Chapter 43: CHAPTER FOUTY-THREE

Anna's POV

Anna woke slowly, feeling so tired. It was as if every bone in her body had been replaced with stone.

The weariness started dawning on her even before her eyes even opened.

At least her cheeks were no longer hurting but her wrists still burned where the ropes had rubbed against her skin.

Her shoulders felt stiff, and there was a dull ache settled deep inside her ribs that made every breath slightly uncomfortable. She exhaled shakily.

For a moment, she remained still beneath the blankets, just breathing and blankly staring into the space as her memory slowly recovered. Trying to convince herself she was awake.

The events of the previous day felt distant and unreal, like fragments of a nightmare she couldn't quite piece together.

Then she widened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was the bed. Oh Christ, It was soooo soft. Far softer than anything she was used to.

The sheets were clean and cool against her skin, carrying a faint scent that reminded her of fresh laundry and expensive perfume.

Her gaze slowly moved around the room. Cream-coloured walls. Large windows and elegant furniture.

Fresh flowers were arranged neatly on a nearby table, beneath it was a medium sized card reading, GET WELL SOON ANNA, with plenty of heart emojis.

Her smile was warm.

The sunlight from the window passed the message that this was morning.

But still, nothing about the room looked ordinary or familiar.

A flicker of panic rose inside her chest.

Wait.

Where am I?

The kidnapping came rushing back immediately. Her heart skipped.

Then she felt a gentle pressure against her hand.

Anna turned her head. Mrs. Desmond was sitting beside the bed. The woman looked exhausted but happy still.

There were shadows beneath her eyes, and her hair was slightly untidy as though she had forgotten to care about it. Yet despite her obvious exhaustion, she hadn't left.

Her hand was wrapped gently around Anna's.

The moment their eyes met, relief flooded Mrs. Desmond's face.

It was so immediate and genuine that it caught Anna off guard.

"Anna," She called out softly, "You're awake."

A smile appeared on her lips before tears quickly gathered in her eyes, "Thank God," she whispered.

Anna frowned slightly.

Nobody had ever looked relieved simply because she had opened her eyes before.

The realization made something uncomfortable stir inside her chest.

She tried to sit up but instantly, dizziness hit her. The room tilted again and she froze.

Mrs. Desmond was on her feet immediately. "Careful, Darling."

Her hand moved to Anna's shoulder.

"Don't rush."

Anna allowed herself to be guided back against the pillows.

"What happened?" she asked quietly. Her voice was rough as she hadn't used it in hours.

Mrs. Desmond returned to her seat.

"We overwhelmed you." There was guilt in her expression. "We shouldn't have pushed you so much. I'm sorry,." Her head bowed. Anna’s eyes followed Mrs Desmond. She was fondling the brooch.

Slowly, the memories returned.

My baby.

Anna closed her eyes briefly. A headache rang. Nothing about yesterday made sense. Absolutely nothing.

One moment she had been trying to recover from being kidnapped. The next, she had found herself standing in front of two wealthy strangers who believed she was their missing daughter.

The entire thing sounded ridiculous and impossible. But then, it felt warm and sweet.

Her hand instinctively moved toward her chest to feel it.

It wasn't there. Mrs Desmond had it.

Panic flashed through her. “No…”

Mrs. Desmond immediately noticed. "Your brooch is safe, Here," she handed it back.

The familiar golden and diamond brooch glimmered in her palm.

Relief washed over Anna so quickly that she almost laughed.

She took it immediately. The metal felt cool against her fingers. It was soothing. Calming. Familiar and comforting.

She smiled sadly. For as long as she could remember, the brooch had been hers. She didn't know where it came from. She didn't know who had given it to her. But somehow it had always remained with her since she could remember.

Whenever she moved orphanages. Whenever her belongings were lost, she made sure to hold this one right.

Whenever life became difficult. The brooch was something she held and cried.

Mrs. Desmond watched her quietly. Then she smiled sadly. "You always held it like that."

Anna looked up.

"What?"

"When you were little,” Mrs. Desmond's eyes softened. "You would hold it whenever you were nervous."

A strange silence settled between them. Anna immediately looked away. She wasn't ready for conversations like this.

Maybe not ever.

"I should do the test," she said suddenly, trying to change the conversation with issues more personal.

The words surprised even her.

Mrs. Desmond blinked, "The DNA test?"

Anna swallowed and gave a small nod.

"If we're going to do it, then let's do it."

The older woman's eyes widened slightly.

"Anna…"

"I need answers." Anna cut her short.Her voice was quieter now. "I can't keep thinking about this."

That was the truth. The questions were exhausting at the back of her heart. It felt like something planned already.

Every possibility felt exhausting. Either these people were mistaken or the coincidence was just too much.

Or maybe, her entire life had been a lie.

Neither option felt particularly comforting enough to resonate with her.

Mrs. Desmond stared at her for a few seconds before nodding. "Okay dear."

She gently squeezed Anna's hand, "Only if you're sure."

Anna nodded.

The doctor arrived a few minutes later.

This time there were no crowds or anything to overwhelm her. And she had enough rest also.

It was just her, Mrs. Desmond and the doctor.

And somehow that made it easier.

The tray was placed on a small table.

The needle immediately caught Anna's attention. Her stomach tightened again. For a second she nearly changed her mind but she practiced steadying her breath to calm.

Then Mrs. Desmond reached for her hand.

The simple gesture grounded her. "You don't have to look, you know," she chuckled.

Anna glanced at her. This was strange. Since she could remember, she was either The one motivating herself or her caregiver scolding her for being scared. But now, now that she was older, this felt like a mother's love, care and comfort. For the very first time in her life .

Mrs Desmond was gentle and patient as though she genuinely cared.

Slowly, Anna looked away.

The needle pricked her arm in a tiny brief sting.

Nothing more, within seconds it was over.

"Done," the doctor announced.

Anna released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Mrs. Desmond smiled.

"There."

The way she said it reminded Anna of how mothers spoke to frightened children.

The doctor left with the sample.

Anna leaned back against the pillows. Exhaustion settled over her immediately.

"How are you feeling?" Mrs. Desmond asked.

Anna laughed softly. She had been feeling too much these past hours, "Honestly?"

Mrs. Desmond nodded.

"I don't know."

That answer seemed to break something inside the older woman.

Sadness flickered across her face, "I suppose that's fair."

Anna stared toward the window. "Wesley?" she asked suddenly.

“Oh!” Mrs. Desmond smiled."He went back to work."

The disappointment surprised her. Apparently it surprised Mrs. Desmond too.

"He'll come back."

Anna looked away quickly. Her heart was racing now.

"I wasn't worried."

Mrs. Desmond's smile widened.

"You don't have to explain."

Heat crept into Anna's cheeks.

Thankfully, Mrs. Desmond changed the subject.

The older woman sat quietly for a moment before speaking again.

"Can I tell you something?"

Anna hesitated. Then nodded.

Mrs. Desmond's gaze drifted toward the window. She seemed lost in memories.

"When you were six years old, we took a family trip."

Her voice had changed into something fragile.

"We went out on a boat."

Anna listened quietly.

"The weather was sooo beautiful when we left,” she continued with a sad smile on her lips. "Then everything changed."

Her eyes filled with tears suddenly.

"There was an accident."

Anna felt her chest tighten.

"The boat capsized," Mrs Desmond continued. She looked down at her hands. "People were screaming,” Her voice cracked.

"There was water everywhere."

Anna swallowed. She couldn't remember but she could picture how horrific that must have been.

"They found everyone." A tear slid down Mrs. Desmond's cheek. "Everyone except you. My dear. I couldn't find my daughter. My little baby."

Silence filled the room but Mrs. Desmond continued speaking shortly. "Oh, God. We searched for DAYSSSSS."

Another tear followed continuously down her cheeks. "Then weeks." Her voice trembled. "Everyone told us to stop."

Anna couldn't look away. She kept gulping as she listened.

"They said no child could survive such." Mrs. Desmond laughed bitterly. "They told me to accept it. I refused. I knew how strong my baby was." She wiped at her tears. "I never forgot."

The conviction in her voice startled Anna.

Mrs. Desmond looked directly at her. "Then I crossed paths with this beautiful young lady."

Anna's heartbeat quickened. She hadn't said a word since Desmond began.

"Ever since that day, everything has changed. Our fate was destined." Her eyes softened and she smiled through her tears. "I couldn't explain it but something felt familiar for sure."

Anna looked away.

"Then I saw the brooch." Mrs. Desmond's gaze dropped to the golden brooch in Anna's hands.

The one she had been holding throughout the conversation without realizing it.

"The exact brooch I pinned on my daughter's dress before that trip."

Anna’s eyes moved back to the brooch like it was telling its own story.

Her fingers tightened around the metal.

"I knew then." Mrs. Desmond's voice barely rose above a whisper. "Or at least I hoped." Tears gathered in her eyes again. "That I had found my baby. That you was my Juliana."

Anna looked up sharply.

"Juliana?"

A small laugh escaped Mrs. Desmond.

The first genuine laugh she'd made all day. "You hated that name."

Confusion flickered across Anna's face. What now?

"You absolutely hated it. You used to tell everyone you were Anna."

The name seemed to make her emotional all over again.

"You said Juliana sounded like an old grandmother."

A reluctant laugh escaped Anna. Yet somehow she could picture a stubborn little girl saying exactly that.The thought made her smile disappear. Because she shouldn't be able to picture it. She shouldn't feel connected to any of this. Or believe any of it yet until the DNA results are out.

Her gaze dropped to the brooch once more.

For the first time in her life, she found herself wondering where it had truly come from.

Not just the brooch.

Before all the years spent convincing herself that nobody had ever come looking for her? Maybe… this was all true. She had a loving family searching for her.

The possibility frightened her.

Because if Mrs. Desmond was telling the truth… Then everything Anna believed about herself was about to change. And she wasn't sure she was ready for that.