Alex drove Valentina and Julia to one of his flagship supermarkets. He assigned a manager to them and told him their credit was unlimited.

  • “Val, get absolutely anything you need. Pick out the best products—whatever Julia loves, whatever you love.”
  • “While you do that, I have to go meet with a lawyer. We need to get Hannah out.”

Alex met with the best litigator in the state, and a few days later, he drove to the correctional facility to see Hannah.

  • “Forgive me, my love,” were the first words he said when he saw her.
  • “And you forgive me, Alex, for not telling you about our daughter,” Hannah replied, lifting her large, tired eyes to meet his. She had barely changed in ten years, only becoming thinner, more worn. “I only found out I was pregnant after I left. I was afraid to tell you. I could feel you weren’t ready for marriage. My biggest fear was that you’d suggest I terminate the pregnancy, and I could never have done that. And that day… when I saw you with her, I felt like I had been betrayed by the closest person in my world. The only person—I had no one but you. I figured you were happy with that life: partying, changing girlfriends. There was no place in that life for me, especially with a child.”
  • “Hannah, I was going to propose to you. I had already bought the ring. It’s still at home. It was like I was possessed that night. I have regretted it every single day since.”
  • “Alex, so many times I wanted to find you, to tell you about Julia, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. You became so successful, so wealthy. You were always surrounded by beautiful women. I thought maybe you wouldn’t even believe me.”
  • “Hannah, what are you saying? I spent years looking for you. I thought about you every minute. I never got married because I couldn’t love anyone else. How did you manage all this time?”
  • “Back then, ten years ago, I just left. I took a bus a thousand miles away. I didn’t care where, just as long as it was far from you. I got a job at a hospital, working overtime, and rented a small apartment. I took any extra shift I could get and managed to save up a little money before Julia was born. When she turned one, I went back to work. I had a good reputation. Then I was offered a great position back here, in our home city, and I decided to take it. I always wanted Julia to meet you someday. I told her that her dad was a good man, but that something terrible had happened and that’s why we weren’t together. I bought the condo, life was finally getting stable. And then… this nightmare at the hospital happened.”
  • “Hannah, I’m getting you out of here. My lawyer is already filing for a retrial based on new evidence we’re digging up on the surgeon. And when you walk out of that prison, you’re coming to my home. All of us—you, me, Julia, and Grandma Val. I hope you won’t fight me on this?”
  • “No, Alex, I won’t. I’ve grown up a lot in these years. We’ve already lost so much time. Our future is ahead of us.”
  • “Hannah…”
  • “Yes, Alex. Can we tell Julia you’re her father? I would love that more than anything.”
  • “Of course. I’m not against it.”

After his visit with Hannah, Alex went straight to his daughter. Julia was overjoyed with her new toys and treats but immediately asked:

  • “Uncle Alex, did you see my mom? Is she coming home soon?”
  • “Yes, sweetheart, I did. She sends all her love. We’ll all be together very soon. And there’s something else. Julia, I need to tell you something, and I don’t want you to worry. I’m not Uncle Alex. I mean, I am Alex, but… I’m your dad.”
  • “I figured that out already!” Julia laughed happily and threw her arms around his neck.

A month later, Alex and Julia were waiting for Hannah at the gates of the correctional facility. Grandma Val was waiting for them at Alex’s sprawling suburban estate, having shooed the housekeeper out of the kitchen so she could bake pies herself.

  • “My dear girl, Hannah, my sweet daughter, Alex…”

Hannah melted with happiness in the arms of her daughter and the man she loved. Alex’s soul sang; for the first time in a decade, he felt truly alive. And waiting for Hannah on the backseat of the BMW was an enormous basket of fresh forget-me-nots.

After all, if it hadn’t been for the earrings, who knows how their story would have ended.