One morning, Victoria asked Grace to clean her bedroom. Grace went in quietly, picking up dusters and starting her work.
While tidying up, something caught her eyes– a photo album sitting on the dresser. Curiosity got the better of her. She opened it slowly.
Her hands froze, and her mouth went dry. She stared at the picture, her heart racing. She saw pictures of Victoria and David on their wedding day.
"David?!" she gasped, her voice trembling. "No… it can't be you…"
Her mind whirled. This… this is your house… your family… your life?
She flipped more pages quickly, her breath catching. And then she saw her–Felicity. The little girl playing in one of the family photos.
Grace's hands shook violently. "No… it can't be… F… Felicity?" she whispered, horror and disbelief mixing with a rush of emotions.
She clutched the album to her chest, her heart pounding. The world seemed to tilt around her. Her daughter… her own child… was here, under the same roof… and she had no idea.
Tears welled up, but she forced herself to stay quiet. I need to be careful… I can't let anyone see I have discovered something… not yet. But… my baby… I will protect you… no matter what.
Her hands trembled as she closed the album. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
Grace returned the album carefully to the shelf, her heart racing and continued cleaning, but her mind was buzzing. Questions and feelings she didn't fully understand swirled inside her. After a while she was done with the cleanliness.
She glanced around the living room—Victoria was busy organizing some documents, unaware of the storm brewing in Grace's mind.
Her eyes fell on Felicity, playing quietly with Isabelle. The little girl's laughter made Grace's chest tighten. Every innocent giggle, every little movement, reminded her of the child she had carried, the daughter she had loved from afar.
My sweet Ella… my Felicity… all this time, and I was so close… Grace whispered to herself.
Anger boiled inside her. How could David hide her child all these years? How could Victoria raise her without even a hint of who she really was? But alongside the anger, there was overwhelming love.
Grace sank onto a chair at a safe distance, watching every move of her daughter. She vowed silently, I will protect you, sweetheart No one will ever hurt you again. And one day… you will know the truth about me, your real mother.
She bit her lip, fighting back tears. Her mind raced with plans, questions, and fears. How could she approach Felicity without revealing herself too soon? How could she gather evidence without David or Victoria noticing?
The room felt suffocating, yet it was filled with life. Grace knew this was her chance. She would be close, silently guiding, silently watching. The bond between mother and daughter was there, unspoken, waiting to be claimed.
As evening approached, Grace stayed by the window, her eyes on Felicity playing in the garden, her heart torn between fury and hope. One thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same again.