Steffy and Nadine leaned closer to Daniel’s phone screen. A photo appeared—of a middle-aged woman standing in a white nurse’s uniform, wearing a faint smile. The same eyes. The same face Nadine could never forget.
“That’s her,” Nadine said softly, yet with absolute certainty. “That’s Martha. I couldn’t be wrong.”
Daniel nodded and slipped his phone back into his pocket. But something in his expression shifted—his smile faded, and his eyes grew more serious.
“I’m sorry, but… may I ask you something first?” Daniel looked straight at Nadine. “What exactly are you looking for from Martha?”
Steffy glanced at her mother, then answered, “We don’t intend to hurt anyone. We’re just looking for answers.”
“Answers about what?” Daniel’s voice remained calm, but his tone demanded clarity.
“About the past. I was born in this hospital twenty-seven years ago,” Steffy said at last. “My mother said… there was an incident that night. I might have been switched at birth, and Martha was the nurse involved. Then after that night… she disappeared.”
Daniel fell silent, his expression unreadable.
Steffy continued in a softer voice, “We suspect something happened that night. Maybe… there was a mistake. Maybe… I’m not my mother’s biological child.”
Daniel’s gaze sharpened.
“And you believe my mother was involved?” he asked flatly.
Steffy quickly shook her head. “We’re not accusing her. We just want to know… what really happened. Only Martha can give us those answers. Please, Daniel—help us meet her.”
Nadine added, her voice trembling, “So Martha is your mother… I won’t force anything. I just want to know whether what I’ve believed all this time is wrong… or true. That’s all. After that… we’ll leave peacefully.”
Silence lingered for a few seconds. The noise of the hospital corridor seemed to fade—leaving only the three of them standing there, caught in the weight of their emotions.
Daniel took a deep breath, glanced at the floor, then looked back at them.
“It’s true,” he said quietly. “Martha… the woman you’re looking for… is my mother.”
Steffy and Nadine froze.
“She hasn’t worked at the hospital for a long time,” Daniel continued. “She resigned. And after that, we moved away. She never spoke about her past as a nurse again. Even when I decided to become a doctor, she only said one thing—‘don’t repeat my mistakes.’ I didn’t understand what she meant back then. But now…”
Daniel swallowed hard, looking straight at Steffy.
“Now I think I do.”
Nadine stepped closer. “Where is she now, Daniel? Please… we just want to talk to her.”
Daniel hesitated.
“She lives alone now, on the outskirts of the city. I visit her every two weeks,” he said finally. “She… doesn’t meet strangers easily anymore. She’s become more withdrawn over the years.”
“We won’t hurt her,” Steffy said quickly. “We won’t even ask anything if she doesn’t want to answer. We just want to look into her eyes. Hear her voice. Sometimes… the truth can be felt just through a meeting.”
Daniel fell silent for a long moment. Then, in a low voice, he said, “I’ll talk to my mother first. If she’s willing to meet you… I’ll contact you.”
Nadine looked like she might cry. “Thank you… even just for that, I’m truly grateful.”
Daniel nodded. “Give me some time. Maybe a day or two. I want to prepare her first.”
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Evelyn paced back and forth in the living room, restless. Her steps were quick, but her thoughts raced even faster. She bit her nails—a habit that resurfaced whenever panic took over.
“Are they really going to find her?” she muttered to herself, grabbing her phone and reopening David’s last message.
“Meet me. Now.”
Evelyn replied with an address.
She arrived first at a small studio apartment she owned.
“Come in,” Evelyn said quickly as soon as David knocked.
David glanced around the room. “Since when did you have this place?”
“I just rented it yesterday. From now on, we’ll meet here, David.”
“Small,” he commented. “But better than sleeping in a car.”
“What do you mean?” Evelyn frowned, confused.
“Evelyn… I’ve been fired.”
Evelyn stared at him in disbelief. “What?”
“Willson Corp fired me. Quietly. No official statement. All my privileges were revoked. My car, office access—even my company credit card was frozen. They just told me to disappear.”
“So… you really lost everything?”
David let out a bitter laugh. “Everything. Including a place to live. That’s why I want to stay here.”
Evelyn stiffened. “Stay here?”
“Don’t tell me you can’t take me in.”
Evelyn stepped closer, her face a mix of panic and confusion. “David… this wasn’t part of our agreement.”
“We’re not talking about agreements anymore,” David snapped. “We’re talking about survival. Do you think I’m happy after divorcing Steffy? I thought my life would be better with you.”
“Listen to me carefully, Evelyn,” he continued, his voice low but cold. “We’re both in this mess together. If I can’t live comfortably in that house, then you’re responsible for my life now.”
“David, I’m pregnant. You didn’t even ask how I’m doing?” Evelyn said, her disappointment clear.
“That wasn’t my plan. If you had been more patient, maybe I’d still be enjoying the Willson family’s benefits!”
Evelyn never expected David to change like this. He was no longer the caring, romantic man she once knew.
“So you don’t want this child, David?”
