Emily glanced at her. "What do you think?"

Emma looked at her face cautiously. "I can't guess."

"Well, then there's nothing to be done," Emily said.

"Can't you just tell me?” Emma's voice was barely a whisper.

Emily suddenly let out a small, ironic laugh that quickly faded. "I'm worried if I tell you, you'll run off and tip Isabella off."

Emma's expression turned awkward. "Why would you say that? I... I don't think I would do that."

"So, you're going to help me expose her?" Emily pressed.

Emma faltered, her fingers tightening on her dessert plate. "...How could I help you? I don't know anything about this."

"There you have it," Emily said. "Since you don't plan on helping Isabella, and you don't plan on helping me, it doesn't matter when I expose her. You should be focused on figuring out how to tell Isabella's parents what you need to tell them.” Emma sheepishly put a spoonful of dessert in her mouth. "You have a point..."

Speak of the devil. As soon as Emily finished her sentence, she looked up and saw Isabella's parents walking into the ballroom together.

Emma gasped, clutching her plate. "They're here."

"Don't say anything yet," Emily cautioned, placing a hand on her arm. “Wait until the gala is almost over. Let's not ruin the event."

Emma nodded obediently, her eyes tracking Isabella's parents. "Okay, okay, I understand."

Emily watched them exchange pleasantries with other guests before turning her attention away. Her target tonight wasn't Isabella's parents, but Juliana Silva. She knew the event organizers had invited Benjamin Gomez, but she wasn't sure if he would attend.

Just before the charity gala officially began, Benjamin Gomez and Juliana Silva made a fashionably late entrance. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, they naturally drew everyone's eye.

Emily watched Juliana with a cool, steady gaze. Juliana held Benjamin's arm as he mingled, her etiquette flawless and her smile bright but polite. She carried herself with the poise of a high-society debutante. Now that Emily knew for certain that Juliana was Isabella, she could see traces of Isabella in every one of her movements. The resemblance was uncanny.

She stared for so long that Emma noticed and followed her gaze. When she saw the couple, her eyes widened, fixing on the woman with a flicker of excitement.

"Is... is that..." she stammered, grabbing Emily's arm. “Is that Isabella? My Emily's child?"

Emily confirmed that it was.

Emma looked at Isabella, a storm of complicated emotions brewing within her. She was beautiful, elegant, and composed but how could she have done such a terrible thing?

"Juliana Silva..." Emma murmured. This was her Emily's child. Her own niece. A wave of regret washed over her. If only she had found Emily sooner, she might have been able to stop her from swapping the babies. If the child had been raised by her, perhaps she would have grown up to be a good person like Emily Blair.

But it was too late now. Isabella had made her choices, and Emily Blair was resolute, unwilling to back down.

As Emily watched Isabella, she caught the unmistakable look of longing in her eyes as she gazed at Isabella's parents.