Love Him...Forever

The Child With Two Names

Allen sat on the grass beside his mother's grave. Shine quietly copied him, settling down in front of him as she waited for him to speak.

"My birth name is Laure Alexander Keev Lapin," Allen began, exhaling softly. "My father, Theodore Aleksandr Lapin, was twenty years older than my mother, Laura Antoinette Keev, when they got married. Quite an age gap, right?" He gave a small smile.

Shine nodded with an amused smile of her own.

"So your name is a combination of their names? Then where did Allen Tadashi Hugh come from?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, it's a combination. You'll understand later," Allen said, then continued his story.

"My mother came from a small island in Spain. She went to Russia to work and support her family. She worked for my father as his housekeeper. She was only seventeen then. At eighteen, they became involved. And at nineteen, she married him. People criticized her so much for marrying a man old enough to be her father, but she didn't care. She loved him."

Pride softened Allen's features.

Shine gently placed her hand over his. He looked at her briefly with gratitude and continued.

"My mother was strong... but the judgment hurt her. So she avoided social events. And even if she attended, she'd leave early. She was always alone." Allen paused and breathed deeply.

"And then she met your parents. At first she tried not to be friendly, but I guess it was fate."

"How did my parents meet her?" Shine asked softly.

"When she was twenty, she was already pregnant with me. One day she had to be rushed to the hospital because of excessive bleeding. Your mother happened to be there and helped her. That's how their friendship began."

Shine listened intently.

"My mother shared everything with your parents—especially your mom. Her secrets, her dreams for me... everything. She finally had a friend. And then your parents told her their plan."

Allen's voice lowered.

"My mother was shocked and hurt. My father was furious. They felt betrayed, especially my mother who treated your parents like family."

"I would feel the same," Shine whispered sadly.

Allen squeezed her hand before continuing.

"Your parents offered a 'win-win' solution: they would stage a bomb explosion. They would be 'dead,' and the organization wouldn't have to kill my mother too."

He let out a long sigh.

"So my father agreed. He waited twenty years to marry the woman he loved—he wasn't going to lose her."

"Your father is really sweet," Shine said.

"But there was a twist," Allen continued quietly. "I had to be born dead."

Shine frowned in confusion.

"After the explosion, your parents took care of me for the first three years of my life—"

"THREE YEARS?" Shine exclaimed.

"Yep. Three years," Allen confirmed.

"But... but everything happening right now is supposed to be four years after my birth! That doesn't make sense. You're three years older than me!"

"I asked your parents not to tell you everything," Allen admitted gently. "I wanted to tell you myself."

Shine's brows stayed knitted, but she nodded for him to continue.

"I lived with your parents for the first three years. They gave me the love any child deserves. They would sneak me to see my real parents sometimes too. And yes—like you, I lived in secret. But unlike you... I've been living in secret my whole life."

Shine felt a tug of sadness for him.

"When things settled down, my parents took me back—as their 'adopted' son. Your parents moved to Japan. I think your mom was pregnant with you then."

His expression darkened.

"After they left, life became difficult for us. We spent four years traveling around the world to keep me safe. Then one day... the day I met you."

He smiled warmly at her.

"My mother told me I had to live with my new parents—the ones you know today. That my name was no longer Laure, but Allen. I didn't question anything. Even as a kid, I knew something was wrong. My mother would always choose my safety."

Shine watched him, heart aching.

"Don't feel sorry for me," Allen said with a gentle smile. "That day, I met you. You don't know how happy I was. You looked so innocent, so pure... so cute."

Shine blushed lightly.

"But why did they want to kill you?" she asked.

"Because I'm the only son of Theodore Lapin. My father openly opposed the government. He made many enemies."

Shine stayed quiet, unsure how to respond.

"Those people wanted him gone. But killing him alone wasn't enough—they wanted to destroy his legacy. And since my parents couldn't have more children..."

"Why not?" Shine asked softly.

"After I was born, they found malignant tumors in both of my mother's ovaries. She had surgery. She could no longer have children."

Shine's heart sank.

"No wonder your mother loved your father so much."

Allen bowed his head, guilt overwhelming him.

"Shine... I'm sorry. All of this started because your parents chose to protect me. I hope you don't hate me for everything happening to your life."

Tears fell from his eyes.

Shine held his face gently and wiped his tears.

"You don't have to be sorry, Allen. I'm proud of my parents for the choice they made. Because of them, I met a wonderful man like you. And no—I will never hate you. You've protected me ever since I can remember."

Allen pulled her into a tight embrace, and Shine hugged him back.

"I will never let anything bad happen to you or your family. I promise."

...

They were about to head back to Allen's car when Shine suddenly felt something hot strike her arm. At first she ignored it, but the burning pain grew sharper. She stopped walking.

"What's wrong?" Allen asked, turning to her.

"Allen..." Shine whispered. "I think I've been shot."

Blood dripped from her arm as her knees buckled. Allen lunged forward, but Shine collapsed to the ground—unconscious.