“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?”