Chapter 50: One Step Away from the Truth

As most of the guests were leaving, Isabella, who had been observing everything from a corner, felt drawn to the figure of Miranda's mother, who was trying to exit through the crowd. A shiver ran down her spine; that woman seemed familiar.

Unable to contain herself, Isabella approached, her heart pounding.

—Wait! —she exclaimed, and when Miranda's mother turned, Isabella felt her world come to a halt.

—You? —Isabella asked in a whisper, as a wave of memories flooded her—. You’re the woman who took my baby. Where is he?

Miranda’s mother frowned, clearly confused.

—I don’t know what you’re talking about —she said coldly—. I don’t know you.

Isabella felt her anger rise at the denial.

—Don’t lie! It was you. I remember your voice, your eyes… —her voice broke—. Tell me where my child is!

The woman, increasingly uncomfortable, took a step back, trying to keep her composure.

—I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re a stranger, and this is madness —she responded, crossing her arms in an attempt to end the conversation.

Isabella felt trapped in a whirlwind of emotions, each word from Miranda’s mother cutting like a knife.

—I’m talking to you! —she shouted, unable to hold back—. I won’t stop until you tell me the truth!

At that moment, Isabella’s face turned pale, and her legs gave out. The pressure of the situation, her anguish, and the accumulated pain pushed her to the edge. She fainted, collapsing to the ground.

Alexander, who had been watching the scene from a distance, ran to Isabella as soon as she fell.

—Isabella! —he exclaimed, kneeling beside her—. What’s wrong with you?

Miranda, sensing her web of lies was about to unravel, stayed back, watching with a mix of concern and relief. However, the truth she had hidden so well was now on the verge of being exposed.

As Alexander tried to help Isabella, murmurs grew among the few remaining guests. Alexander, worried, searched for a way to clear the room and get help for Isabella, unaware that his world and Miranda’s were about to collide irreversibly.

Holding Isabella, his heart raced. She was pale, and her breathing was irregular. Gently, he lifted her head and looked around at the remaining guests.

—Can anyone help? —he shouted, looking around. Some guests stopped, concerned, but no one seemed to know what to do.

Finally, an older woman stepped forward, offering her assistance.

—I’m a nurse —she said, kneeling beside Isabella—. Let me see what’s wrong with her.

As the nurse examined Isabella, Alexander felt powerless, restless. He couldn’t let anything happen to her. It was as if the connection they shared had strengthened in this moment of vulnerability.

Suddenly, Miranda, who had been watching everything from a distance, approached them.

—Is she okay? —she asked, though her voice sounded hollow and her concern seemed fake.

—What do you care? —Alexander snapped, not taking his eyes off Isabella—. She fainted because she’s here trying to uncover the truth.

Miranda frowned but quickly regained her composure.

—Maybe we should take her to a hospital. She needs medical attention —she suggested, trying to appear genuinely concerned.

At that moment, Isabella began to wake up. Her confused gaze slowly moved across familiar and unfamiliar faces.

—What… what happened? —she murmured, trying to sit up.

—Take it easy, Isabella. You’re okay —Alexander said, gently stroking her arm—. You just fainted.

Isabella sat up, but her mind was still struggling to process what had happened before she lost consciousness.

—The woman… —she began, looking at him intensely—. I need to know who she is. She was the one who…

Miranda, hearing this, felt the tension rise. Her mind raced, searching for a way out of the situation.

—I don’t know who you’re talking about, Isabella —she said, trying to divert the attention—. There’s no one here who could hurt you.

Ignoring Miranda, Isabella continued to look at Alexander desperately.

—She took my baby. I saw her in my dreams… And now, here, at the wedding…

Alexander felt a chill run down his spine at Isabella’s words. His mind filled with questions, but now was not the time to interrogate her. First, he needed to ensure she was okay.

—We need to get you somewhere more comfortable —he said, helping her to her feet—. Let’s go home, and we’ll talk about this.

As she stood, Isabella looked at Miranda with distrust, sensing there was something dark about her. But the woman only smiled with unsettling calm, heightening Isabella’s anxiety.

—This isn’t over —Isabella murmured to herself as Alexander guided her toward the exit.

Miranda, for her part, felt a cold sweat bead on her forehead. She realized she needed to act quickly to protect her secret before Isabella uncovered the truth. Watching them leave, she turned her gaze to her mother, who was still in the hall, knowing she had to take immediate steps to silence any rumors or revelations.

Back at the mansion, the atmosphere was thick with untold secrets and truths that could change everything. Isabella knew that every step she took brought her closer to uncovering what had truly happened in her past, and she was determined to find out, no matter the consequences.