Dora carefully helped Agnes rise from the wheelchair and settle onto the sofa so she could sit more comfortably.
"Thank you, Dora."
The maid gave a small nod and quietly stepped aside.
"Have you seen that woman?" Agnes asked Albert, who was sitting on the sofa at her left side.
"Yes, she looks just like the one before, but this one is in terrible shape."
Agnes exhaled slowly. "I almost got dragged into their game. My heart shook every time I saw that face, even though I knew she was not my daughter."
Rowan, who had been silently observing, was stunned by Agnes's revelation. He could no longer hold back and asked, "What do you mean by that? The woman Lyra found isn't her mother?"
Agnes shook her head in denial. "She's not my daughter."
"Are you certain?" Rowan asked as he gazed at Agnes.
She nodded silently.
Albert added, "Of course we were certain. The fake Avelina had appeared before. We even caught the doctor who assisted in the deception, but the mastermind… no."
