I am Daniel. I lost my wife Sandra and raised my daughter Emily on my own. One day when I went to the church, I saw a girl in a wheelchair who said her mother had left her. There was a note next to her, which made it clear that her mother had consciously abandoned the girl. It read:

“To whoever finds Sophia, please take her home. I cannot raise her. I’ve left a few things that belong to her. Thanks & God Bless!”

Even though I was in a difficult financial situation, my heart couldn’t take it and I wanted to adopt this poor child.

“I think this is what God wants you to do,” said Father Benjamin. “You found this child here, and I think only you can give her a better home. Take her with you, Daniel.”

Then I decided to adopt and was happy because my wife Sandra had always wanted to have a younger sister for my daughter Emily. But an unfortunate accident took her away, and her wish remained unfulfilled.

Sophia’s arrival brought some new hopes and responsibilities for me. I was delighted to see Emily and her new little sister enjoy their childhood together. I felt this was my biggest achievement as a single parent — to see my children happy.

Five years passed, but the joy in my house did not fade. I had started a new business just a year after taking Sophia home and became a successful businessman.

I moved into a bigger house, and many women were ready to date me, but I was not interested because I still loved Sandra. Moreover, I doubted if the woman I married would be nice to my kids, so a second marriage was out of the question for me.

One day, an unexpected nightmare arrived on my doorstep, interrupting my joy during Sophia’s 10th birthday celebration on Christmas Eve.

That was SOPHIA’S MOTHER and she wanted to take Sophia with her after showing an old photograph she had taken with Sophia when she was a baby.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. For the next few seconds, I continued to sweat, thinking how my little world would turn hollow without Sophia.

“You can ask her if you still have any doubts. She must remember me coz she was five when I left her near the church!”

With vague hopes that Ivy was telling lies, I asked Sophia if the woman, Ivy, was her mother, showing her the photo.

“Yes, I recognize her…she’s my mother,” said the girl, jolting me like never before. “She was the one who left me alone near the church that day.”

“Heard for yourself?!” laughed Ivy. “Now, send the girl with me…and with $150,000. Or if you want to keep her, then MARRY ME!”

“$150,000?! And marry you? Both are never gonna happen. And the girl is not going with you!” fumed I, immediately reaching out to Father Benjamin.

“You give me the money and the child or marry me to keep her. If not, I’ll sue you. I’ll get you arrested for k!dnapping my daughter,” Ivy threatened.

I was clueless about handling this sudden twist. Moments later, Father Benjamin arrived, easing the burden off his shoulders by revealing who Ivy was and what exactly she was after.

“Ivy? What are you doing here?” gasped the priest after recognizing the woman.

“Father Benjamin??? What are you doing here?” Ivy shrieked.

“Father Benjamin, do you know her?” I chimed in, baffled.

“Why yes, Daniel, I know this woman. Aren’t you Ivy Simpson, who my close friend Thomas adopted 30 years ago? Thomas and his wife raised you like their daughter. But you robbed them and eloped on your 18th birthday. What happened to you?”

It turned out that Ivy started living independently after eloping with Thomas’s money and his wife’s jewels the night after her 18th birthday party.

She was in a relationship with a guy and got pregnant. Her boyfriend dumped her, but she decided to have the baby. She delivered baby Sophia who was born with special abilities. Though she raised the child alone for five years, she decided to get rid of her to move on with another man.

“…And that man promised marriage. I lived with him for five years, but he dumped me with a lot of debts. I was alone, and that’s when I remembered my daughter. I searched for Daniel. He had changed his house, and I finally tracked him down. When I found he was rich and widowed, I thought I could use this chance to make money and settle down,” Ivy revealed.

The sh0cking twist left Father Benjamin and me speechless.

Though we wanted, we could not keep Sophia now that her biological mother had come for her. With a heavy heart, I approached Sophia, asking her to make a choice.

“Sweetheart, you are 10 now, and I think you’re old enough to make a choice,”, I said, tears gleaming in my eyes. “Do you want to go with your mother?”

“Daddy, why do you even ask? Of course, I need you. I am not going with her. She might have given birth to me, but she was never my mother. You raised me. You are my mother and father. I cannot be without you. I love you. Please send her away. I don’t want to see her.”

“Sophia? What on earth are you saying? I’m your mother!” Ivy shrieked.

“Didn’t you hear the girl? Get out, or I’ll call the cops!” fumed Father Benjamin.

Frustrated and furious, Ivy stormed out, threatening to see them in court. But she didn’t stand a chance because Sophia was legally adopted, and she refused to go with Ivy when the judge asked her if she wanted to.

The unexpected storm in my life ceased. I sold my house and flew abroad with my kids because I did not want Ivy stalking them again. As for Ivy, she started dating a rich man, and only time will tell what fate has for her!