If there was one thing that Evelyn took seriously in her life, it was her role as a mother. All she wanted to do was provide the best for her daughter, Olivia.

As a single mother, she grappled with the daily challenges that came with raising a child alone, but her sweet girl made it all worthwhile.

Whenever she had a bad day, there was just one line that made everything better: “Mommy, I love you.”

Now, at ten years old, Olivia’s innate talent for dancing was blossoming and had even secured her a scholarship to a prestigious dance academy’s summer camp.

“Darling,” she told Olivia over ice cream one day, “Dance camp is going to be incredible, but it means that we won’t see each other for three months. Are you okay with that?”

Her daughter smiled and nodded.

“I’ll be dancing, Mom,” she said.

The separation was difficult, but Evelyn consoled herself with the thought that her child was pursuing her passion.

“I’ll be fine, Mom,” Evelyn told her mother, Maggie, over the phone. “And I know that Olivia is safe at camp. When I signed her up, I was told the camp counselor in charge of Liv’s age group would send weekly updates.”

“Well, you’re braver than I am,” Maggie chuckled. “I wouldn’t have sent you away at ten years old.”

“I know,” Evelyn laughed in return. “But I’ve got to give my child wings.”

Three months passed, and finally, it was time for Olivia to return home. Evelyn spent the day baking cookies for her daughter’s arrival, eagerly waiting for the bus to appear at the end of the driveway.

“I can’t wait,” she muttered as she decided to make a batch of cupcakes, too.

But the reunion wasn’t as joyful as Evelyn had anticipated.

From the moment Olivia stepped off the bus, something felt very different. Her usually smiley and bubbly little girl was suddenly withdrawn and distant.

The little girl didn’t run into her arms as she usually did every day after school. And even more, there was no enthusiastic recount of her camp experience.

“Hey, sweet girl, how was camp?” Evelyn asked, bending down to hug Olivia. “I want you to tell me everything!”

“It was fine,” Olivia replied softly, not meeting her mother’s eyes.

Of course, Evelyn’s heart sank, but she couldn’t be upset at her daughter, especially after not seeing her for so many months.

“Maybe she’s just exhausted from the trip,” she muttered as she walked into the house behind Olivia with her luggage. “She just needs a day or two to recover and then she’ll be fine.”

But over the next few days, her concern grew. Olivia was unusually shy, and she didn’t hug Evelyn as much as before.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Evelyn asked her. “Why doesn’t Mom get hugs anymore?”

Olivia just shrugged her shoulders.

Evelyn also noticed that Olivia’s dollhouse went untouched, something that she loved more than anything.

Things got worse when Evelyn’s birthday came and went without the customary handmade card and song-and-dance routine from Olivia, which had been her tradition since she was five years old.

“What is going on?” Evelyn asked herself one evening before bed.

The final straw came one day when Evelyn noticed Olivia writing with her left hand. Olivia was right-handed and had been since the day she was born.

She watched in stunned silence as her daughter continued writing effortlessly with her left hand.

“Dear Lord, Olivia, who are you?” Evelyn whispered, her voice trembling.

She rushed over and gently pulled Olivia’s hair back, searching for the small birthmark behind her ear.

It wasn’t there.

Evelyn’s blood ran cold.

This child looked exactly like her daughter, but she wasn’t Olivia.

“Who are you?” Evelyn asked gently, although fear ran through her veins.

The girl’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m Mia,” she confessed. “Liv and I switched places at dance camp because we look the same.”

How could this have happened?

“Mia, where is Olivia?” she asked.

Mia hesitated and took a sip of water from the glass in front of her.

“Olivia is with my dad. Everyone said that we look like twins, and we decided to switch places for a while. Liv said that you’re the best mom. But I’m really homesick.”

Evelyn felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

“Take me to your father,” she said. “What’s your address, darling?”

It turned out that Mia and her family lived just two hours away. Evelyn’s heart pounded as she knocked on the door. It swung open to reveal a man that she never expected to see again.

Dylan.

Olivia’s father. The man who had disappeared moments after their daughter was born, moments after her twin sister was declared deceased at birth.

“How could you?” she shrieked, looking at the ghost from her past.

“Evelyn… I…” Dylan stammered. “What are you doing here?”

Finally, his eyes landed on Mia, standing behind Evelyn.

Dylan stepped aside, revealing Olivia sitting on the couch, looking confused and scared. Evelyn rushed to her, hugging her tightly.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Olivia said, tears streaming down her face as she clung to her mother.

Turning to Dylan, Evelyn’s fury unleashed.

“You have a lot to explain. Start now,” she demanded.

Dylan sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“After you gave birth, there were complications. You were unconscious, and the doctor told me one of the twins didn’t make it and would be stillborn. But he was wrong. Both girls were healthy. You knew I was cheating on you, and my girlfriend at the time couldn’t have kids.”

“So you stole my child! You let me grieve for a daughter I thought I lost.”

“I thought it was for the best,” Dylan tried to explain, but his words sounded hollow even to him.

“Girls,” Evelyn barked. “Pack your things. Mia, you too. You’re coming with us.”

The ride home was heavy with unspoken thoughts. The twins sat silently in the backseat, both overwhelmed by the truth that Dylan had revealed.

Evelyn’s mind raced with thoughts of the past and the future. She knew that she needed to confront Dylan properly and ensure justice was served.

“Come on, girls,” Evelyn said. “It’s time for bed.”

The next morning, Evelyn called a lawyer and explained everything.

“I need help, Christy. This isn’t okay. I need this to be made right.”

“Oh, honey,” Christy reassured her. “Dylan’s got another thing coming to him.”

Legal proceedings were set in motion swiftly. A few days later, she arranged to meet Dylan in a coffee shop, taking Christy with her for support.

“We need to talk,” she said the moment he sat down.

“What’s this about, Evelyn?” Dylan asked.

“It’s about the twins. How could you take my daughter and let me believe she was dead?” Evelyn asked.

“It wasn’t like that… I left one with you!” he said stupidly. “I thought it was for the best.”

“For the best? This ends now.”

Then Christy stepped in, handing Dylan legal documents.

“Mr. Spencer, you’re being served with a lawsuit for child abduction, fraud, and emotional distress. You will be facing charges, and we will ensure that justice is served.”

Dylan was speechless.

A few months later, he was found guilty and sentenced to prison. He didn’t even try and defend himself; after his girlfriend had left him due to financial issues, he barely coped with raising Mia.

The twins were confused at first, but they were comforted by being together.

“I’m going to get you two some help, okay?” Evelyn told them over dinner. “You can speak to a therapist about how you both feel. And that’s going to make a difference in how you feel. I promise.”

The girls smiled at their mother, holding each other’s hands.

Evelyn couldn’t fathom how Mia felt. To be torn away from her father, to assume that her mother was a random woman? And to eventually discover that she had a sister who looked identical to her?

And all of that at only ten years old?

“I have to cherish this little girl more than ever,” Evelyn told herself as she washed the dishes that evening.