Celestina stood frozen in her office, the air seeming to thicken around her. The woman before her—the woman she had mourned for years—looked so much like her mother that it made her head spin. The same warm eyes, the gentle curve of her smile, and even the faint scent of jasmine, her mother’s favorite perfume, drifted through the room.

Her voice cracked as she whispered, “Mother? No… you’re dead. You… you died.”

The woman took a cautious step forward, her eyes glistening with tears. “I’m here, my princess,” she said softly. “I’m here.”

Celestina stumbled backward, her hand gripping the edge of her desk for support. Her heart raced as a thousand emotions swirled in her chest—confusion, anger, hope, and fear.

“This… this can’t be real,” she muttered, shaking her head. “You can’t be here. I saw your funeral. I grieved for you!”

Her mother’s voice trembled with emotion. “I never wanted to leave you, Celestina. I swear. But I couldn’t… I wasn’t allowed to come back.”

Before Celestina could respond, her vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. Her knees buckled, and the last thing she heard was the panicked voice of her mother calling her name.

“Madam President! Celestina!”

Guards and staff rushed into the office as Celestina collapsed to the floor. Her mother knelt beside her, cradling her head and frantically shouting for help.

“Someone get a doctor!” one of the guards yelled.

“She’s pregnant!” her mother cried, stroking Celestina’s hair. “Please, you have to help her!”

Moments later, Anton burst into the room, his face etched with worry. “What happened?” he demanded.

“She fainted,” one of the staff replied. “We need to move her to her quarters immediately.”

With care, the guards carried Celestina to her room, where a team of doctors and nurses quickly assembled. Her mother never left her side, gripping her hand tightly and whispering reassurances even as tears streamed down her face.

“You’re going to be okay, my darling,” she murmured. “You’re strong, just like you’ve always been.”

When Celestina finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was her mother sitting beside her, her face streaked with tears. For a moment, Celestina thought she was dreaming. But as her vision cleared, the reality of the situation hit her like a thunderbolt.

“You’re… really here,” she said weakly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother nodded, a trembling smile on her lips. “Yes, Celestina. I’m here.”

Celestina tried to sit up, but the doctor at her bedside gently pressed her back down.

“Madam President, you need to rest,” he said firmly. “Your body is under a lot of stress, and you can’t risk pushing yourself too hard. For the sake of your baby, please take it easy.”

Celestina nodded faintly, though her attention remained fixed on her mother. Once the doctors stepped away, she reached out a shaky hand, touching her mother’s cheek to confirm she wasn’t a figment of her imagination.

“It’s really you,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “All these years… I thought you were dead.”

Her mother took her hand and kissed it tenderly. “I know, my love. I know. And I’m so sorry for all the pain you’ve endured. If I could have come back to you sooner, I would have.”

“Then why didn’t you?” Celestina’s voice grew stronger, tinged with both sorrow and anger. “Why did you leave me? Why didn’t you fight to stay?”

Her mother’s face crumpled, and she lowered her head. “It wasn’t my choice,” she said, her voice breaking. “Your father… he wouldn’t allow it.”

Celestina’s heart sank. “What do you mean he wouldn’t allow it? What did he do?”

Her mother hesitated, her hands trembling.