On her deathbed, her mother-in-law revealed a terrible truth that shattered everything…
“Ellie… I need to speak to you honestly. I can feel my time is near. You must know the truth. Even if you hate me for it,” whispered Margaret Victoria, gripping Ellie’s hand with surprising strength.
Ellie froze. “Ellie”? Since marrying her son, Margaret had only ever called her “the barren failure,” “the useless wife,” or “the divorcee.” Never with tenderness. Now—soft words, a trembling voice, tears in her eyes. Perhaps death really did force a person to face the truth. Maybe, at the end, Margaret had finally found remorse.
Ellie worked as a nurse in the hospital where her mother-in-law had been admitted after a severe heart attack. The doctors whispered that recovery was unlikely. She hadn’t seen her ex-husband, Andrew, in years. He probably hadn’t visited his mother, or perhaps their paths simply hadn’t crossed. Ellie didn’t care. After he’d left her, shattered her heart and life, she never wanted to hear his name again.
It had all started with the pregnancy. Ellie had dreamed of a child, but Andrew had been cold. He’d grumbled about money, how a family would be a burden, how he’d be stuck carrying everything alone. She’d promised to work from home, not be a weight on his shoulders—but he’d dismissed her. And his mother… Margaret had looked at her with contempt, insinuating Ellie had “gotten pregnant on purpose to trap him.”
When the time came, the doctors had suddenly decided on a C-section—though there were no medical reasons for it. Ellie had tried calling Margaret, who was head of maternity. Maybe she’d intervene? But Margaret hadn’t answered. After the operation, they’d told her: “The baby didn’t survive.” It had been like a knife to the chest. Her daughter—the one she’d already named Charlotte—was gone. That day, Ellie stopped believing in the world, in fairness, in love.
The marriage crumbled. Andrew blamed her for “poor health” and “infertility.” His mother had backed him, twisting the knife deeper. In the end—divorce, with Ellie declared at fault. She was left alone, heartbroken, empty.
Now, Margaret lay in that same hospital, needing care. No son, no new wife by her side. Age had made her disposable even to her own family.
“Don’t say that, Margaret! You’ll recover!” Ellie protested weakly, but the old woman just waved a frail hand.
“No… It’s over. You know it too. But you—you’re a good woman. I was wrong not to support you. Wrong to side with my son… You must know, Ellie… The C-section wasn’t just a medical decision.”
Ellie’s heart stilled. She’d always suspected something wasn’t right. But to hear it now—
“Your baby… she didn’t die. She was taken. Your daughter… my granddaughter… was given up for adoption. To a wealthy family.”
The room spun. A ringing filled her ears, her legs buckled. Ellie clutched the bed to keep from falling. The woman before her wasn’t just sick—she was the one who’d stolen her most precious thing.
“Why?” Ellie forced out, her voice trembling like a wire about to snap.
“Andrew didn’t want children. You knew… His career was just starting. He was afraid a child would hold him back. That you’d demand alimony if he left. That you’d ‘drag him down.’ He convinced me… I arranged it. Made you believe she was gone. I agreed—for his future. I wanted him to succeed. But now… facing death… I see the guilt I carry. Can you ever forgive me?”
“How could you?!” Ellie choked out. Tears streamed down her face, but she barely felt them. “Where is she? Where’s my daughter?”
“In the drawer… a notebook. The first page has an address,” Margaret rasped. “But Ellie… he’s powerful now. He won’t give her up. He’ll protect his family at any cost.”
“We’ll see about that,” Ellie hissed through clenched teeth.
Her hands shook as she yanked open the drawer and snatched the notebook. Tearing out the page, she turned sharply and stormed out.
“Ellie… forgive me…” the hoarse voice called after her.
“God might,” she threw back without looking.
She couldn’t stay near that woman a second longer. The one who’d destroyed her dream, her motherhood, her happiness. Now, only one thought consumed her—seeing her daughter.
Five and a half years! She’d be so grown. Alive. Tears blurred her vision again, but Ellie wiped them away and marched to the administration office. She muttered something about an emergency, barely registering her own words. The drive to the address passed in a haze.
And then she stood before the gates of a grand estate, realizing she couldn’t just walk in and take her daughter. Slowly, it dawned on her—this would shatter the little girl’s world. She’d grown up in another life, with another mother. But just to see her… even for a moment…
A man met her on the porch. Tall, handsome, but his gaze was icy. From the garden, a child’s laughter rang out, and Ellie’s heart twisted.
“You here about the nanny position?” he asked, studying her.
“Nanny?” Ellie echoed, her eyes fixed on the garden where the voice had come from.
“Is that not why you’re here?”
“Edward?” she whispered, and he nodded. “I didn’t come as a nanny… I came for my daughter.”
His face paled, jaw tightening. He looked at her like he wanted to crush her with his stare. But Ellie stood firm.
“It’s a long story… Please, just hear me out.” Tears fell, but she pushed through. She told him everything—how her husband, the man she’d loved, had convinced his mother to erase their child. How they’d made her believe Charlotte was dead. “I didn’t know… I thought she was gone. I was broken. But now—”
“I won’t give you Lily,” Edward cut in sharply. “She’s my world. My life.”
Lily. The name Ellie had chosen for her. A fresh wave of tears hit. Her legs trembled, but she held her ground. Edward could throw her out, call security—but he just listened.
“Come inside,” he finally said. “I’ll make you tea. And I’ll tell you my side.”
She nodded, though her heart screamed for the child. Inside the lavish home, Ellie ached. She’d never be able to give Lily this life. The clothes, the toys, the comfort—it was worlds away from her reality. Could she even make her happy? She’d give everything—but would it be enough?
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a playroom filled with dollhouses and expensive toys. Over tea, Edward spoke.
“My wife was infertile. We dreamed of a child, and then—a call from the hospital. A baby girl, they said, abandoned by her mother. We didn’t hesitate. Our home was full of joy. Then, when Lily turned three, my wife died of a heart attack. Like lightning from a clear sky. It’s been two and a half years, and I still can’t accept it. Lily asks when Mummy’s coming back from heaven. It’s agony… She waits for her mother—but not you.”
Ellie’s heart shattered. She set down her cup and stood. Through the frosted glass, she saw the girl—her mirror image. She wanted to run to her, but she couldn’t. Couldn’t frighten her. Lily loved her father.
“You mentioned needing a nanny,” Ellie said firmly.
“A nanny—not you,” Edward shook his head. “You wouldn’t hold back. I can’t trust you. What if you tried to take her?”
“Take her? Never!” she nearly shouted. “I came to bring her home, but now I see—she has a life here. I won’t destroy that. Just… let me be near her. Let me be her nanny.”
“I’ll decide in two days,” he said flatly.
The next two days were torment. Ellie fought the urge to go to the police, to demand her daughter back. But she knew—that wasn’t the way. For Lily’s sake, she had to be smarter.
When Edward called, his voice was tense. He agreed—but with conditions. Ellie would sign a contract swearing never to tell Lily she was her mother, undergo psychological evaluation, and take a DNA test. Only then would he hire her. Ellie agreed without hesitation. She already knew Lily was hers. The girl was her double. But Edward needed proof.
When the results confirmed their relation, and the psychologist assured him Ellie could control her emotions, Edward handed her the contract. She didn’t read it—just signed. That same day, he introduced Lily to her new nanny.
For Ellie, it was the happiest moment of her life. At first, she worked alternating shifts, but within a month, Edward
