Lady Ingrid was her mother? She still could hardly believe it!

When they finished dinner the previous night, the woman had shown her her own rose tattoo in the women's restroom. And it had been strikingly identical to the one she had on her inner thigh.

Annabelle was awed.

Asides that, the resemblance between them was striking. She didn't notice it before because she didn't put much thought into it.

The woman had asked after Monalisa so that she could confirm that her story was true. She claimed she had been searching for them ever since those incidents.

Annabelle believed the woman was truly her mother. But the revelation was all too much to take in that night so she asked Ingrid to give her time, of which the woman wholly agreed.

She offered to drop Annabelle off and Annabelle politely declined but the woman insisted. She was scared that she might lose a daughter she had just found. She needed to know where Annabelle lived.

Annabelle was pulled into a tight hug by Ingrid when they got to Annabelle's apartment. And it felt strange yet comforting. Strange, because she had never received such a gesture from her, should she say foster mother, Monalisa?

She hugged her back.

They stayed like that for a minute, each one's eyes filled with tears, before Ingrid finally released her after a kiss on her head.

They bade each other goodnight and Ingrid's driver drove away while Annabelle watched, then she turned and went into the house, her head full of thoughts.

She didn't tell Ingrid that she had once been married or even had kids. She needed time to come to the realization that Monalisa wasn't her real mother, that her real mother was the wealthy Lady Ingrid Bernadette Rowland.

Lady Ingrid was her mother! She didn't know how to react to that.

So this explained why Monalisa had never acted like a true mother should, towards her. This was the reason why she had only showered love and care on Lydia.

This was the reason why she had had the heart to disown her from being her daughter and threw her into the streets.

Because she was never her biological daughter.

Monalisa was never a good mother to her, so she would find it very easy in accepting that the woman was not her biological mother.

❤️❤️💎

The next day, Ingrid asked her to eat out with her during lunch break and she accepted.

"We have a lot to catch up on." Ingrid said with a grin.

Annabelle smiled. "That's right, madam."

Ingrid sighed. "'Madam?' I thought we've gone past that."

Annabelle looked away. "I still need time to come to terms with all of these."

Ingrid reached for her hand with a small smile. "It's okay, I understand how you feel. Take your time."

Annabelle smiled back and continued eating her food.

"So, who then is my real father?"

"Martins." She replied drily. "He lives in Australia with his family."

"Did he know about me?" Annabelle asked lowly.

"Of course darling, he did." Ingrid replied. "We are still in contact and I'm sure he would love to meet you because he had been dying to. He was actually the first man I got married to."

Annabelle grinned. "Did you really get married three times to three different men?"

Ingrid laughed. The sound so sophisticated.

"I see you've been hearing the stories about me."

Annabelle shrugged.

"Well, to answer your question, yes." Ingrid said. "I've been married three times. But all of the marriages didn't work out which was my fault. I was torn between finding you, my daughter and building my career to enable me get the needed connections to expanding my search for you. The last man I got married to was very wealthy and he helped in boosting my business to a high rated level before we divorced. Then I moved to this city eight years ago to start a new life that didn't involve men dictating my life for me on how to live it. Then I grew my company the more to what it is today."

"I'm really proud of all you have achieved." Annabelle smiled.

Ingrid smiled at her and took her hand in hers. "I never gave up on finding you. I knew that no matter how long it took, I would definitely find you one day. I'm so glad I finally did."

They both shared smiles again.

"So tell me about your later years Ann." Ingrid said sipping her drink.

***

"I have grandchildren?" Ingrid almost shouted.

Annabelle nodded.

"Twin grandchildren!" Ingrid said excitedly. "Oh heavens, how did I get so lucky? I will die a very happy woman. What are their names?"

"Samuel and Sandra." Annabelle replied with a grin.

"Awwn, I really can't wait to meet them."

"You will soon," Annabelle replied. "But that'll be after I've told them about you. I wouldn't want to spring such surprise on them just like that."

Ingrid smiled sadly. "You would make a great mother my darling. More than I ever would have."

Annabelle hesitantly placed her hand on hers. "I'm sure you would have made a great mother too if you had been given the chance." She took a deep breath, finally making a decision. "Though it's better late than never."

Ingrid's eyes lit up. "Does that - does that mean you are giving me a chance?"

"Well, I don't seem to have a choice here since I do not have any other mother now, do I?" Annabelle said with a grin.

Ingrid's eyes teared up in joy as a huge smile graced her face. "Come here."

Annabelle stood up and went over to embrace her.

"Thank you," Ingrid whispered amidst smiles and tears. "I love you very much."

Annabelle smiled. That was the first time a mother ever said that to her.

She held her mother closer.

"I love you too."

❤️❤️💎

The kids were more than happy to meet their beautiful and sophisticated grandmother. They were excited to meet a family of their mother and were much more elated that they had a grandmother like the other kids in school.

Ingrid was overjoyed to say the least. She looked at the children like they were the most precious jewels that they were and held them both with so much love.

She released tears of joy several times asking how she got so lucky at her later years.

Annabelle saw pure happiness and contentment in the woman's face and she believed then that Ingrid was going to make a great mother and grandmother.

The twins fell asleep on their grandmother's laps that evening as a result of the too much excitement they had had for that day.

"I feel so blessed." Ingrid said as she gently rubbed their heads. "You all are like the light in my life that came at a moment of despair, darkness and hopelessness. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"We're very happy to have you in our lives too." Annabelle said. "I am happy to have you in my life."

They shared smiles again.

Ingrid hesitated then asked. "You know you never told me about their father. What about him?"

The smile faded from Annabelle's face. "It's a long story."

"We have all evening my dear." Ingrid said gently. "That's if you want to talk about it."

Annabelle paused for a moment then took a deep breath.

"I was once married..." She started.

*

Ingrid shook her head in hurt as Annabelle finished giving her story. "I'm so sorry for everything you have been through. If I had found you earlier, all these would not have happened."

"It's not your fault at all." Annabelle said. "I believe it's just fate. And there's a reason for everything."

Ingrid nodded, but her hurt and regret still visible.

"Have you seen him since you moved here?"

Annabelle shook her head. "No I haven't."

"Do you still have feelings for him?" Ingrid asked.

"It doesn't matter anymore mother," Annabelle replied. "He's engaged to be married and I'm - fine with that."

❤️❤️💎

Agreeing to move into her mother's house wasn't an easy one for Annabelle but she had finally agreed after the woman had heavily insisted and pleaded that she wanted them all to live as one family.

She had made Annabelle resign from her work as the company's secretary two weeks ago stating that she had bigger plans for her daughter.

So a month after they had found each other, Annabelle agreed to move into Lady Ingrid's mansion to the utter excitement of her children who felt like they had been asked to live in heaven.

It was as if they had been offered the luxuries of her old life back and this time, Annabelle accepted it with open arms because this time, she had her children and her real mother.

*

Annabelle donned her long black sparkly dress with one slim sleeve and a long slit that went up to her thigh, as the makeup artiste finished with her face.

Tonight was the night.

Her mother's birthday. And the night she'll be unveiled as her mother's daughter and introduced into Ingrid's circle.

She had been against Ingrid's decision of introducing her like that, but her mother was bent on showing the whole world that she had found her long lost beautiful daughter.

Her mother was a huge socialite. She thought with a smile.

"You look absolutely breathtaking." The male stylist who was more of a cross dresser commented.

"Thank you." She smiled.

The door opened and a gasp and squeals came from behind her.

"Oh my," Ingrid gushed as she came in with the twins. "I have the most beautiful daughter ever! You look stunning my dear."

"You look beautiful mummy." The twins echoed.

"Thank you mum, thank you my darlings." Annabelle grinned at the trio.

"Are you ready?" Ingrid asked.

"No." Annabelle blurted out.

Ingrid smiled and came closer. "Deep breaths my dear. You will do just fine. It's okay to be nervous but know that I'll be right beside you the whole time."

Annabelle took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm ready."

❤️💎❤️

She had forgotten what it felt like to attend these lavish parties.

She looked and acted the part though so she blended in perfectly with the others.

Her phone vibrated inside her clutch and she excused herself and walked out of the luxuriously decorated room already filled with people; Ingrid's friends, business associates and employees.

She glanced at the caller and saw that it was Dominic. He was probably calling for directions to the house.

She had invited him over to her mum's birthday party but didn't tell him yet that Ingrid was her real mother. They had had dinner twice within the last month and Annabelle could tell that he wanted more but she was taking her time. She didn't want to just jump into another relationship.

She came outside and went past the garden towards the swimming pool to avoid bumping into the last set of people that were arriving and the noise.

She finished giving him the directions and was about to go back in when a tall manly figure who was making a call across from her on the other side of the pool, caught her eye.

He was dressed in a well tailored Armani suit but that didn't hide the broad shoulders, muscles and strength beneath the attire, as well as the proud and confident manner in which he carried his frame.

He was a definition of sexy.

She noticed she had been gaping when he suddenly turned and their eyes met.

She froze. He stilled.

Her heart began to beat two times faster like it usually did whenever he was around.

It was him.