CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE


Author's POV

Mrs. Desmond stood in the middle of the grand living room, watching servants move around the mansion like busy ants.

“Ouuuuu. Yes. Perfect. She would love this. It's so beautiful,” she kept yelling, running from one decor to another.

Fresh flowers were being arranged.

White and gold ribbons hung from the staircase.

The crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead. And the sweet aroma of good food was all over.

Workers hurried in and out carrying decorations, boxes, and equipment. Everything had to be perfect in no time.

Absolutely perfect.

Mrs. Desmond clasped her hands together tightly, her excitement almost impossible to contain. She exhaled with fulfillment in her eyes.

The doctor stood beside her, holding a file.

"Everything is ready?" she asked for what was probably the tenth time that morning.

The doctor smiled patiently.

"Everything is ready, Mrs. Desmond."

"And the procedure?" She asked again, placing a hand on her waist.

"It can begin immediately after your daughter gives her consent."

“My daughter!” Mrs. Desmond nodded quickly. It sounded so good using that word again.

"Good."

"Once she agrees, we proceed. Then we'll wait for the confirmation results. It shouldn't take more than a few days."

A bright smile spread across her face.

"A few days..." she repeated softly.

The doctor nodded.

"Yes."

Tears almost filled her eyes.

After all these years. After all the searching. After all the pain. They were finally close. Very close to each other.

How much she had prayed to the Almighty for this day. It surely would be a grand celebration.

Mr. Desmond entered the room at that moment.

The excitement on his face matched hers.

"Everything is set?" he asked.

The doctor nodded.

Mr. Desmond laughed when he saw how excited his wife looked. Like a child expecting her ice cream. She looked cute.

The sound surprised some of the workers because they hadn't heard him laugh like that in years. He always seemed cold and fierce.

They hadn't even met this post daughter, but surely she was good news to everyone.

"Good," he said. "Very good,” His voice shook slightly.

Mrs. Desmond squeezed his hand.

Neither of them said what they were both thinking.

What if this was really her? Or not? They just remained positive. What if the child they had lost had finally come home?

A maid carefully walked into the room carrying a very large dusty book.

The book looked very old. Its leather cover was worn from years of use.

Mrs. Desmond's eyes immediately landed on it. She froze and exclaimed.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Without another word, she hurried toward the maid.

"Oh my goodness! Where did you find this?"

The maid nearly jumped.

"It… it was in the storage room, ma'am. I just thought since you were bringing—"

“I love you…” Mrs. Desmond exclaimed and gently took the book from her hands.

The moment her fingers touched it, her eyes became glassy.

"Oh my God..."

She hugged the book tightly against her chest.

Then she kissed it.

Mr. Desmond immediately recognized it.

His expression softened. "Oh. The album."

Mrs. Desmond nodded. "Our family album."

For several seconds she simply held it like she was holding something precious and sacred.

Then she finally opened it slowly.

The first page appeared. A photograph peeked back at her. A picture of her from way back. Far younger and beautiful.

She was wearing a suit, professionally dressed in the office. One diamond brooch.

Instantly her breath caught. She slammed it shut again. "No." Her voice came out broken and she closed her eyes.

That brooch had a matching set. The bracelet, necklace and earrings.

It was the piece she had worn when her daughter got lost and rumored to be dead. Couldn't even find the remains to be buried properly.

Her chest tightened. What if this brooch she had put on her daughter's outfit when it was having a wardrobe malfunction… what if was just found and sold to Anna.

She swallowed.

The media should exit the mansion. This is moving too fast for assumptions.

She suddenly felt stupid.

Not yet.

She pressed the covers of the photo album.

She couldn't go through it. Not without Anna. She hadn't opened it ever since she lost her daughter.

And she wouldn't do it now. Not without her daughter sitting beside her.

She hugged the album again.

A small smile appeared through her tears. "Not yet."

She looked at one of the assistants.
"Get me the soft copies."

"Yes, ma'am." 

She pressed her lips together then swallowed to clear her throat.

"It seems my daughter has forgotten everything."

Her voice cracked.

"So if she can't remember..."

She looked down at the album.

"Then we'll help her remember."

Anna's POV

The car pulled up in front of the mansion.

The moment Anna stepped out, she frowned.

“Argh… not again!” She murmured in disappointment.

Wesley walked up to her. “What's the matter?” He asked.

She pouted. Can't you see?

People were everywhere. Servants. Decorators. Security.

Everyone seemed unusually cheerful and dutiful.

“You didn't tell me there was an event. See how I'm dressed.”

As she and Wesley walked toward the entrance, several workers smiled at them.

"Good afternoon."

"Welcome."

"Welcome back."

Anna blinked.

Welcome back?

That was odd. We're they mistaking her for someone? She chuckled.

She glanced at Wesley.

"Wesley."

"Hm?"

"You didn't tell me there was an event today." She repeated. “You owe me big. I feel out of place here.”

He looked around. "Because I didn't know. Honestly."

Anna pointed toward a flower arrangement.

"Look at all this." Then she turned to another. "And that." Then another. "And that."

Wesley frowned.

"Okay… okay…" he replied. Obviously getting irritated.

"What is happening?" Anna asked still.

"I honestly have no idea." He replied dismissively again.

Anna sighed. “You're the one they asked to come. Not me. So this is your problem.” She rolled her eyes.

Immediately suspicion crept into her mind.

"I hope these people aren't planning something."

Wesley chuckled. "Anna…"

"No, seriously." She folded her arms. "I've suffered enough surprises already."

That made Wesley quiet, because she wasn't wrong. Far too much had happened to her recently. And he didn't even let her get enough sleep, he's bringing her to the same traumatic environment she was some hours ago. The rich setting.

As they continued walking, Anna suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened with panic.

There were a few news reporters and
Cameras too.

Her stomach tightened.

"Wesley."

"Yeah?"

"Why are there reporters here?"

Now he looked concerned too. "Um…I don't know."

Anna felt increasingly uncomfortable.

She glanced down at her clothes.

Compared to everyone around her, she felt underdressed. 

"Are you sure this is the right location?"

Wesley looked at her. Then at the mansion. Then back at her.

He laughed softly. "Yes."

"How do you know?" Anna fired back.

"I've been here before, remember?"

Anna nodded reluctantly. Right.

But still, something felt strange.

The closer they got to the entrance, the more nervous she became. A large guard stepped forward.

"One moment."

Anna and Wesley stopped.

The guard entered first.

Anna exchanged a confused glance with Wesley, "What now?"

"No idea." He replied. Looking calmer.

A minute later the doors slowly opened. The guard smiled pleasingly.
"You may enter," he bowed.

Hmmn… Anna swallowed.

The huge doors opened wider, and they stepped inside together.

The moment she crossed the threshold, her feet froze.

The mansion looked completely transformed. Like a fairytale wedding.

Flowers, Lights, Decorations and beautiful arrangements everywhere.

And then her eyes lifted to read a giant sign hung across the room.

WELCOME HOME ANNA

Her breath caught.

Anna?

She froze?
Was this a dream?

Or did they have someone else with that name?

Anna stared in disbelief. Her mind running with all possible explanations.

She couldn't understand what she was seeing.

Home?

What did that mean?

Slowly her eyes moved forward and landed on Mrs. Desmond.

The woman stood at the center of the room. Tears and delight glistened in her eyes.

Pure joy radiated from her face.

She remembered this woman from the auction day.

The kind of joy Anna had never seen before was what Mrs Desmond wore.
It was overwhelming because she didn't know what the good news was.

For a second Anna became convinced someone must be standing behind her.

So she turned around.

But there was nobody.

Then why was Mrs. Desmond looking at her like that?

What was happening?

A strange feeling settled inside her chest.

Slowly she looked up at Wesley, expecting answers, an explanation or maybe a familiar look. But the moment she saw his face, her heart skipped.

Because Wesley looked just as shocked as she was.

His eyes were wide. His mouth slightly open, his brows knotted in confusion.

Wesley had absolutely no idea what was happening either.

The silence in the room was the worst.

Everyone looked like they had just seen a ghost.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on Anna.

As though this moment had been years in the making. And Anna suddenly felt like she had walked into something that everyone was aware of except her and Wesley.