Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

"I managed to get by. I found a regular job, nothing fancy, but it helped me make ends meet. However, that thug's family kept harassing me. They demanded money every month, threatening to ruin my life if I didn't comply. Eventually, I had no choice but to resign. I ended up working as a street cleaner out of desperation. They finally backed off when they saw how miserable I had become."

Despite the hardships she faced, Saule still retained her dignity and poise. Pearl couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness when she thought about Saule's miserable past.

"Then, one day, I was attacked on the street for no reason. When I came to, I found myself naked on an operating table."

Pearl felt a surge of indignation at the thought of Saule's ordeal.

"They claimed my blood was unique and could be used for experiments. I was terrified. I tried to escape, but they beat me. In the end, they didn't conduct any experiments on me. They simply kept me locked up, knowing they could profit from my blood."

Pearl's expression hardened. The realization dawned on her that Saule's resemblance to her could have made her a target, a means of controlling Pearl.

"I've met you before, Pearl."

"When and where did we meet?" Pearl's curiosity was piqued. She hadn't traveled abroad for nearly six months, except for the trip with Hugo to treat Beah's illness.

"I saw you in the red-light district while I was working as a street cleaner. I tried to dissuade you, but you were determined to go," Saule recalled.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

Pearl finally recalled that incident. She had disguised herself and ventured into the red-light district to get the herbs to cure Gigi. But she didn't take the cleaner's warning seriously and forgot about it.

"I remember now. Did you recognize me then?"

Tears welled up in Saule's eyes. "You're my daughter, and you look so much like me when I was younger. How could I not recognize you?"

She had initially thought she was seeing things, but the second time she saw Pearl, she was certain. Pearl's features were a mirror image of her own youthful face.

But she didn't want to burden Pearl with the knowledge of her mother's lowly occupation. She forced herself to keep her distance, observing Pearl from afar whenever she could.

"Why didn't you reveal yourself to me then?" Pearl's heart ached at the thought of what Saule had endured alone. If only she had known, she would have offered her mother comfort and support.

"I didn't want to embarrass you. The last thing I wanted was for you to discover that your mother was reduced to cleaning streets for a living."

Saule had spared Pearl the shame of associating with a mother of lowly status. Beah was a charming and remarkable woman, making her a more fitting choice to be Pearl's mother.

"No, that's not true. No matter what you did, you're still my mother. I would only feel compassion for what you've endured. I would never look down on you," Pearl said.