Ethan decided the best way to reveal the truth about Aunt Linda and Olivia was to take them away from prying eyes. A secluded trip to Linda's house in the neighboring state felt like the right plan—away from any gossip or rumors that could arise. He didn't want to risk Olivia being overwhelmed by the information in a public setting. Alex and Emma, already aware of the truth, agreed to join them for the road trip, offering support in what would undoubtedly be an emotional revelation.
After hours of driving, they finally reached Aunt Linda's house. The moment Olivia stepped out of the car, her eyes landed on a beautiful garden filled with white roses—their fresh, soft petals glowing under the afternoon sun. Olivia stopped in her tracks, mesmerized by the sight.
"White roses..." she murmured, taking in their beauty.
"Linda loves them," Ethan said softly, standing behind her. Olivia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips as she inhaled their sweet scent deeply. But something about the roses struck a deeper chord with her, making her pause longer than usual.
Just then, Aunt Linda rushed out from the house, her face lighting up as she embraced Ethan, Olivia, Alex, and Emma. There was a warmth and motherly love in her hugs that Olivia always found comforting. Yet today, it felt different—heavier, as if there was something more between them.
As they settled in for a light lunch, Alex grew increasingly nervous, knowing what was about to be unveiled. After eating, Ethan carefully asked Linda and Olivia to sit together. Olivia, oblivious to what was coming, was still munching on an exotic fruit bowl while Aunt Linda sat beside her, her demeanor calm, as if sensing no trouble.
Ethan took a deep breath, his eyes flicking between the two most important women in his life. He started gently, recounting the story of Aunt Linda's tragic loss—the baby she thought had died at birth. As soon as the words left his mouth, Olivia's eyes welled up with tears, though it wasn't just the pregnancy hormones causing her to cry. There was something deeper, an inexplicable connection between her and Linda that seemed to resonate stronger now.
Aunt Linda squeezed Olivia's hand, offering comfort. "It's okay, sweetheart," she said, though her voice cracked slightly.
Ethan's voice grew more serious as he began to explain Olivia's own history. He spoke about the mystery surrounding her mother, the woman who had left her at the orphanage without a second thought. That part of the story made Linda lose her composure, her calm exterior cracking as she scolded the woman for abandoning such a precious child.
"How could anyone leave their own child like that? What kind of heartless mother does that?" Linda fumed, her anger raw and real.
But then, as the words hung in the air, both Linda and Olivia froze. There was a sudden, sharp realization that struck them both at the same moment. They exchanged a look, wide-eyed and breathless.
"Is it really possible?" Linda whispered, her voice trembling as she turned to Ethan, as if dreading the answer.
Ethan sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as if the weight of the truth was too much to bear. "Yes," he replied softly. "It's true." He reached into his pocket and handed over the DNA results that confirmed what he had suspected all along.
Olivia's hands trembled as she unfolded the paper. She stared at the words, the scientific confirmation that Aunt Linda wasn't just a mother figure—she was her mother.
"I'm your daughter," Olivia whispered in disbelief, her eyes filling with more tears.
Linda gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She couldn't speak for a moment, her emotions overwhelming her. "Oh my God," she finally uttered, tears streaming down her face. "I... I lost you, and now I've found you."
They embraced tightly, tears flowing from both women. Years of questions, longing, and missed time vanished in that single moment, replaced by a flood of emotions neither could put into words.
But before the shock could fully settle in, Ethan revealed the final twist. "And the woman who left Olivia at the orphanage?" he added, pausing for a second to steady his voice. "It was Martha."
Both Olivia and Linda stared at him in stunned silence. The name "Martha" echoed in their minds, sending chills down their spines. Martha had been the one to orchestrate this separation, to hide the truth all these years.
"That... that woman…" Linda muttered, fury returning to her. "She kept my child from me, lied, and gave her away."
Ethan wrapped his arm around Olivia, pulling her close as she processed everything. "We'll get to the bottom of this," he whispered to her, promising to unravel every piece of this painful past.
But for now, they were together—mother and daughter reunited against all odds. And despite the shock of the revelations, there was hope that this new chapter in their lives would be filled with healing, love, and the family bond that had been lost but never truly forgotten.
The revelation left Olivia and Aunt Linda shaken, but as their tears of joy slowly subsided, Ethan knew it was time to shift the conversation to a more serious note.
"Listen," Ethan began, his voice steady but low, "as much as I want you both to embrace this, we need to be cautious."
Olivia looked up at him, her eyes still red from crying. "What do you mean?"
Ethan took a deep breath, his hand resting gently on Olivia's shoulder. "We can't reveal this yet. Not until we understand what Martha's true intentions were."
Aunt Linda's face tightened in anger, the mention of Martha bringing back all the betrayal and deceit. "She took my child from me and lied all these years. What more could there be?"
"I'm not sure yet," Ethan admitted. "But I need to find out why she did it and if there's anything else she's hiding. Martha is manipulative, and we can't let her know we've discovered the truth. Not until we have every piece of the puzzle."
Olivia's brow furrowed in concern. "You think she could still cause harm? After all this time?"
Ethan nodded. "We don't know what she's capable of. She's already proven she's willing to go to great lengths to keep secrets. I don't want to risk her pulling something else before we're prepared."
Linda, though still visibly upset, took a deep breath. "You're right, Ethan. We need to be careful. But I won't rest until that woman pays for what she's done."
"We will make sure she answers for everything," Ethan promised. "But we need patience. I've already started looking into her past, and Alex is helping me dig deeper. There's more to this story than we know."
Olivia glanced at her mother—her real mother—and though she wanted to scream the truth to the world, she knew Ethan was right. Martha's intentions were still a mystery, and they couldn't risk anything until they had all the answers.
"Okay," Olivia agreed, her voice soft but resolute. "We'll wait. But when the time is right, we'll make sure everyone knows the truth."
Ethan kissed her forehead, grateful for her trust. "I promise, Liv, we'll get to the bottom of it."
For now, the truth would remain a secret between the four of them. But deep down, Ethan knew it was only a matter of time before they would confront Martha, and when that moment came, he would make sure the Pierce family's darkest secrets were exposed.