Long lost Daughter

LLD~Chapter 9~ How had the table's turned

Happy reading po!
Sorry for the late ud, mwehehehahahhaha lobeo all.

~Alice's POV~

Five years. Five years of living under a shadow of suspicion, a constant weight of doubt hanging over my head. Five years of trying to prove my innocence, to convince the world that I wasn't the monster they painted me to be. It felt like a never-ending cycle. Every time I thought I was finally free, another accusation would surface, another invitation from the committee. This time, I was ready. I wouldn't let their accusations break me. I'd face them head-on, armed with the truth, with the unwavering belief in my own innocence.

The invitation arrived this morning, a stark white envelope with the committee's crest embossed in silver. It was a familiar sight, a symbol of the unending scrutiny I faced. Each time, my heart would pound in my chest, a drumbeat of anxiety echoing in my ears. This time, though, there was a different feeling, a flicker of defiance. I wouldn't be their pawn anymore.

Why me? Why did this keep happening? It was like a curse, a relentless tide of suspicion washing over me, leaving me gasping for breath. I was tired of defending myself, tired of being the target. I needed answers. I needed to know who was behind this, who was orchestrating this relentless campaign against me. They were playing a dangerous game, and I was the only one who could stop them. I would find them, and they would pay for what they had done. I would expose their lies, their manipulations, and finally, I would be free.

~Risa's POV~

The email arrived, a digital package containing fresh evidence against Alice. My private investigator had delivered, as always. I forwarded it to the committee, knowing it would trigger another invitation for Alice.

A wave of guilt washed over me, a cold, suffocating blanket. I was invading her privacy, digging into her life, uncovering secrets that weren't mine to know.  I was playing a dangerous game, a game that could shatter the fragile bond we had built. The thought of hurting Alice, my so-called daughter, my granddaughter's so-called mother, was unbearable. We had built a bond, a connection that transcended blood, a bond that I felt was unbreakable. Yet, here I was, chipping away at it, piece by piece. I was destroying the very foundation of our relationship, and it was tearing me apart.

I knew I was doing wrong, but I couldn't stop. I was driven by a need for justice, a need to protect my granddaughter, even if it meant sacrificing everything else. But the guilt, it was a constant companion, a shadow that followed me everywhere. It whispered in my ear, reminding me of the damage I was inflicting, the pain I was causing.

I was caught in a web of my own making, a web of secrets and lies. I was a puppet master, pulling the strings of fate, but I was also the one who was most vulnerable to the consequences.  And the consequences, they were already starting to show.

<|The day of the committee|>

~Narrators pov~

The air crackled with tension as the evidence against Alice was about to be displayed on the screen, a chilling tableau for all to see. A collective gasp rippled through the room, a wave of shock and disbelief washing over everyone present.

"What? That can't be!" Risa exclaimed, her voice trembling, her eyes welling up with tears. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, the weight of the revelation crushing her heart.

Alice, equally stunned, stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. The evidence on the screen was a blow she hadn't anticipated, a truth that shattered her carefully constructed world.

Cia, a mere five years old, couldn't comprehend the gravity of the situation. She didn't understand why her grandmother was shouting or why the room was filled with murmurs and whispers. The screen was a jumble of words and images, a foreign language to her innocent eyes.

The senators, reporters, and lawyers, all huddled in the room, buzzed with speculation, their voices a cacophony of confusion and intrigue. They exchanged glances, their eyes searching for answers, for someone to blame. The sudden appearance of this damning evidence felt like a calculated act of sabotage, a carefully orchestrated attack.

~Risa's Perspective~

My heart pounded in my chest, a drumbeat of anxiety and despair. The mother of my adopted granddaughter stood before me, accused of something we couldn't be sure was true. The evidence was undeniable, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it.

"What? That can't be!" I choked out, the words barely audible above the din of the room. I knew if I spoke further, the tears I was desperately trying to hold back would spill over, a torrent of grief and disbelief.

Time seemed to crawl by, each agonizing second stretching into an eternity. As the evidence mounted, Alice was found guilty, and my world tilted on its axis. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me - a mixture of sadness, anger, and a profound sense of betrayal. Should I be happy for Alice, that she had finally found her daughter? Or should I be devastated for her, for the life she had lost?

With a heavy heart, I rose to my feet, my voice a mere whisper in the silence that had descended upon the room. "I now announce that Mayor Alice Leal Guo is proven guilty. You may take her into custody." My gaze met Alice's, and I saw a flicker of pain and confusion in her eyes. I felt a pang of guilt, a sense of responsibility for the role I had played in her downfall.

"Thank you, everyone. The hearing is now suspended." I dismissed the committee, my mind racing with a thousand unanswered questions.

I walked towards my granddaughter, my steps heavy with the weight of the truth.

"She deserves it, naman. If she's innocent, then so be it. Well, sorry siya, guilty siya, kahit nanay pa siya ng apo ko." I tried to convince myself, to gaslight my own emotions, but the truth was, it hurt. It hurt deeply to see Alice being led away by the police, her face etched with despair.

Alice's Perspective

I couldn't believe what was happening. My heart soared with joy when I learned that Cia, the little girl I loved, the child I had treated as my own, was truly my daughter. But that joy was quickly eclipsed by a wave of terror as the evidence against me unfolded, a cruel twist of fate that threatened to tear my world apart.

As the police led me away, I felt a surge of helplessness. No matter how much I protested, my pleas fell on deaf ears. I was a prisoner of circumstance, a victim of a web of lies and deceit.

On our way out, I ran to Cia, desperate to hold her close, to feel her warmth, to reassure her that everything would be alright. She hugged me back, her face clouded with confusion.

"Tita Alice, bakit po sumigaw kanina si Mamita when something plashed on the screen?" she asked, her voice innocent and pure.

I didn't know how to explain it to her. I didn't know if she knew she was adopted, and I was terrified of hurting her.

Suddenly, Risa stepped forward, her voice calm yet laced with a tremor of nervousness.

"Cia, apo," she said, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and concern.

Cia and I turned to face her, our hearts pounding with anticipation.

"Gan'to kasi 'yan apo," Risa began, her voice gentle, as if she were trying to soothe a wounded bird. "You know that you're adopted, right?" she asked, her gaze unwavering.

Cia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. She had always known, but the truth held no weight for her innocent heart.

"The thing that plashed on the screen earlier is a evidence that your real mother is your Tita Alice," Risa stated, her words carefully chosen, her tone measured.

Cia's smile vanished, replaced by a look of confusion and hurt. She turned away from me, her small shoulders trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I couldn't bear to see her cry. I reached out to her, wiping away her tears with trembling fingers.

She hugged me tightly, her small arms wrapped around my neck. "Why did you give me up for adoption, Tita Alice?" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

I couldn't answer. I couldn't speak, couldn't explain the reasons behind all of this. All I could do was cry, tears of sorrow and regret streaming down my face.

When we finally calmed down, we released our embrace, but the police were waiting, their presence a stark reminder of my fate. Cia reached out to me, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and sadness.

"Tita Alice, I want to go with you," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Risa, sensing her granddaughter's distress, stepped forward, her voice firm yet gentle. "Cia, apo, there are a lot of people here, you might get hurt," she said, her eyes filled with concern.

Cia reluctantly stepped back, her gaze fixed on me, her heart heavy with the weight of our separation.

The media swarmed me as I was led out of the building, their cameras flashing, their voices a cacophony of questions and accusations. I remained silent, my mind racing, a whirlwind of confusion and despair.

Why?

Why did Donya lie to me?

Why did she give my daughter away?

Why are they doing this to me?

I felt betrayed, my heart shattered into a million pieces. The people I loved, the people I trusted, were the ones who had caused me so much pain. My so-called mother, the one I thought was my ally, was one of the architects of my downfall. And now, Donya, the friend I had confided in, the one I believed was different, had betrayed me too. She had given my daughter away, a secret she had kept hidden for years.

I needed answers. I needed to know why they had done this to me. Why?

○|To be continued |○

Eto lang muna for today MWEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHHE, lab yah all sorry for making you guys wait mwhehehehehe.

-LOVE, YOUR OTOR.