Chapter 1 - “MUMMY! YOU CAME BACK FOR ME!”The ballroom was glowing with golden light.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling like frozen waterfalls.
Hundreds of wealthy guests filled the room, laughing, drinking champagne, and celebrating Victoria Vance's annual charity gala.
Victoria stood at the center of it all.
She wore a silver evening gown covered with delicate diamonds.
Every movement reminded the room that she was powerful.
Important.
Untouchable.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Near the servants' entrance stood Sarah Miller.
Her black uniform was plain.
Her shoes were worn.
Her hands were rough from years of cleaning.
She had come to the gala for one reason.
Her son.
Leo.
For three years, Sarah had been told that her little boy was dead.
She had never believed it.
She had spent years searching.
Years praying.
Years following every possible lead.
Then, that afternoon, she had received a message.
A photograph.
A little boy wearing a blue sweater.
A familiar birthmark behind his left ear.
Leo.
Her Leo.
The message had contained one sentence.
He is at the Vance estate.
Sarah had nearly collapsed.
She had spent the last several hours trying to get inside.
Now she stood at the edge of the ballroom, terrified and hopeful.
Then she saw him.
A little boy.
Four years old.
Wearing an expensive navy tuxedo.
Standing beside Victoria.
Sarah's heart stopped.
The world disappeared.
“Leo…”
The boy turned.
His eyes widened.
For several seconds, he simply stared.
Then his face changed.
He ran.
“Mummy!”
Sarah dropped everything.
She rushed toward him.
Leo threw his arms around her waist.
“Mummy! You came back for me!”
Sarah fell to her knees.
She held him so tightly that she could barely breathe.
“My baby.”
Leo buried his face against her shoulder.
“I knew you would come.”
Sarah began crying.
“I've been looking for you.”
“I waited.”
“I know.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you every single day.”
Then Victoria's voice cut through the ballroom.
“GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY SON RIGHT NOW!”
The room fell silent.
Sarah looked up.
Victoria was storming toward them.
Security guards followed behind her.
She pointed at Sarah.
“She is stealing my child!”
Sarah stood, keeping Leo behind her.
“He is my son.”
Victoria laughed.
“You are nothing but a common servant.”
Leo screamed,
“No! She's my mummy!”
Victoria reached for him.
Sarah stepped between them.
“Please don't frighten him.”
Victoria's eyes burned with fury.
“You have no right to touch him.”
A man suddenly stepped forward.
Arthur Vance.
Victoria's husband.
A respected billionaire.
His face was pale.
“Stop, Victoria.”
Victoria turned.
“Arthur, handle this woman.”
Arthur stared at Sarah.
Then at Leo.
His expression changed.
“She is his real biological mother.”
The ballroom erupted in whispers.
Victoria froze.
“What ridiculous lie are you telling these people?”
Arthur held up a thick envelope.
“It is no lie, Victoria.”
He pulled out a document.
“The DNA results are right here in my hand.”
Sarah stared at him.
“What?”
Arthur looked at her.
“Sarah, I am sorry.”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
Arthur's voice hardened.
“The laboratory results came from the state crime laboratory.”
The room went silent.
Victoria stared at the document.
Then at Leo.
Then Sarah.
“No.”
Arthur continued.
“The test confirms Sarah is Leo's biological mother.”
Victoria's lips trembled.
“This is impossible.”
Arthur looked at her.
“No, Victoria.”
He lowered the document.
“What is impossible is how you kept this secret for four years.”
A police officer entered the ballroom.
Two detectives followed.
Victoria stepped backward.
“Arthur…”
The officer approached.
“Victoria Vance?”
She froze.
“Yes?”
“You are under arrest for illegal child trafficking.”
The guests gasped.
Victoria's face collapsed.
“No!”
Leo grabbed Sarah's hand.
“Mummy!”
Sarah hugged him.
“I love you too, my sweet boy.”
She kissed his forehead.
“Forever and ever.”
But as police officers placed handcuffs around Victoria's wrists, another question spread through the ballroom.
If Sarah was Leo's biological mother...
May you like
Who had taken him?
And why had Victoria spent four years pretending he was her son?
Related Stories
