As the hours passed, the cafe grew busier. Laughter and conversations filled the tables as people enjoyed tea, coffee, and meals. Catherine watched Rachel and Hannah with pride—she admired their effort and was especially impressed by the kindness and dedication of "Grace."
Though Hannah's heart was still heavy with the pain of losing Ella, she felt a small spark of comfort. For a brief moment, serving people and being useful gave her a sense of worth again.
After finishing their shift, Hannah wiped her hands and turned to Rachel with a small smile.
"Rachel… let's ask Catherine if we can take a little break. I want to walk around and see the city," she whispered.
Rachel nodded eagerly. "Good idea. I also want to explore a bit before it gets too late."
The two of them approached Catherine, who was cleaning up near the counter. Hannah spoke softly, trying to sound confident:
"Aunt Catherine, may we… take a short walk outside? Just to see the city for a little while?"
Catherine looked at them thoughtfully for a moment and then smiled.
"Alright, but be careful and don't be gone too long. I expect you back before evening."
Hannah felt a small wave of excitement. "Thank you, Aunt Catherine," she said politely.
As they stepped out of the cafe, the sunlight warmed their faces. The streets were lively, filled with people, cars, and the endless noise of the city. Hannah held Rachel's hand tightly, her heart pounding with curiosity and a touch of joy.
"It's so different from our village," Hannah whispered, glancing around at the tall buildings and crowded streets.
Rachel laughed softly. "Yes… but just wait, there's so much more to see. We have a whole city to explore today."
For the first time since arriving, Hannah felt a small spark of freedom—a brief moment to breathe, to live, and to dream about finding her daughter.
As Hannah and Rachel walked down the busy street, Hannah stopped for a moment and took out the business card she had kept from David. She looked at Rachel with determined eyes.
"Rachel… I want to go to David's office. I have his business card here, and I need you to come with me," she said in a low but firm voice.
Rachel was a little surprised, studying Hannah carefully.
"Hannah… are you sure? That could be dangerous. David isn't an easy man," she said cautiously, not wanting to scare her friend.
Hannah held the card tightly in her hand, her heart a mix of fear and determination.
"I know, Rachel… but I have to meet him. I need to explain everything, and I also… need to know the truth about my child."
Rachel calmed down and gave her a gentle smile, holding her hand softly.
"Alright, Hannah. I'll go with you. But we have to be careful every step of the way. We don't know who's watching."
Hannah squeezed Rachel's hand, her heart filled with a mixture of hope and fear. That day marked the beginning of another journey—a journey to face the truth and confront David.
Hannah and Rachel paused a few blocks from David's office. The tall building loomed over them, its glass windows reflecting the busy city streets. Hannah's hands trembled slightly as she held the business card.
"Okay… before we go in, let's think this through," Rachel said, lowering her voice. "We need a plan. What if he refuses to talk? Or… worse?"
Hannah took a deep breath, nodding. "I know. But I can't wait any longer. I need answers, Rachel. I need to know everything about Ella… and I need him to know the truth too."
Rachel studied her friend's determined face. "Alright. We stay calm, act polite, and only speak when necessary. No shouting, no arguing… at least at first. Agreed?"
Hannah nodded, her jaw tight with resolve. "Agreed. Let's do this."
Together, they approached the building, walking past the reception with careful steps. Hannah's heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing the fear and hope intertwined inside her. Rachel stayed close, silently giving support with every step.
As they reached the office doors, Hannah whispered to herself: "Ella… I will protect you. I will not leave until I know everything."
With a final deep breath, Hannah pushed the door open and stepped inside, ready to face David.
Hannah stepped into the sleek office, her eyes immediately finding David sitting behind his large desk, busy with papers. He looked up, surprised to see her standing there.
"Hannah… what are you doing here?" David asked, his tone a mix of shock and irritation.
Hannah took a deep breath, her hands gripping the business card tightly. "I came to talk to you, David. I need answers… about Ella."
David's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ella? What do you mean?"
"Don't lie to me," Hannah said firmly, her voice trembling slightly with both fear and anger. "You know exactly what I mean. I need to know everything… you said she wasn't yours, then why did you stole her?"
David leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. "Hannah… calm down. Sit, please. Let's not start like this."
Hannah shook her head. "No, David. There's no calm here. You left me alone, you denied your responsibility, and now I'm standing here to know where is my daughter."
David's expression softened for a moment, but a shadow of guilt crossed his face. "Hannah… it's complicated. I… I didn't know how to handle it. I have a family now, and—"
Hannah cut him off, her eyes blazing. "A family? And what about Ella? You can't erase her like this! She has a right to know her father. And I have a right to protect her!"
David looked at her, silent for a moment, before finally speaking in a low, firm voice. "You came here for the truth, Hannah… so here it is. Ella… she isn't mine. I don't where she's."
Hannah felt her anger rise, each step she took heavy with frustration.
"David… where is my child?! I want my child now!" she shouted, her eyes burning with fury.
David took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, but his voice rose as well.
"I don't know… I don't know anything about your child!" he snapped, his hands gripping the edge of his desk.
"You don't know anything?! Is this a joke, David?! This is my child! You rejected me, you abandoned me, and now you're telling me you don't know anything?!" Hannah continued, her voice sharp, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"That's impossible!" Hannah shouted, her voice shaking with pain and fury.
Hannah stepped closer until the desk was between them. Her voice was low and hard.
"David," she said, "I know you stole my child. I know you have her , I want my baby back—now."
David's face went pale. He pushed his chair back and stood up. "What are you talking about, Hannah? I don't know anything about your child.You must be mistaken. Please leave my office before I call security."
Her laugh was small and bitter. "Mistaken?" she said. "Do not pretend. You took my daughter. You took her from my house." Her words came faster now, sharp as glass. "I was a fool to trust you. I am not a fool anymore."
David's eyes narrowed. His voice rose. "That is impossible. I would never— I don't know who told you such lies."
"You lied to me," Hannah said. "You denied her. You left me alone when I needed you. You told me she was not yours. And now you dare to kidnap her!!?"
He put his hand to his face and rubbed his forehead. For a moment he seemed older, worn. Then he pulled his hand away and set his jaw.
"You cannot talk to me like this," he said coldly. "Do you understand? I have a life. I have a family. This is not the place-"
"You have a family," Hannah repeated, louder. "So what? That does not give you the right to take my child. You think your life makes you better? You think it covers what you did? You are a liar, a kidnapper you cannot hide from this."
David's patience snapped. He rose, and the chair scraped back with a sharp sound. "I told you before: I don't know anything. I have nothing to do with your daughter. If you do not leave now, I will call security. I do not want a scene here."
Something like a laugh, full of pain, left Hannah's chest. Her heart pounded so hard she felt it in her throat. For a moment she looked older than her years — a mother's face carved by worry and grief.
She stepped closer until the desk was between them and she could see every line on his face. Her voice went ice-cold, each word slow and terrible with meaning.
"Security! , then call it, do you think that scares a mother?, If anything happens to my daughter," she said, and the room felt like it was holding its breath, "I'll kill you, David I swear". "I'll never let you live in peace until I find where you hid her. I will take my child, I'll reaveal your evils. I hate you."
The words hit the room like a thrown stone. David's color drained. He stood very still. For a second there was only the sound of their breathing.
"Don't say that," he managed. His voice was low, more frightened than angry. "You can't say such things. Get out of my office."
Hannah's eyes were bright with pain. She felt the hot pressure of tears but did not let them fall. "I will get her," she said. "I swear. I will do whatever it takes."
David's fingers trembled as he picked up the phone on his desk. He pressed a button but did not speak. For a moment he seemed trapped between fear and the thought of calling help. Then he slammed the phone down as if the sound would hide his shame.
"I have told you everything I know," he said at last, his voice tight with anger and worry both. "Leave. Now."
Hannah looked at him once more. There was no begging in her face, no pleading. Only a tired, hard promise. She turned and left.
The door closed behind her like a final small nail. The corridor outside felt too bright, too loud. For a flash she wanted to run back in and drag the truth out of him by force. Instead she walked fast, the business card still clutched in her hand, every step fueled by a raw, hot need.
Rachel waited on the sidewalk, pacing, eyes wide when she saw Hannah. "What happened?" she asked before Hannah could answer.
Hannah could not catch her breath. She sank onto a bench and put her head in her hands, words tumbling out in a wild, broken stream. "He lied. He said he didn't know. He said nothing. Rachel I know he has my daughter he pretended as if he's innocent, I hate him I hate him, I told him… if anything happens to Ella, I'll kill him. I told him I'd find her."
Rachel's face went pale, then hard. She put an arm around Hannah and squeezed. "Okay. Okay. Breathe. You said it. Now we act. We will not let him hide her."
Hannah looked up with fierce eyes. The brief trembling fear in her voice was gone, replaced by a cold plan. "We go to the police," she said. "We tell them he took her. We show them where he works. We make sure he cannot hide her behind money."
Rachel hesitated. They had talked about careful plans before; Rachel had warned against rash moves. But now she saw Hannah's resolve and felt it burn in her own chest.
"First," Rachel said slowly, thinking, "we need proof. We need something to show the police." She looked at the business card between Hannah's fingers. "Do you still have the card?"
Hannah handed it to her. "I have his office card. And I have the time he came to the village. Someone must have seen him. We can ask." Her voice was steady. "We will find someone who remembers his car, anything. We will find Ella."
They rose together. Hannah's legs were weak but her hands were steady. The city noise wrapped around them like a cloak. People moved past without noticing the two small women who were about to challenge a man who thought he could hide behind his life.
On the way back to Catherine's cafe, Hannah's mind moved in a thousand directions. She thought of the little blanket she had left in the hut, the small laugh that used to wake her in the morning, the way Ella had reached for her finger. Those tiny memories pushed her forward like a current.
Rachel walked at her side, mapping steps out loud. "We ask Catherine for help. We go to the police after we gather what we can. We find out where he lives. We find out who drives him, who knows his schedule. We do not go alone into his home. We do not let him warn anyone."
Hannah nodded. Her jaw tightened. "And if the police do nothing?"
"Then we go louder," Rachel said simply. "We make it public. We take witnesses. We bring people. We will not let a man take a child and hide." Her voice was small but fierce.
That night, Hannah did not sleep. She and Rachel planned until dawn, writing names and times on the back of an old receipt, calling people who might help, and turning fear into steps. Every plan was a step away from panic and a step toward her daughter.
Hannah thought of the promise she had made in the office — the terrible sentence she had said — and of the small life asleep somewhere she did not know. The threat hung heavy in the air, but it was not the threat that would save her child. It was her next moves: steady, careful, and full of the burning love of a mother who refused to lose her child.