She let out a nervous laugh, trying to steady herself. "But I think I just found Kareem."
