Albert moved closer to Isabella, gently taking her hand in his own. "I hope you can accept us as your new family," he said softly, his voice laced with sincerity. "Your other families are no more."
But Isabella pulled her hand away abruptly, her eyes brimming with tears. "No! I want my Moma," she cried out, her voice choked with emotion.
Marie, her heart breaking for the child before her, attempted to soothe Isabella's distress. "Calm down, darling. Your Moma isn't coming back," she explained gently.
Isabella's cries grew louder, her anguish echoing through the room. Albert reached out to comfort her, his touch gentle yet firm.
Marie took a deep breath. "Isabella, now that you're our daughter, we will be calling you Rose instead of Isabella," she said softly.
Confusion flickered in Isabella's eyes as she questioned the change. Albert stepped in to clarify, his tone gentle yet firm. "Because you're our daughter now, Rose," he explained, pulling her into a comforting embrace.
In the months that followed, Isabella's birthday became a lavish celebration, her new identity as Rose embraced by family and friends alike. Daniel and his family, including their son Ethan, joined in the festivities, their presence adding to the joy of the occasion.
As Rose savored a slice of velvet cake, she was interrupted by a small voice behind her. "Hmm, velvet cake, that's my favorite," the boy remarked.
Turning to face him, Rose smiled politely. "Who are you?" she inquired with curiosity.
The boy returned her smile warmly. "I'm Ethan, the son of Daniel Anthony, your father's business partner," he replied.
Rose smile and say, "my name is Isabella."
Confusion clouded Ethan's expression momentarily as he recalled Albert introducing her as Rose. Isabella noticed Ethan's expression, hastily, she corrected herself. "Oh, sorry, I mean Rose," she said with a nervous laugh.
Before the conversation could continue, a maid appeared, summoning Rose to her mother's side.
Cebu
Anne sat before a picture of Isabella, tears streaming down her face as she mourned her daughter's absence on what would have been her birthday. Uncle Peter and Sebastian entered the room, their expressions heavy with concern.
Approaching Anne, Uncle Peter spoke softly. "Don't you think it's time to accept that Isabella is gone?" he suggested gently. "It's been months, and we still haven't found her."
But Anne's resolve remained unshaken, her determination unwavering. "No way!" she insisted defiantly. "My daughter is alive, I can feel it. And I will find her!"
Aunt Teresa, on the verge of entering Anne's home, received a startling phone call. As she listened to the voice on the other end, her eyes widened in shock before she hurriedly made her way inside.
Aunt Teresa embarked on her journey to Manila, guided by the address sent to her phone. Arriving at the luxurious mansion, she marveled at its grandeur, though she knew her humble attire would not grant her entry into such esteemed surroundings.
Undeterred, Aunt Teresa, sneaking into the mansion while the security guards were momentarily distracted. She moved stealthily, determined to remain unseen as she walked the opulent halls.
As she blended into the bustling crowd of influential guests, Aunt Teresa's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before her. There, amidst the festivities, stood Isabella, resplendent in an elegant Barbie dress, engaged in conversation with Ethan.
Aunt Teresa's heart swelled with a mixture of joy and astonishment. "Isabella—," she murmured softly, unable to tear her gaze away.
To her astonishment, she noticed that Isabella could now see, evidenced by the way she confidently chased after Ethan. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears streamed down Aunt Teresa's face as she watched from her hiding place.
Suddenly, a voice behind her interrupted her reverie. "Hey, who are you? And what are you looking for?"
Aunt Teresa quickly composed herself, turning to face the security guard. "Oh, sorry," she replied hastily. "I came here thinking they might need a maid."
The security guard shook his head, dismissing her claim. "No, they don't need a new maid. And even if they did, Sir Albert and his wife wouldn't just adopt a random stranger."
Aunt Teresa's mind reeled with newfound information. "Sir Albert?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
The security guard nodded. "Yes, this is Sir Albert's mansion. Today is their adopted daughter's birthday."
Aunt Teresa's heart sank as realization dawned upon her. "So, Isabella is with Albert? Albert is Isabella's new parent?" she muttered to herself in disbelief.
With her mission accomplished and her mind swirling with unanswered questions, Aunt Teresa made her way back to Cebu, eager to share her findings with Anne and uncover the truth behind Isabella's mysterious adoption.
Aunt Teresa stumbled upon Anne in the midst of a poignant moment, placing a cake in front of Isabella's picture and singing a heartfelt birthday song to the image of her lost daughter. Her heart ached at the sight, torn between revealing the truth and allowing Anne to find solace in her grief.
Before Aunt Teresa could speak, Uncle Peter intervened, his voice laced with concern. "Teresa, can you please talk to Anne? This... this isn't healthy. Isabella wouldn't want to see her mother like this," he implored.
A pang of guilt pierced Aunt Teresa's heart as she nodded in understanding. Inside, she wrestled with the weight of her secret, knowing that Isabella is alive, happy and loved in her new life with Albert.
Summoning her resolve, Aunt Teresa addressed Anne gently, her expression softened with empathy. "Anne, can you please just accept what has happened? Isabella is happy wherever she is," she urged, her words heavy with unspoken truths.
Anne's expression hardened at Aunt Teresa's words, her grief mingling with frustration. Sensing Anne's resistance, Aunt Teresa quickly backtracked. "I mean, Mrs. Francois will be watching over her," she added hastily, pulling Anne into a tight hug.
Inside, Aunt Teresa grappled with her conscience, torn between the desire to ease Anne's pain and the need to protect Isabella's newfound happiness. "I'm sorry, Anne, I can't tell you the truth because you can't give Isabella the life she's enjoying right now." she whispered silently in her mind, unable to reveal the truth that can threatened to shatter their fragile peace.