Disclosed Identity

Chapter 4: The Discovery

“Good morning, Sir Mat. We’ve found Ms. Karen Cruz. She’s the woman captured on the CCTV footage carrying the infant 20 years ago," the investigator reported over the phone.

Matthew stood up straight, his eyes widening. "Nice job! Please confirm her current address and double-check if they are still living there."

"Will do, Sir."

"Mom! Mom!" Matthew called out eagerly as he rushed into the living room.

Imee looked up from her documents, catching the excitement in his voice. "Yes, son? Why do you look like that?"

"Mom, I have great news! They found the woman carrying the baby in the CCTV footage!"

Imee covered her mouth, her eyes filling with tears of relief and anticipation. "OMG, son! I’m so excited... I can't believe it."

"Me too, Mom. Let's call Tito Jhon right away," Matthew said, already pulling out his phone.

"Yes, that's better. Call him now!"

Karen's POV

Hi! I’m Karen Cruz. I work as a janitress at a hospital, and I’m the one who found Elle years ago. I brought her home and raised her as my own, and over the years, I’ve grown to love her deeply as my true sister. It breaks my heart that I can't support her studies right now because we’re barely making ends meet.

" Karen, someone’s outside looking for you!" Maica called out from the doorway.

"Huh? Who is it? Tell them to wait a moment, I'm just cleaning up in here," Karen replied from the kitchen.

"Okay!" Maica stepped back outside. "Sir, she says to please wait a moment while she finishes up." Just then, Elle walked through the gate. "Hey, Elle! Why are you only getting back now?"

"Sorry, I had to buy something in town earlier," Elle replied softly.

"Sir, please take a seat first. Elle, get him something to drink," Maica instructed.

"Sure."

While waiting, the investigator looked at Maica with a curious expression. "Are you two sisters with that girl?"

"Oh, no, sir. But we treat her like our real sister. Ate Karen found her abandoned at the hospital 20 years ago," Maica explained casually.

"I see... Where is your older sister now?"

Elle walked back out holding a glass of water. "Here’s your drink, Sir."

The investigator looked closely at Elle's face, struck by a familiar resemblance. "What’s your name?"

"Elle, sir. Elle Cruz."

"How old are you?"

"I'm 20 years old, sir."

"I see... Do you know—"

"Who’s the visitor, Maica?" Karen asked, wiping her hands on her apron as she finally came out to the porch.

"Ms. Karen Cruz, may I speak with you privately?" the investigator asked, standing up.

"Sure, sir. Maica, Elle, go inside for a moment," Karen said.

"Okay," Elle replied, taking Maica inside the house.

Karen turned to the man, her pulse quickening slightly. "Who are you, sir? What do you need from me?"

The investigator pulled a printed CCTV frame from his folder and held it up. "Is this you?"

Karen stared at the old, grainy photograph. "Yes... that’s me."

"Who is the baby you’re carrying here?"

"That’s Elle... Why do you ask?" Karen said, growing defensive.

"Your other sister mentioned that you found Elle at the hospital. Is that correct?"

"Yes. But I didn't know who her parents were! I thought she was completely abandoned, so I took her in because I felt so sorry for her as a baby," Karen explained hastily.

"Do you have a picture of her when she was a baby?"

"Um... yes, I do. Wait a moment," Karen said, rushing inside to grab a small photo album before returning. "Here it is, sir."

The investigator compared the baby photo with the documents in his file, nodding slowly as the final piece of the puzzle fell into place.

"Confirmed, Ma'am. She is the missing daughter of Ms. Imee Marcos and the President."

Karen gasped, clutching her chest as the weight of the realization hit her. "W-what do you mean?"

"I’m a private investigator hired to track down the missing child. We’ve been searching for you for a very long time."

Karen’s eyes welled with tears as she looked toward the front door where Elle was inside. "I’m... I’m not ready to tell Elle everything yet, sir. Yes, she knows she’s not our blood relative, but this will be such a huge shock for her."

"Don't worry, Ma'am. What matters most right now is that Ms. Imee finally knows the truth about her child—the daughter she has been desperately searching for over the last 20 years."

"Tomorrow... I will tell her everything myself," Karen promised softly, wiping a tear.

"Thank you very much for your cooperation, Ma'am."

"Please... tell Ms. Imee that I'm so sorry I couldn't return her daughter sooner. If I had known who she belonged to, I would have brought Elle back to her a long time ago."

"I will pass along your message, Ma'am," the investigator assured her before leaving.