The dining room was quiet, only the clinking of spoons and forks breaking the silence.
Victoria sat at the head of the table, scrolling through her phone while Isabelle talked about her day at school.
Isabelle: "Mom, today our teacher said I drew so well! She said I could be an artist."
Victoria smiled proudly. "Of course, my darling. You're talented—just like your father."
Grace (Hannah) stood near the corner, quietly serving food and watching them. Her heart tightened when she looked at Felicity, who sat silently, playing with her rice instead of eating.
Victoria: "Felicity, eat your food properly."
Her tone was cold.
Felicity nodded quietly, her little hands shaking as she picked up the spoon. Hannah could see the sadness in her eyes — the same sadness she once saw in her own reflection years ago.
She knelt beside Felicity gently.
Grace: "Here, sweetie… take small bites. It'll be easier that way."
Felicity looked at her, a faint smile appearing on her face for the first time that evening.
Felicity: "Thank you, Grace."
That one sentence almost broke Hannah's heart. She smiled back, hiding her tears.
Across the table, Victoria glanced at them with a frown.
Victoria: "Grace, she can feed herself. Go finish cleaning the kitchen."
Hannah bowed her head quickly.
Grace: "Yes, madam."
She walked back to the kitchen, but from the doorway she kept watching—her eyes locked on Felicity, memorizing every move, every smile, every look.
As dinner ended, Isabelle ran to hug her mother. Felicity stood there quietly, forgotten.
That moment burned into Hannah's heart like fire.
Inside her mind, she whispered:
"Don't worry, my baby. Mama's here now. I'll never let them hurt you again."
The house had fallen silent.
The lights in the hallway were dim, and only the sound of the ticking clock filled the air.
Grace — or rather Hannah, sat at the edge of her bed, lost in thought. The pictures she had seen earlier kept flashing in her mind: David smiling beside Victoria, holding Isabelle in his arms.
Then the name echoed again in her head — Felicity.
She whispered softly to herself, her voice shaking,
"Felicity… my Ella. My baby… you've been here all this time."
Her eyes filled with tears, but she wiped them quickly.
She couldn't cry loudly; not now. Not when she was so close to her daughter.
After some minutes, she stood up quietly and walked toward the children's room.
The door was slightly open, and the moonlight from the window fell across the floor.
Inside, Felicity and Isabelle were asleep — Isabelle cuddled her teddy bear, and Felicity's blanket had fallen to the floor.
Hannah walked in slowly, careful not to make a sound.
She picked up the blanket and covered Felicity gently.
Her fingers brushed through the little girl's soft hair.
She smiled sadly,
"You look just like me when I was a little girl," she whispered.
A tear slid down her cheek and landed on Felicity's hand. The little girl moved slightly but didn't wake up.
Hannah knelt beside her, her heart breaking and healing at the same time.
She whispered again, this time with a quiet strength in her voice:
"I promise you, Ella… I'll protect you. I'll get proof that you're mine.
And when the time comes, no one will ever take you from me again."
She stayed there for a long time, watching Felicity sleep peacefully.
When she finally stood to leave, she looked one last time at her daughter and whispered,
"Sleep well, my love. Mama's here."
Then she walked back to her room, wiped her tears, and picked up her phone.
She texted Rachel:
"I'm sure now, Rachel. Felicity is Ella. I'm planning to get a DNA test — soon."
She put down the phone, lay back on her bed, and closed her eyes — but sleep never came.
Her heart was heavy, but for the first time in years, there was also hope.