Celestina stood in her private office, staring at the sealed envelope on her desk. Her fingers brushed over it, hesitant to open it. She had ordered the DNA test days ago, and now the results had arrived. This would be the proof the public demanded, the evidence that would silence the accusations that her mother, Isolde, was an imposter.

“Madam President?” Anton, her chief advisor, stepped into the room. “We’ve kept the results confidential as you requested. No one outside the palace knows about this.”

Celestina nodded. “Good. If this leaks before we release an official statement, it’ll only add fuel to the fire.”

Anton hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Do you think this will truly sway the people? Loyalists will always find something to hold against you.”

Celestina sighed, leaning against the desk. “It’s not about them. It’s about the undecided, the ones who still believe I’m doing this to manipulate public sympathy. If this test proves my mother is who she says she is, they’ll have no choice but to accept the truth.”

Anton gave a curt nod before leaving her alone with the envelope. Taking a deep breath, Celestina slipped it into her desk drawer. She wasn’t ready to face it just yet.

Meanwhile, outside the palace walls, the country was in chaos. The news of Isolde’s return had sent shockwaves through the nation.

“She’s a victim,” some media outlets declared, painting Isolde as a tragic figure who had been cast aside by Alvada’s cruelty. “Her story is proof of the late president’s tyranny.”

Others were less sympathetic. “This is nothing but a hoax,” a popular talk show host claimed. “Celestina will do anything to save her failing leadership—even lie about her own mother.”

On the streets, protests erupted. Supporters of Celestina rallied behind her, while loyalists to Alvada accused her of fabricating the story to tarnish his legacy.

“They’re manipulating us!” a protester yelled through a megaphone. “This is just another stunt to distract from her failures!”

“Open your eyes!” another shouted back. “This is what Alvada was—a monster who tore families apart!”

The tension in the air was palpable, and the palace’s security forces struggled to maintain order.

Celestina sat in the grand hall when a guard announced an unexpected visitor. Dimitri stepped through the doors, his expression unreadable.

She stiffened. It had been weeks since their last encounter, and the betrayal she had felt back then still stung.

“Celestina,” Dimitri began, his voice calm but serious. “I heard about the situation with your mother. I came to offer my support.”

She crossed her arms, her gaze cold. “I didn’t ask for your support.”

“I know,” he said, stepping closer. “But this isn’t just about us. The loyalists are growing bolder. They’ll do anything to undermine you, to destabilize the nation. You’ll need someone to help you navigate this.”

Celestina scoffed. “You think I’ll just forget everything that happened? That I’ll trust you again because you’re suddenly here, acting like you care?”

Dimitri flinched but held his ground. “I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m asking you to think about what’s at stake. If they succeed in turning the people against you, everything you’ve fought for will crumble.”

Her voice hardened. “Thank you for the reminder, Dimitri. But I don’t need you to tell me how to lead my country.”

The silence between them was heavy. Finally, Dimitri nodded and stepped back. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

As he left, Celestina sank into her chair, her emotions swirling.

Days later, the DNA results were revealed. The test confirmed what Celestina already knew—Isolde was her mother.

The news silenced many critics, forcing even the harshest skeptics to acknowledge the truth. But while some began to rally behind Celestina once more, the political landscape remained unstable.

Loyalists used the results as an opportunity to double down on their attacks.

“She’s using her mother as a pawn to gain sympathy!” one commentator declared. “This changes nothing about her failures as a leader.”

Despite the backlash, Celestina felt a small glimmer of hope. The public had seen the proof, and slowly, she could feel some of the trust returning.

One evening, Celestina sat with Isolde in her private quarters.

“You’re brave, you know,” Isolde said softly, watching her daughter. “Facing the world like this, with so much at stake. I don’t know how you do it.”

Celestina smiled weakly. “Some days, I don’t know either. I just… keep going. For the people, for this baby. For you.”

Isolde placed a gentle hand on Celestina’s. “You’re stronger than he ever was, Celestina. Don’t let his shadow scare you.”

For a moment, the room was filled with a rare sense of peace.

But that peace was shattered the next day when a video was released by a faction of Alvada’s loyalists.

The screen flickered to life, showing masked figures standing before a large banner bearing the Alvada family crest.

“If Isolde Alvada remains in the public eye,” one of the masked men declared, “we will ensure she never leaves it alive. This is your only warning.”

Celestina watched the video in stunned silence, her hands gripping the armrests of her chair.

“Madam President,” Anton said cautiously, standing beside her. “We need to tighten security around your mother immediately.”