Night fell, but for Hannah, there was no peace. She lay on her small bed, eyes wide open, her heart heavy. The blanket she held still carried the sweet scent of Ella, and that alone broke her into tears.
Every corner of the house felt empty. The silence was too loud, too cruel. Ella's laughter, her little footsteps, her soft voice calling "Mommy"—all of it echoed only in Hannah's mind.
She turned from side to side, but sleep would not come. Instead, she cried, her sobs filling the quiet night. She whispered into the darkness, "My baby… my Ella… where are you? Are you warm? Are you safe?"
The pain was unbearable. She clutched the blanket tighter to her chest as if it was her daughter. Her heart screamed, but only tears came out.
Rachel, who stayed beside her, could hear the soft cries of Hannah . She wanted to comfort Hannah, but she knew nothing she said could ease the pain of a mother who had just lost her child.
Hours dragged like years. For Hannah, this night felt endless—the longest night of her life.
Morning light slowly crept into the house, slipping through the curtains and painting the walls in soft gold. The sound of birds outside sang of a new day, but inside, the air felt heavy.
Victoria rose early, her eyes tired from a night without rest. She had spent hours turning from side to side, her mind replaying David's harsh words and Isabelle's innocent voice calling Felicity her "sister." It gnawed at her heart, a reminder that nothing inside this home was the same anymore.
In Isabelle's room, the two little girls were still asleep. Isabelle's arm was draped over Felicity protectively, as if she had already accepted a new bond that Victoria herself could not.
Victoria stood in the doorway, watching them quietly. She crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Why, David? Why she brought her here? We had everything. We had peace. Now even Isabelle's heart is being tied to this child."
Downstairs, David's footsteps echoed as he prepared to leave for work. His voice boomed up the stairs.
"Victoria, don't forget to take care of Felicity today. Make sure she's fine."
Victoria closed her eyes, her chest burning. She didn't answer. Instead, she turned back to the girls, whispering under her breath, "This… this is not the life I wanted."
As the house stirred awake, a storm of silence filled it—one that promised the battles of the days yet to come.
Morning light filtered through the small window of Hannah's home, but it brought her no comfort. She sat on the edge of her bed, clutching a blanket, her eyes red from crying all night. The silence of the room pressed down on her, heavier than any weight she had ever known.
Rachel had gone out for a moment to get some food, leaving Hannah alone with her thoughts. "Ella… my baby… where are you? Who has you right now? Are you safe? Hannah whispered, her voice trembling.
She stood and walked slowly to the window, staring out at the village. Every sound—the crowing of a rooster, the wind rustling through the trees—made her heart leap with hope and fear at the same time. "I have to find you, Ella. No matter what it takes, I will get you back."
Her hands trembled as she touched the small piece of clothing she had left behind for Ella. Memories of her daughter's laughter, the way she used to hug her tightly, the tiny hands that wrapped around her finger—all of it came rushing back in a flood of pain.
Rachel returned quietly, carrying a small basket of food. She set it on the table, glancing at Hannah with concern. "Hannah… you need to eat something," she said softly.
Hannah shook her head, tears spilling again. "I can't… I can't think about food. I can only think about Ella. I have to find her. I need to know she's okay.
"Hannah… please, eat something," Rachel said softly. "Even a little. You need strength."
Hannah shook her head, her face pale and drawn from sleepless nights. "I can't," she whispered, her voice trembling.
" But Hannah you haven't eaten since yesterday".
"I can't Rachel I ..... I can't. Until I find my baby, I won't eat."
Rachel's hand trembled slightly as she reached out, gently touching Hannah's arm. "I understand, Hannah… I do. But if you don't take care of yourself, you won't have the strength to protect her or bring her back. Please… just a bite. For Ella."
Hannah closed her eyes, struggling with the hunger and the gnawing anxiety in her heart. She could feel the emptiness inside her stomach, but the thought of Ella—her small, helpless daughter—was stronger. Her lips pressed together, her resolve firm.
"No… until I find her, Rachel," Hannah said quietly but firmly. "I won't eat. Until my baby… comes first."
Rachel sighed, knowing there was no changing her friend's mind for now. She quietly sat beside Hannah, offering silent support, her heart aching alongside hers.
Hannah's determination burned brighter than her hunger, and nothing—no fear, no exhaustion, no pleading—could weaken it.
Hannah sat at the small wooden table, her hands pressed tightly together, her mind racing. The basket of food Rachel had brought sat untouched, the smell barely registering. Her thoughts were consumed by one thing and one thing only—Ella.
"I have to find her," she whispered under her breath, her eyes scanning the empty room as if her daughter might appear at any moment. "I can't wait. I can't let David get away with this."
Rachel, sitting across from her, watched silently. "What are you going to do, Hannah?" she asked softly.
Hannah's lips pressed into a thin line. "First, I need to know where he went. If I can find his car, his route… anything that can lead me to him, I'll follow it. I don't care if it's far, or if I have to ask everyone in the village. I will not stop until I get Ella back .
Hannah's eyes burned with determination. "We'll start today. No one will stop me. David may think he can take my child and keep her, but he doesn't know me. He doesn't know what it means to be a mother".
Hannah stood up abruptly, her fists clenched, her eyes burning with determination. She was ready to run straight to David, to follow any clue, to get her baby back no matter what.
Rachel grabbed her arm gently, stopping her. "Hannah… listen," she said softly but firmly. "You're a stranger there. You can't just go running without a plan. You need to calm down and think carefully about what to do. You have to be smart, not just angry."
Hannah's chest heaved, frustration and fear mixing in her gaze. "But Rachel… Ella… my baby… she's out there, and I don't know if she's safe!"
"I know," Rachel said, squeezing her arm reassuringly. "And that's why you need a plan. You can't just rush in blindly. Think. Observe. Ask quietly. If you act without thinking, it could make things worse for both you and Ella."
Hannah bit her lip, trying to steady her breathing. Rachel's words, though calm, pierced through the whirlwind of panic inside her. Slowly, she nodded.
"You're right," Hannah whispered, her voice still shaky. "I have to be smart. I have to do this right, for her."
Rachel smiled gently, letting her friend lean on her shoulder. "Exactly. We'll figure this out together. Step by step."
Hannah closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself absorb Rachel's calm energy. Her heart still ached with worry for her daughter, but now it was paired with focus. She was ready to move… but with a plan.
Hannah took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her. Rachel placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and spoke softly, trying to bring some reason into the chaos of her friend's thoughts.
"Hannah… listen," Rachel said, "my aunt is in town. I asked her to help me find a job, and last week she told me she has opened a small cafe. If everything goes well, she'll call me and tell me to go work there."
Hannah looked at her, her eyes still filled with worry and urgency.
"So… what do you think?" Rachel continued. "Should we wait for her call before doing anything else? Maybe it's better to have some plan and a safe place ready before we rush into the city."
Hannah sighed, frustration and fear still battling inside her. But Rachel's calm, patient words sank in a little.
"You're right," Hannah whispered. "It's better to wait… at least a little. But I can't stop thinking about Ella. Every minute counts."
Rachel nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "I know, Hannah. And we won't waste a single minute. But we need to be smart, too. As soon as she calls, we move. Until then… we wait, and we plan."
Hannah closed her eyes for a moment, letting the thought settle. Waiting was hard, but she knew Rachel was right. She had to be careful if she wanted to find Ella safely.
Rachel looked at Hannah, her eyes gentle but firm. "Wait," she said, placing a hand on Hannah's arm. "Let me try calling my aunt. I want to hear what she says before we decide anything."
Hannah nodded, her chest still tight with worry. "Okay… but Rachel, be quick. Every minute feels like an eternity," she whispered, biting her lip.
Rachel took out her phone, dialing her aunt's number carefully. She listened as the line rang, hoping her aunt would pick up. Hannah's eyes stayed fixed on the door, every sound making her jump.
"Come on… come on…" Hannah muttered under her breath, her hands clenched into fists.
Finally, Rachel's face lit up slightly. "She answered!" she said quietly, bringing the phone to her ear. "Let's see what she says."
Hannah's heart raced. This call could change everything.
Rachel took a deep breath and pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hello, Rachel!" her aunt's warm voice came through.
"Hi, Auntie!" Rachel said, smiling despite her nerves. "How are you? I hope everything is going well with the cafe."
"I'm doing well, dear! Thank you for asking. And yes, the cafe is finally open. It's been busy, but good," her aunt replied.
Rachel's heart raced as she moved on to the main reason for the call. "Auntie… I wanted to ask about work. You said last week that I could come help you. Is that still possible? How can I start?"
Her aunt's voice was kind but firm. "Of course, Rachel. I remember. Things are ready now. Once you arrive in the city, come straight to the cafe. I'll make sure you have a place to start immediately. Just tell me your arrival day so I can prepare everything for you."
Rachel's eyes lit up as she listened, and she quietly glanced at Hannah, who was holding her breath nearby.
"So… I can come this week?" Rachel asked, trying to keep her excitement contained.
"Yes, dear. This week is perfect. Come prepared, and I'll take care of the rest," her aunt said warmly.
Rachel turned to Hannah, her face calm but determined.
"Tomorrow morning," she said softly, "we'll start our journey to the city. Auntie will be ready, and we'll make sure everything goes smoothly. We have to be careful, but we're going to get it done."
Hannah nodded, a spark of hope lighting her eyes. "Yes… tomorrow. We'll finally move forward," she whispered, trying to steady her racing heart.
Meanwhile, far away, David was at his office, buried in paperwork and meetings. The hum of the city and the ringing phones surrounded him, but his mind kept wandering back to Felicity.
Finally, he stood up, straightening his suit. He walked out of the office with purpose and headed straight to the hospital. His mission was clear—he had to prepare the birth certificate for Felicity. Every step he took was measured, every thought controlled. He knew what needed to be done, and he wouldn't let anyone interfere.
David walked briskly into the hospital, his steps echoing in the quiet hallway. He approached the reception desk and was directed to the records office. Inside, a doctor was reviewing some files.
David entered the hospital records office, carrying a folder with him. The doctor looked up from the desk.
"Good afternoon, Mr.lDavid," the doctor said politely. "How can I help you?"
David handed over the documents. "I need to prepare a birth certificate for a child," he said firmly.
The doctor nodded. "Alright. I'll need the child's information. Let's start with the basic details. What is the child's full name?"
"Felicity," David replied without hesitation. "Her father's name is David… and her mother's name is Victoria."
The doctor jotted down the names carefully. "Very well. And the date of birth? When was she born?"
David paused for a moment, his mind racing. He thought about the day he had taken the child and what would seem plausible. He swallowed hard, then answered confidently, "March 27th , and he mentioned the year she was born."
The doctor nodded and started filling out the forms. "Alright… that will be the official date on the certificate. Everything else seems in order. Once completed, the certificate will be ready for official use."
David exhaled slowly, trying to mask the tension inside him. He didn't know that the date he had chosen— March 27th—was in fact the child's real birthday. Felicity's life, her real identity, was unknowingly being confirmed on the very document he had insisted on creating.
The doctor handed the forms back to him. "Everything is complete, Mr. David. The certificate will be processed shortly."
David took the papers, his face calm, but inside a strange mix of satisfaction and unease churned. Felicity's place in his life was now official, at least on paper.
David sat down on the chair in front of the doctor's desk, trying to remain calm. The doctor was busy writing down the details, then looked up at him.
Doctor: "Alright, we now have all the information. The child's name, the parents' names, and the date of birth."
David: "Good. I need this certificate completed as quickly as possible."
The doctor gave a polite smile and replied, "The birth certificate will be ready in two days. We need time to verify the details and process the official signatures."
David nodded, forcing patience. "Fine, I'll return in two days."
The doctor closed the file and said, "When you come back, it will be ready for collection. You're most welcome."
David stood up, took his documents, and left the office with confident steps. But deep inside, he felt the weight of his actions pressing on him. The more time passed, the closer he came to the risk of truth being exposed.
Night slowly covered the sky. The village grew quiet, only the sound of crickets filling the air. Inside Hannah's small hut, she sat on her mat with Rachel. They talked softly, planning their journey to the city the next morning.
Rachel tried her best to give Hannah courage. "Don't lose hope," she said gently. "We will go to my aunt, and step by step, we will find your daughter."
For the first time since Ella disappeared, Hannah felt a small light of hope. Her heart was still heavy, but at least now she had a plan. When Rachel handed her a small plate of food, Hannah hesitated for a moment, then slowly began to eat. It was a quiet victory — hope had given her strength again.
Meanwhile, in the city, David was at home with his family. At the dinner table, Victoria watched him closely. He looked calm, but deep inside, his mind was full of secrets. Isabelle laughed as she ate, while Felicity sat quietly beside her, still not used to this new home.
After dinner, Victoria tucked both girls into bed, whispering goodnight to them. David sat alone in the living room, staring into the darkness, thinking of the certificate that would soon make Felicity "official."
Two homes, two hearts.
One filled with secrets.
The other filled with pain — yet holding onto hope.
And that night, for the first time in many days, Hannah closed her eyes after eating, whispering to herself, "Ella, my love, I will find you."