“You’re not going anywhere, Steffy.”

“But… I don’t deserve to stay here anymore, Dad,” Steffy whispered, her usually gentle voice now filled with pain. “I’m no one. I’m not even a Willson by blood.”

Hendry looked at her, his aging eyes reddened with restrained emotion. “You may not carry my blood, Stef… but you are my daughter. You’re the only child who has ever made me proud. You have a big heart, and you’re sincere.”

Steffy bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

“And you…” Hendry turned toward David and Evelyn, his voice cold as steel. “You’ve brought shame to this family. You…” he pointed at David, “…are a disgrace. And you, Evelyn… you’re carrying a child by your own sister’s husband?”

“Dad, I love David…” Evelyn tried to defend herself.

“Love?” Hendry scoffed. “A love that makes you betray your own sister? There is no honor in betrayal. And the child you’re carrying will not change that.”

David opened his mouth to speak, but Hendry raised his hand, stopping him.

“There will never be a marriage between Evelyn and David. But I agree that David and Steffy should divorce!” Hendry declared firmly.

“Dad, this isn’t fair! Your daughter is pregnant, and you won’t let me marry him? I’m carrying the heir of the Willson bloodline!” Evelyn protested, unable to accept his decision.

Hendry’s face flushed with anger. His fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to keep himself in check in front of Steffy.

Evelyn stepped closer. “Dad, I know this is wrong, but I—”

Hendry’s sharp gaze cut her off, his voice booming.

“It is precisely because you carry Willson blood that I will never allow that man to stay in this house!”

David froze.

“Let that child be born without a father,” Hendry continued without hesitation. “I will make sure you and your child still have a place in this family, Evelyn. But not that traitor!”

“No… Dad, please… don’t do this to us…” Evelyn panicked.

“You don’t need to defend him!” Hendry’s voice rose again. “He is your sister’s husband. Steffy lived with him for five years, and you—the daughter I raised with love—dared to stab her in the back?”

Evelyn fell silent. Her eyes began to glisten, but Hendry remained firm.

Meanwhile, Steffy stood quietly behind Hendry. Her heart was still shattered, but this time, a faint warmth crept through the cracks. Even if she wasn’t his biological daughter, Hendry still stood up for her—when she herself had already been ready to leave.

“Dad… I don’t know what to say,” Steffy said softly.

Hendry turned and placed his hands on her shoulders. His gaze softened, completely different from the sharp look he had given Evelyn and David.

“You’re not going anywhere, Stef. This house is still your home. I may not be able to take away your pain today… but you won’t face it alone.”

Steffy nodded, holding back the tears that were about to break free.

David stepped forward, trying to defend himself. “Mr. Hendry, I love Evelyn… I want to take responsibility…”

“If you were truly responsible,” Hendry cut in sharply, “you wouldn’t have betrayed your own wife—let alone with her own sister.”

He took a deep breath, then turned to the guards standing nearby.

“Escort this man out. Starting tonight, he is no longer allowed to set foot in this house.”

David stood frozen, but two household guards were already moving to lead him away.

Evelyn tried to follow, but Hendry stopped her with a calm yet firm voice.

“You stay here. You need protection, and your child is part of this family. But don’t ever expect me to forgive what you’ve done.”

Steffy stood there, still holding her suitcase. She turned to Hendry.

“Dad… may I stay at the villa for a while?”

Hendry looked at her for a long moment, then nodded.

“You may go wherever you need to heal. But remember, this house will always be open to you.”

Steffy chose to leave. The villa would be her refuge—for now, at least, she wouldn’t have to see Evelyn.

She drove away, leaving behind the chaos that might only grow worse.

But along the way, her head began to feel heavy, and nausea had been building for several kilometers. Steffy closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady her breathing while keeping her hands on the wheel.

“I need to pull over for a moment,” she murmured.

She spotted an empty roadside area wide enough to stop. But just as she turned the steering wheel to the left, her vision blurred. Her stomach churned violently, and cold sweat trickled down her temples.

CRASH!

A loud impact echoed. Steffy’s car slammed into the rear of a black SUV parked at the side of the road. The collision wasn’t severe, but enough to dent the front hood of her car and jolt the SUV’s rear bumper.

Steffy gasped. She pressed a hand to her throbbing forehead, trying to stay conscious.

Before she could fully gather herself, a tall, broad-shouldered man in a blue shirt jacket stepped out of the SUV with quick strides, his expression filled with anger.

“ARE YOU CRAZY?!” he shouted, knocking hard on her window. “YOU JUST HIT MY CAR!”

Startled, Steffy lowered her head. Her body still felt weak.

She rolled down the window.

“I… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

“Didn’t mean to?!” The man raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over her pale, trembling figure. “If you can’t drive, then stay off the road! You could get someone killed!”

Steffy lowered her head even more, one hand clutching her increasingly unsettled stomach. She swallowed hard, trying to suppress the nausea rising within her.

“I’ll pay for the damage… I just wanted to pull over… I wasn’t feeling well…”

Her voice was barely audible.

The man scoffed, but his tone began to soften. He studied her more carefully—the pale face, the trembling hands, the cold sweat on her temples.

“You’re sick?” he asked, his voice calmer now, though his expression remained tense.

Steffy nodded faintly.

“All right… get out of the car. Sit down for a while. Don’t force yourself to drive in that condition.”

The man glanced around. There were no other vehicles passing by.

“Sit here first. We’ll talk about the car damage later.”

Steffy didn’t protest. She knew her body wouldn’t be able to continue the journey in this state. With unsteady steps, she got out, and with the man’s help, she sat on a bus stop bench.

He remained standing, opened a bottle of mineral water, and handed it to her.

“Drink first. You look like you’re about to faint.”

“Thank you…” Steffy took the bottle and drank slowly. At least she could breathe a little easier now.

“My name is Daniel Jones,” the man said after a few seconds of silence. “And you… who are you?”

“Steffy…” she replied softly. “I’m sorry about your car…”

Daniel nodded, glancing at Steffy’s car, which was still running with its front hood slightly dented.

“We’ll check the damage later. But honestly, I’m more worried about you. You could’ve passed out in the middle of a curve—that would’ve been far more dangerous.”

Steffy slowly turned to look at him for the first time. His face was firm, but there was a trace of concern behind his earlier harsh tone. Not someone warm at first glance—but not cruel either.

“I just have a lot on my mind,” Steffy murmured.

She looked at him with mixed emotions. She hadn’t expected that from such an angry start, this man would show a side of care she hadn’t anticipated.

Once she felt a little stronger, Steffy decided to continue her journey.

Before leaving, she handed him her business card.

“You can contact me for the repair costs. Once again, I’m sorry.”

The next day, at the Willson residence.

Evelyn sat on the sofa, her body trembling as tears streamed down her face. Only now did she realize that everything she had fought for had cost her everything—her dignity, her family, and even the man she loved.

She covered her face with both hands, her body shaking. Now, she had to go through the rest of her pregnancy under the shadow of the betrayal she herself had created.

Steffy’s final words before leaving echoed endlessly in her mind.

“I won’t hate you, Evelyn… but from today onward, I will never see you as my sister again.”

Evelyn cried even harder.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Hendry leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes briefly. He knew the storm was far from over.

Nadine, who had been worried about Steffy since yesterday, excused herself and prepared to leave.

“Where are you going, Mom?” Evelyn asked when she saw Nadine carrying her bag.

“I have to go comfort Steffy!” Nadine answered honestly.

“I’m the one who should be comforted! I’m pregnant without a husband! Why is it that even at a time like this, none of you care about me at all?” Evelyn shouted.

But neither Hendry nor Nadine paid her any attention.

Nadine left anyway, driven by the family chauffeur to the Willson family’s private villa.

When she arrived, she found Steffy crying alone. Her eyes were swollen, as if she hadn’t stopped crying since yesterday.

Without saying a word, Nadine immediately embraced her tightly—a long, warm hug filled with restrained love.

Steffy was startled. But it didn’t take long before her tears began to fall again.

“Maybe the DNA test is right. But my feelings as a mother can’t be wrong, Steffy. I know… I’m sure… you are my daughter.”

The embrace tightened. Nadine trembled as she cried, while Steffy remained still, letting the warmth of that hug sink in.

“Mom…” Steffy’s voice broke. “I’m happy to hear that… but I also know reality isn’t that simple.”

Nadine slowly released her, looking deeply into Steffy’s face. Her eyes were filled with both love and pain.

“I won’t force you to believe it,” Nadine said softly. “But please, remain my daughter.”

Steffy nodded. “Of course, Mom. But if I’m not your biological child, then we need to find out who was switched.”

Nadine looked at her, deeply moved. “You don’t have to do that…”

“I want to,” Steffy cut in firmly. “I want us to find that woman. If she’s still alive… she deserves to know who her mother is. And you deserve to embrace your real daughter.”

Silence fell for a moment. Only the ticking of the wall clock and the sound of their breathing filled the room.

“Thank you, Stef…” Nadine said, her voice breaking. “God knows how grateful I am to have known you, even if this truth is painful…”

“I’m also grateful I was raised here… with love from both Mom and Dad. I don’t want everything to fall apart because of someone else’s mistake.”

Nadine gently wiped Steffy’s cheek. “You are truly kind.”

Unbeknownst to them, Evelyn was listening from behind the door.

She couldn’t accept that Nadine had gone to see Steffy, so she followed her. She had just failed to get rid of Steffy. And now, she had to be ready to face another woman who might become her next rival.

“I have to move fast. They must not find that woman first,” she whispered to herself. “I’ll pretend to accept Father’s decision… so they focus on searching for her. I’ll meet David in secret.”

“Mom, where do we even begin… with the search?”

Nadine drew a long breath. “There was an old nurse at the hospital where I gave birth. She disappeared after that night.”

“Maybe we can go back to that hospital,” Steffy suggested.

“I don’t have the courage yet. But if you’re with me… I’ll try.”

Steffy nodded firmly. “We’ll go tomorrow morning.”

For the first time that day, Nadine smiled. It wasn’t a perfect smile, but it was enough—a small light to guide them out of the darkness.

The next morning.

The sun had barely risen when two cars pulled out of the Willson residence garage. Steffy and Nadine sat side by side in the same car, dressed simply.

Hendry stood at the doorway, watching them leave with a face full of hope.

“We’ll find the answers, Dad,” Steffy called out before the car drove off.

She was still staying at the villa, but had come to pick Nadine up.

“Bring the truth home… and come back with peace in your hearts,” Hendry replied.

The car moved forward slowly, leaving the grand house behind—for now.

Inside the car, Nadine held Steffy’s hand. “No matter what we find there, I still want you in my life.”

Steffy turned to her with a small smile. “I’m not going anywhere, Mom. I just want to make sure… no other girl grows up not knowing who she really is.”

“What about David? Has he contacted you?” Nadine asked, curious. Since yesterday, Steffy had been focused only on uncovering the truth about her identity.

Not once had she spoken about the pain of being betrayed by her own sister.

Steffy turned, paused for a moment, then shook her head.

“No,” she answered flatly. “And I’m not waiting for him either.”

Nadine was surprised, but chose to stay silent. She knew that at a time like this, Steffy didn’t need sympathy—only someone who could be present without asking too many questions.

“I’m hurt, Mom,” Steffy continued softly, but her voice remained steady. “But that pain also made me realize… I refuse to hold on to David anymore. He belongs to a chapter I need to close.”

Nadine nodded gently. “You’re strong, Stef.”

Steffy gave a faint smile. “I don’t feel strong. But I know I can’t tie myself to a past that betrayed me. The only thing I can do now is move forward.”

At last, the car arrived at the hospital—the very place where their mystery had begun. The building still stood tall, though it now looked more modern with fresh paint and updated signage.

Steffy and Nadine stepped out, walking side by side through the hospital corridors. Every step carried emotional weight for Nadine—memories of that chaotic night of childbirth and a loss she had silently carried for decades.

They approached the administration desk, asking about old records and the whereabouts of Nurse Martha. But as expected, the hospital only had limited information. Martha was recorded as having resigned a few days after Steffy’s birth, with no further details.

“Do you still have her last contact information?” Steffy asked.

The young receptionist shook her head. “I’m sorry, we don’t keep contact details for staff who have been inactive for so long.”

“This is going to be difficult…” Nadine murmured, sounding defeated.

“We still have to try, Mom.”

They continued searching, walking around the hospital, hoping Nadine might recognize someone from the past.

But as Steffy turned into one of the corridors, her steps suddenly halted.

A man was walking from the opposite direction, dressed in a long white doctor’s coat. His eyes were focused on the file in his hands, unaware of Steffy standing right in front of him.

Steffy recognized him instantly. The sharp jawline, the tall frame—everything matched the man whose car she had hit a few days ago.

“Daniel?” she called out, almost in disbelief.

The man looked up, surprised to see her.

“Oh… you?”

Steffy let out a small laugh, though her face still showed disbelief. “We meet again. The world is really small, huh?”

Daniel—who turned out to be not just an SUV owner, but also a doctor—smiled faintly. “Very small, apparently. Are you feeling better?”

Steffy nodded. “Yes, much better now. I’m sorry about the other day… why haven’t you sent me the repair bill for your car?”

Daniel raised a hand, gently refusing. “No need to worry about it. It wasn’t serious damage, and you weren’t well. Besides… I’m a doctor. I’d rather treat people than chase repair payments.”

Steffy paused. His words were light, but warm. They made her feel… appreciated.

“Still, I feel bad,” Steffy said. “At least let me transfer the cost. Or treat you to coffee?”

Daniel chuckled softly. “Alright. Then I’ll choose coffee. But not now—I still have patients waiting.”

Steffy smiled. “Another time, then.”

Daniel looked at her for a moment, his gaze observant yet gentle. “You seem much calmer today.”

“I’m looking for something in this hospital. And maybe… finding the answer is making me feel a little better.”

Daniel nodded slowly, as if he understood. “If you need help around here, maybe I can assist. What are you looking for?”

“Oh, I almost forgot—this is my mother, Nadine Willson,” Steffy said. “We’re looking for a nurse who assisted during my birth. Nurse Martha. Have you ever heard of her?”

Even though the chances were small, Steffy still tried.

“Nurse Martha? Wait a moment…” Daniel pulled out his phone from his coat pocket. “Is this the woman you mean?”