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?”

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?”