Olivia was a single mom after her husband died. She raised her alone in a decent way. This happened when her daughter, Amelia was 9 years old. She had a best friend named Isabella in her class who was from a poorer family.
One day Isabella went missing. Her parents were desperately searching for her. They were out of money but arranged a press meeting and told them that they were begging them all to help her find their daughter.
They all responded to them and the whole town was on edge. They all were looking for her everywhere. Olivia also joined them in searching. They searched in the jungles and in the town and also they distributed posters for the missing Isabella Bates.
Being a mother Olivia was scared too. She thought that was awful. She remembered her husband who she had lost a few years earlier. He requested her to protect their daughter. She also promised him to take every care of Amelia.
At that night she stood on the doorstep of her daughter's room. She was sleeping then and she stood there for a while. She looked at the innocent face of Amelia and thought that she would go insane if her girl went missing.
On top of that, her daughter and Isabella were very good friends. She often came to their place and stayed at their home. Olivia remembered the last Christmas when she came to their home and the two friends played with snow. They were very happy at that time.
But something was not right with Amelia. For some reason, she was not worried at all and didn't shed tears. She was happy instead and lead her life as she used to do. Olivia thought that she must be in shock but didn't want to express it in a sad way.
However, days went by but the girl didn't return up. She met with Isabella's parents and told them that it would be okay and she would be found. But they were losing hopes as no one could find a clue or any trace.
After a few days, something strange happened to Olivia. She noticed that food started to disappear from her fridge. One day she opened it and saw the empty plate on which she put the pie. She thought that she was sure she baked a pie just the previous day.
She was astonished and asked her daughter if she had eaten the whole pie. Amelia smiled and said that she did. But she told her that she hated spinach. She pretended not to care about it and said that she was very hungry.
But it wasn't the only strange thing that was happening. Her daughter started coming home late after classes. One day it was 9 pm and she still didn't return. Olivia became so tensed and thought about where she could be.
And after this, Amelia took 2 more hours to return. Her mom got so angry and reminded her that she asked her to go home right after classes. She also reminded her that she was worried about her as she didn't want her to go missing as Isabella did.
Amelia also got angry and said that she was not missing. And then she understood that she said something that to be secret. Olivia was also shocked and asked her daughter what she just said. Amelia whispered her mom's question and became so upset. She said that they would then force Isabella to return.
Olivia was literally in shock but requested her daughter to tell her the truth. She promised her that she would do everything to make sure Isabella was okay.
It turned out that Isabella's parents were monsters. They tortured her physically and mentally. Her dad said that she was a nobody in the house and she had to thank him for letting her sleep in the house. Isabella cried but protested her dad saying he had no right to treat her like that.
Then her mom spoke out and behaved in the same way as her father. She said that Isabella was a louse and so she would cut her hair for talking back. And with scissors, she cut her hair and that day she ran out of the house.
She told Amelia and a few other classmates about this. She was living in the basement of an abandoned house. And the friends took turns bringing her food. She was there and so was late to return home.
Listening to Amelia's words, Olivia could not hold back tears. She asked her why she had no turned to adults for help. Amelia asked her who she could trust, given what her parents are capable of. And Olivia could understand everything.
Together with the parents of other kids who had helped Isabella hide, they went to that house. Isabella requested her not to let them take her. She added that they were looking for her just because they were afraid she would tell the truth. Olivia assured her that no one was going to hurt her again.
They went to police and after the investigation the officer told her that she had done a great job. Without her, that girl could have ended up in a worse situation. She asked him what was going to happen to Isabella. He replied that she would go to a foster home as she would be better off there than with her parents.
Six months later.....
Olivia made lemonade and said, "Girls, would you like some lemonade?" Amelia and Isabella were playing at the ground and they said, "Yes, mom."
Olivia adopted Isabella. She could not allow her to be taken to a foster home after everything she had been through. Many tried to talk her out of it, but she knew she did the right thing because her daughter had a sister and she had another child who she loved with all her heart.
