***MADAM ROSIE'S POV***
" I cannot believe that Ava is matilda's biological daughter, i can't believe this shit".
My doctor friend had called that Matilda is conducting a DNA test on four girls from my orphanage home in her hospital. I told her to give me a copy of the results when it was ready.
"But i thought that her real daughter died 10 years ago" the director asked me.
" Ava has 99% match to Matilda in the DNA test results" i said.
I had ordered my secretary to put the house on fire while Freya was alone inside, how is she alive and right under my nose all these while. I thought to myself.
"Please ma'am, please mum i want to live as Mrs George's real daughter, i want to be the daughter of the George's".
A familiar voice said, i turned back and it was Alexis and she was standing by the door. She must have overheard my discussion with her mom. I couldn't believe my ears, or have i heard wrong?.
"Alexis do you really want that" I asked the little girl again just to be sure if i heard her correctly.
"Yes that's what i want, please remove Ava's name from the test result and put in my own name"
" I can fabricate the results if you want it, but if i do that for you, what would you give to me in return?" I asked her
" Anything but my life" she replied to me
I love people who are zealot like this with passion, they can do anything just to get what they want.
Alexis is not actually an orphan, she is just a fatherless young girl. Her biological mother is the orphanage director, but she pleaded with me to keep it a secret.
"No Alexis you cannot leave me like this. Because i wanted you to have a life more better than the streets, i declared you an orphan and brought you this orphanage home. Recently I've been promoted as the director of the orphanage, now life would get better for us. Why do you want to leave me? Madam Rosie please don't change the results" the director said to me crying.
" Come on mum, how can you do this to me? Now is my opportunity to become the daughter of a rich couple. You would have just abandoned me completely and i would have been adopted a very long time ago into a wealthy family" Alexis said.
From the director's facial expressions, i could tell that she is heartbroken. Her own daughter willingly wants to deny her so that she could enter into a rich family.
"Alexis, i can give you the life that you desire. You will definitely be the daughter of the George's, but your mother has to give her permission".
" Mum if i miss this opportunity, i'll hate you for the rest of my life and i'll definitely run away from this suffocating orphanage home".
With tears in the director's eyes, she then agreed for the results to be changed. Although she has doubt if i can make it happen, i reassured her that i Madam Rosie can achieve anything that i want.
I told them to take their leave out of my office, and as they turned around to go out, a spark of joy lit up on Alexis's face. Now she can get what she wants.
I am the only person in orphanage home that knows that the director is the biological mother of Alexis, and because of this secret that i know, the director is always at my good side. She wouldn't want to annoy me, she tends to do anything that i wanted her to do and that is the reason i promoted her from the orphanage cleaner to the orphanage director.
That's a thing with mother's, they would do anything just to satisfy their children and make them happy.
I took up my phone, i need to pass through Matilda's PA (personal Assistant) Mr Leo to change her own copy of the test result.
"Hello Mr Leo, i need you to change the DNA test results if the girls, i just sent you a message of the details".
And of course he declined, he said that he would never betray his boss (Matilda). I told him that i will kill his sick father and then i will kill his son next, he had no other choice but to accept my request.
"Please don't kill any person in my family, i'll do what you ask of me" he said over the phone.
" Now do the job neatly without Matilda having any suspicions. Read the text that i sent you, and you would know what to do".
I went to the director's office after my phone call conversation with Mr Leo, and i got to hear them discussing.
"Mum don't cry, I'm not going there to die, I'm going there to make my life better"
" Silly girl" her mother responded to her while wiping off the tears on her face.
"Director" i said, and they both turned immediately. They did not notice my presence until now.
"Alexis pack your bag, you would have an absolute new life tomorrow" i said to Alexis.
***MATILDA'S POV***
I was at my office resting, when Mr Leo came in with a white envelope, and immediately i presumed that it is the results that I've been anticipating for.
He handed it over to me and said.
"The DNA test results Ma"
I collected it, ripped off the sealed envelope and read through every word careful not to miss out a thing.
"Alexis was Freya" i said and immediately broke down in tears as i remembered how she always stare at me whenever i visited the orphanage. Maybe she could recognise me, i said to myself.
Initially i had thought that Ava was Freya because she possess some characteristics of my daughter. I've decided to keep my real daughter's identity a secret from my husband, he must not know about her existence.
"Come drive me home" i said to Mr Leo who had been quite all these while as i was soaked in my own thoughts.
I grabbed my handbag and went out of my office, heading to the parking lot with Mr Leo tagging along beside me.
On getting home, i entered into the sitting room and met my husband eating a very mouth watering steak.
"Good evening honey" i greeted him.
"Good evening my love, how was work today?" He asked.
" Freya is alive". I wanted to say that sentence to him, rather i said something else.
"Work was fine today, i am a bit tired, i'll go in and freshen up" i said to him and climbed up the stairs to go into the bedroom.
Lying down on the bed, all i could hear was the beeping sound of the air conditioner. My head felt really heavy as if I'm carrying the world untop of my head, i have met Alexis before, but right now I'm anticipating to meet her.
I couldn't wait for the next morning, to reunite with my daughter Freya.
I could not sleep, i just kept on rolling from from on end to the other end of the bed.
I had so many questions on my mind.
"How would Alexis react when she gets to know that she is my biological daughter?"
" How will she react to her adoption news?"
***
"Dinggg, Dinggg, Dinggg" i could hear my alarm ringing while I'm still half asleep. I opened my eyes and the morning brightness shone on me through the curtain rays. I took up my phone from the side table beside the bed.
"Oh it's 8am already" i said as i quickly came down from the bed and went into the restroom to freshen up.
Opening my wardrobe to take an outfit to wear, i decided not to wear anything flashy, i'ld just put on something simple to the orphanage home.
My husband had already left for work ealier. I took my car key, ran out of the house and drove myself down to the orphanage home.
"I want to adopt Alexis" i said to the director as i sat on a chair in her office.
"Normally, there are processes to pass through for adoption of the kids, but you have been our supporter for so long and i cannot possibly make you pass through those process".
I went to the girls ward, i watched my daughter from a distance and i felt joy in my heart.
"Thank God you are alive" i said.
I had eye contact with Alexis, and i signaled her to come over to where i was.
"Good day mum"
Good heavens! Why would she call me mum just so soon, did she already know that i am her biological mother?
As if reading my thoughts, she said again.
"The director told me that you would be my foster mother, and i have to start calling you mum".
I felt relieved, i thought that the director was already aware of her real identity and have told her about it behind me.
I did everything necessary for the adoption, and by noon i was able to take my daughter home.
"Thank you Mr Leo" i said to him.
"I'll leave you then Ma'am"
Mr Leo, my personal assistant was the person that drove me back from the orphanage because i was too tired and absent minded to drive.
"Hello... welcome" a familiar voice said as i and Alexis entered into the sitting room. Alexis looked up at me, her expression demanding an explanation.
"He is your dad, say hello" i said to her.
" Good day dad, I'm Alexis nice meeting you"
" You are a pretty little girl, you look alot like sophie. From today onward, your name is now Sophie and this would be your new home" my husband said to her.
Of course her name would change to Sophie, because she is a replacement for the dead Sophie.
"What! Sophie?" Alexis asked sounding a little bit rude.
"Sophie, that is your new name, I'll show you to your room". I said, as i took her by her wrist and led her into her room.
On getting to her room, Sophie asked me a striking question that i never imagined she would.
" Ma who the hell is Sophie?"
"Firstly, don't call me Ma but call me mum. Sophie is the daughter of your dad, he had her with his divorced wife. Sophie died ten years ago, but people don't know".
" Do i have to fake this Sophie of a girl?" She asked me in disbelief.
Aiding my daughter to impersonate a dead girl, was a conundrum to me.
I gave her a hug. " Sorry but it is the only way to keep you by my side, i will be able to raise you myself after all these years. You are my biological daughter, and your real name is Freya. There was a fire accident ten years ago and i thought you died in it, i'm sorry for not recognizing you all these while. But keep this a secret from dad, he must not know that you are actually Freya" i said to Sophie.
I left sophie to unpack her bag, and i went to prepare dinner.
"Honey, Sophie, dinner is ready" i shouted at the top of my voice, as they both came down the stairs to the dinning room.
We were seated eating, i had prepared different kinds of dishes, i need my daughter to have a taste of home cooked meals once again. While making the meal, i poured my whole heart into it, humming all through the food preparation process.
"Wow it feels nice just like the old times" my husband said.
" It is delicious mum" Sophie complemented.
" Anything that you want to eat or do, just name it and you'll get it" i said to her.
" I will do anything with you mum"
"You always say the cutest things, now eat up. You like egg yolks right? Have some more"
" How do you know that she likes egg yolk?" My husband asked me.
I don't want my husband to have the awareness of the secret that I'm keeping away from him, i have to be careful and cautious too.
"Children of her age likes egg yolks" i finally replied to him, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Be rest assured that dad and mum would treat you right" i said to sophie.
After eating dinner, i went into Sophie's room. At least i needed to tell my daughter everything about her. I told her everything that happened before the fire incident and even after. After talking to her, i could see tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Do you still have the necklace that i gave to you on your fifth birthday? If you have lost it, there is no problem with that because i can get you a new one" i said.
Finally, i gave her a warm hug and left her room after she fell asleep.
My phone rang, i went out to take the call. It was from the orphanage.
"Hello director" i said
"Ava wishes to speak to Alexis" the director responded.
"Hello ma'am, I'm sorry for disturbing you at this late hour, i feel lonely without my best friend Alexis, i want to speak to her" Ava said with a tender voice.
" Alexis is not awake right now, she is fastly asleep. You can talk to me about anything that is bothering you. I want to see you grow up well, remember that I'm like a mother to you and i will sponsor you if you want to study abroad. Meanwhile Alexis name is now Sophie, keep that in mind. The fact that i adopted Sophie and not you, i have my reasons. Sophie will come over to visit you tomorrow, so go to bed now okay"
" Yes ma'am" she responded to me.
I went back to check on Sophie again before going to bed, and she was fastly asleep.
The next day, i dropped Sophie at the orphanage home, i made a promise to Ava that she would come and i ought to keep my promise.
"After work I'll come pick you up baby" i said to Sophie as i drove off.
After work that day, i excitedly rushed back to the orphanage to pick up my daughter. Mr Leo drove me to the orphanage, and i immediately came out of the car leaving Mr Leo behind.
I went into the director's office.
"Oh good day ma'am" she said as she staggered up on her feet to welcome me.
"Thank you, where is my daughter"
"Alexis, sorry Sophie" she stammered. "I saw her going into the chapel with Ava. The chapel is the building by the left close to the gate".
Without hesitation, i left to the chapel building. Entering into the building, i saw how the candles were lit around, i heard the voices of the girls. As i followed the sound of their voices, i could get to know where exactly they were.
"Leave my mummy, why would she say that she is like a mother to you? Why would she want to sponsor you abroad and not me?. She is mine, I'm her biological daughter stop interfering in my family" i heard Sophie say.
" Did you hear the phone call conversation yesterday night? I can't stop talking to Mrs George, she is not my mum, yes i know that fact but she is just like a mother to me" Ava said .
Through the help of the lit up candles, i could see the girls. Sophie collected Ava bag and took out a necklace, i recognized that necklace, i gave it to my daughter on her fifth birthday.
"I will take what rightfully belongs to me" Sophie said as she put the necklace inside her own bag.
Ava had an apologetic expression on her face, while Sophie looked damn serious and seemed to have acrimony towards Ava.
"If you can't leave my mum, then you will have to die, disappear i don't want to see you ever again" Sophie shouted as she started strangling Ava.
I gasp. What could make my daughter so malevolent?
I ran towards the girls, and i removed Sophie's tight grip around Ava's neck.
"You are alright" i assured Ava.
"Stop it mum, stop being affectionate towards Ava. I'm your biological daughter for crying out loud, you are freaking annoying mum" Sophie said shooting me a glance.
I gave her a slap on her cheek and she bursted into tears.
"How could you be this mean" i scolded her.
Just then, i saw fire burning up the curtains of the chapel. I didn't move, i stood still there was a fire outbreak.
My mind went back to 10 years ago, when that fire incident occurred, my hands started sweating and i shut my eyes. I could hear the girls screaming, the worst scenario played in my head. The fire became more fierce and i was unable to escape.