Marianne sat quietly, her eyes fixed on Alva. Her expression gave nothing away, but there was a weight to her silence. After a moment, she reached for her phone. Without a word, she turned on the recording and spoke softly, her tone kind but probing. “Go ahead, dear. Tell me how you and Jonas met and everything else that happened.” Alva hesitated, her hands fidgeting in her lap. “Okay, ma’am,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. Meanwhile, Karina and Mr. Lunde watched with growing discomfort as Tiril launched into a vicious rant about Alva. Her words were sharp and cruel, laced with an anger that felt almost personal. Karina leaned closer to her father-in-law and murmured, “Can you believe this? We don’t even know her, and yet she’s spewing all this hatred about her own daughter. Even if Alva is adopted—or even if she’s done something wrong—what kind of mother tears her child apart like this?” Tiril stepped out of the room to take a phone call, giving Karina
Karina stared at the DNA test result in her trembling hands, her eyes blurring with tears that spilled down her cheeks. She read the words again and again, each time feeling the weight of disbelief and joy crash over her. Her breath hitched as her voice broke. “My daughter… She’s really my daughter. Dad, we found Selma. We found our Selma!” Her father-in-law’s eyes glistened as he nodded, his voice trembling with emotion. “Yes, Karina. After all these years, we’ve finally found her.” Relief and happiness softened the wrinkles of worry on his face, the long years of searching seemingly melting away in that moment. Karina pressed a hand to her chest, her heart racing. “I need to tell her brothers! They’ve been waiting for this news as long as we have.” Her hands shook as she fumbled to pull out her phone, dialing her eldest son, Nikolai. Nikolai answered almost immediately, his tone laced with concern. “Mom? Why are you crying? Is everything okay?” Karina’s voice cracked as she
Jonas gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove, his jaw clenched. He had listened to the full audio recording Alva had sent his mother, and his anger boiled over. With a frustrated growl, he snatched his phone and tossed it onto the back seat. “Liar,” he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with venom. “No matter what you say, Alva, I won’t fall for your manipulation again.” As he pulled into the driveway, he spotted his mother and Alva sitting together on the porch. His frustration flared, and he slammed the car door shut before storming toward them, his voice loud and accusatory. “Mom, don’t listen to her! She’s lying. I’ve heard everything she said. Don’t believe a word of it!” Alva shot up from her seat, standing on one foot, her eyes blazing with anger. “I haven’t lied about anything!” “Oh, really?” Jonas snapped, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Didn’t you claim you returned my debit card? Where is it then?” Alva crossed her arms, her posture defiant. “I
On the way to Jonas’ company, Vidar made a quick phone call to one of his contacts. After a brief conversation, he ended the call and turned to his mom. “Jonas isn’t at the company anymore,” he said. “He’s gone back to his house. Let’s head there instead.” Meanwhile, Freya arrived outside Jonas’ house. She stood near the gate for a while, clutching Alva’s phone tightly in her hand. Her thoughts raced as she tried to compose herself. "This timing feels so wrong," she thought, glancing at the house. But Alva is here, and I can't hide the truth from her anymore. Finally gathering her courage, she stepped inside. Jonas was about to call his assistant to get Freya when he spotted her walking toward the patio. A sharp smirk appeared on his face as he muttered, “Speak of the devil. Now all your lies will be exposed, Alva.” Alva, now sitting squinted at him. She ignored his words, determined that Freya’s arrival would prove her innocence. She believed her best friend would back he
"Of course, you can stay with me as long as you need," Mariane said, her voice gentle and full of warmth. Jonas cleared his throat. "Mom," he said softly, "can you give us a moment? I need to talk to Alva alone." Mariane hesitated, her eyes darting between them. Then, with a small nod, she turned to Freya. "Come on, let’s give them some privacy." Freya nodded in agreement, and the two women walked off the patio, leaving Jonas and Alva alone. The tension between them was obvious, the air thick with unspoken words. Alva crossed her arms tightly over her chest. Her eyes were sharp and cold as they locked on him. "So?" she said flatly. "What do you want to say?" Jonas took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of his regret. "I’m sorry," he began, his voice low and hesitant. "I’m so, so sorry, Alva. If I’d known....if I had any idea that you weren’t in your right mind that night, I swear to you, I never would have touched you." Alva didn’t respond, her
"I never abandoned you, my child," Karina said, her voice trembling with emotion. She wiped her tears and reached for Alva. "Listen to me, Selma. We lost you when you were just a little girl." "Lost me?" Alva repeated, her voice sharp with confusion. "How did you lose me?" "You were only three years old," Karina began softly. "Your dad and I were supposed to go on a trip, but you wouldn’t stop crying. You begged us to take you along. You and your brothers were meant to stay with your grandparents, but I couldn’t bear to leave you behind, so we took you with us." She paused, her voice cracking. "But there was an accident. A terrible one. It took your father’s life, and me... I lost my memory. I was badly injured and rushed to the hospital." Alva’s eyes widened as she listened, her breath caught in her throat. "The people who found us said you weren’t in the car," Karina continued. "Nobody knew where you went. Nobody knew what happened to you. Some believed you’d... died. But y
"Alva!" Freya cried, her voice breaking as she watched Alva being carried away by her brother. Alva closed her eyes tightly, refusing to look back. She turned her face away, her silence cutting deeper than words. Behind her, Freya broke down, covering her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. The Lundes got into their car, and in moments, they were gone, leaving Freya sobbing quietly. Marianne turned to her, her tone cold but controlled. "You should go home, Freya," she said. "You betrayed your best friend, someone who trusted you with her life. You can’t be surprised by her actions now." Freya wiped her tears, her face full of regret. "I understand, ma’am. Thank you," she whispered before glancing at Jonas. His glare pierced through her, and she quickly looked away, walking off without another word. Jonas remained seated, his expression unreadable. Marianne sat across from him, studying his face. "You seem sad," she said gently. "But you should be happy for Alva. After ev
As Marianne left, Jonas sat in silence, guilt consuming him. His thoughts were a storm of regret as he replayed all the things he had said and done to Alva. Each memory felt like a dagger to his chest, and he couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of shame. Meanwhile, Alva’s eyes widened as Nikolai, tall and strong, carried her effortlessly into the house. She was taken aback by his strength and the care he showed as he gently laid her down on a king-sized bed in a pristine white room. The room was breathtaking, with its elegant decor and soft lighting. On a nearby table, her gaze fell on a large photo of a baby. The moment she saw it, her heart skipped a beat. That baby was her. Memories of her early childhood, blurry and fragmented, suddenly came rushing back like a flood. Her grandfather, mother, Nikolai, and Vidar followed her into the room, all watching her with expressions of love and curiosity as she settled on the bed. “I should make you some breakfast,” her mother sudd
"Hi, Nikolai, this is Freya, Alva's best friend. Alva just asked me if you and I have spoken, and I remembered she gave me your number and mentioned you were going to call me. Is everything okay with you?" Freya stared at the message she had just typed into her phone, her thumb hovering over the send button. Her heart pounded against her chest, and she let out a shaky sigh. The thought of sending the message filled her with dread. She knew she could never send such a message. Lying on her bed, she clenched her phone tightly. She could almost hear Alva's voice in her head, teasing her about her feelings for Nikolai. Freya shook her head, trying to dispel the nervous thoughts. Just as she was about to delete the message, her mother’s voice rang out behind her, startling her. “What are you doing, Freya?” Freya bolted upright, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly turned her phone screen downward and tossed it onto the bed before spinning around to face her mom. “Nothing! Just..
Alva stepped back abruptly, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at Jonas, unable to believe her eyes. The world around her seemed to blur, and all she could focus on was him, standing there with that familiar look in his eyes....an expression she had tried to forget but couldn’t. "Jonas..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her racing heartbeat. Jonas gave her a small, apologetic smile. "Yes, it's me." His voice was warm, yet there was a hint of hesitation. "I’m sorry you haven't heard from me in a while. I thought you needed time to adjust to everything in your new environment. And, honestly, it’s been difficult not talking to you." She blinked, struggling to process his words. "So you followed me all the way here?" Her tone was accusatory, but the fluttering in her chest betrayed her annoyance. Jonas chuckled softly, the sound rich and soothing. "No, not exactly. If I’d known you were in Denmark, I would have been more prepared. This is a surp
Alva stretched her legs cautiously, testing her ankle with a few steps. Then, with a sudden burst of confidence, she strode across her room and twirled around. “Perfect!” she declared to the empty space. “Goodbye, crutches. Hello, independence!” Vidar, walking by her room, poked his head in. “Did you just say goodbye to inanimate objects? Should I be concerned?” Alva grinned. “Laugh all you want, Vidar. You don’t know what it’s like to walk with crutches or limp around.” “True,” Vidar agreed, leaning against the doorframe. “But you’re walking fine now, so no slacking for you, especially during this workshop. You’ll be networking like a pro.” “Networking?” Alva groaned. “Why does that sound like a punishment?” Vidar smirked. “Because it is. But you’ll survive. I’ll make sure of it.” At this time, Thea was pacing her room, muttering under her breath. “If Alva hadn’t come along, I would’ve been the one going on this trip with Vidar,” her voice dripped with resentment as s
Freya sat nervously in the corner of the small eatery. Her hands were clenched tightly in her lap. The place was warm and simple, with soft chatter and the clinking of plates filling the room. Across from her, Jonas leaned back in his chair, watching her closely. His gaze was sharp but didn’t feel mean. “Relax, Freya,” Jonas said, a small smile on his face. “You look like I called you here to yell at you.” Freya shifted in her seat, trying to smile back. “It’s not that… I just don’t know why you wanted to meet.” “Let’s start with dinner,” he said, pointing at the menu in front of them. Freya shook her head quickly. “I already ate. I’m not hungry.” Jonas raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He set the menu aside and leaned forward, his face turning serious. “Alright, let’s get to the point. Freya, I was angry with you before. Because of what you did, I kept misunderstanding Alva, and things between us got bad.” Freya’s stomach twisted with guilt. She opened her mouth to apol
Freya’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she grabbed Alva’s hand tightly. “You’re incredible. I knew you were destined for greatness, Alva, but CEO? That’s next-level stuff. I’m so proud of you!” “Thank you,” Alva replied, squeezing her friend’s hand. “And when the time comes, you can come work with me in the company. We’ll run it together.” Freya’s lip quivered, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep her tears in check. “Alva, you’re the best friend anyone could ask for. No, scratch that—you’re the best human being alive.” Alva giggled. “Don’t cry, Freya. Save the waterworks for the CEO inauguration.” “I can’t help it!” Freya wailed dramatically before pulling Alva into a bone-crushing hug. “I’m the luckiest person in the world to have you.” As Freya finally released her, she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, smiling brightly. “So… can I come on this fancy business trip too? I’ll hide in your suitcase.” Alva shook her head, laughing. “No can do.” “Why not?
Thea’s fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her teeth ground against each other as she watched Alva bask in the warmth of everyone’s affection. The realization hit her like a slap to the face—Alva had planned this. She had the evidence all along and had played the helpless victim, crying her way into everyone’s hearts. And Thea? Thea had walked right into her trap. Her head began to spin as her mind screamed, 'I was outsmarted by her?' “How could I be so foolish?” Thea muttered under her breath, her voice so low only she could hear it. Karina’s voice snapped Thea out of her angry thoughts. “I will think of a befitting punishment for what you’ve done,” Karina said, her gaze icy as she looked down at her daughter sprawled on the floor, still feigning remorse. “Mom, I didn’t....” “You’re grounded for a month, for now, until I think of a much better punishment,” Karina declared firmly, cutting off Thea’s weak protest. Thea’s mouth dropped open. Grounded? She
Alva’s hands trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks, her voice barely audible. “Why does this always happen to me?” she whispered, clutching her chest as though trying to hold her breaking heart together. Vidar stepped closer, his voice steady yet soothing. “Don’t cry, Alva. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters here is that the jewelry is yours, and you have every right to take it whenever you want.” Her mother, Karina, nodded firmly, moving to stand beside Vidar. “He’s right, Alva. What’s mine is yours. You’re my daughter—feel free to take anything you need, anytime.” Karina’s voice held a protective tone, though her furrowed brows betrayed her inner conflict. Alva glanced at her mother, her lips quivering. “But I didn’t even know the jewelry existed until now.” Before Karina could respond, Nikolai interjected, his jaw tight with anger. “Alva didn’t put that jewelry there. Someone else did this, and I won’t spare them.” Vidar placed a firm hand on Nikolai’s shoulde
Thea's tears fell freely as she sobbed in the middle of the room, her voice trembling. “I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve only ever wanted the best for this family.....for us. And now, you’re all treating me like I’m an outsider.” She sniffled, glancing around the room with a pitiful expression. “I was only trying to help. Alva is my sister, and I just wanted to make sure she’s on the right path.” Alva softened her gaze. She stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm. “You’re right, Thea. Maybe you’re only doing this because you care.” The room fell silent, everyone staring at Alva as she faced Thea directly. “If you think this is your way of helping me, then I’ll prove to you that I don’t need saving,” Alva said gently. “What would it take for you to believe that I didn’t take the jewelry?” Thea hesitated, her lips twitching as if she was weighing her next words. Finally, she spoke, her voice tinged with resolve. “If we searched your room and didn’t find the jewelry, I’d bel
The room was tense. The weight of Thea's accusations hung in the air like a storm cloud, thick and suffocating. Alva stood in the middle of the chaos, her face calm. “You’re all acting like I’m the villain here!” Thea’s voice cracked with frustration, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I can’t just sit back and let Mom be wronged. I love Alva, she’s my sister. But it kills me to think that she could do something like this to the person who’s given her everything!”Alva scoffed but she didn’t respond. Thea turned to the others, her voice softening, as if she were pleading for their understanding. “Even if Alva wanted the jewelry, that wouldn’t have been a bad thing. Mom was already planning to give it to her. But stealing it? That’s what hurts. Seeing my sister hurt my mother is unbearable.We all know Alva didn't grow up with us. She had a rough life and no one knows how many times she must have stolen, just to survive. How can we help her if she doesn't acknowledge her pr