“Anna denied having anything to do with Grace’s disappearance”
The episode starts with Julius making inquiries about Grace at the bus terminal but he couldn’t get any positive information since Grace was in disguise. He looked around and noticed a CCTV camera. Grace was feeling sad that Anna still hadn’t returned home since she went out.
Miss Lucy assured her that Anna would definitely come back, as she had run an orphanage before and knew when a parent left a child with a promise to return but never did. She told her she could see through their eyes, and that’s why she was sure Anna would come back.
Grace wanted to know about her mother’s mother and told Miss Lucy that Anna had grown up in the same orphanage she was running.
“What’s your mom’s full name?” she asked.
“Anna Serniento,” Grace answered, which left Miss Lucy deep in thought.
Julius showed Miranda the footage from the terminal he got. But they couldn’t clearly see the faces, so they couldn’t be sure if the child in the video was Grace. Miranda told him they had statements from those who saw them, but Julius reminded her that the people said it was a boy. Miranda thought that since they also mentioned the child resembled Grace, it might actually be her.
Julius grew more curious, wondering if the woman with Grace had kidnapped her, why would they go to Grace’s relatives? He noted how the woman in the footage held Grace—it looked normal and not like she was forcing the child. Miranda explained that since they were in public, the woman wouldn’t behave like a k!dnapper, and it was possible Grace was scared, traumatized, or manipulated.
She added it was wrong of her to take Grace from her parents. Julius revealed that Anna had been one of the teachers who reported Grace’s case to social services, and he believed the woman in the video was Anna based on her movements and posture. Miranda asked how he knew, and he revealed they were once in a relationship.
Miranda reminded him to keep personal feelings out of work.
“Miranda, you’ve known me for a long time, right? I’m a professional in everything I do, and it’s my duty to uncover the truth regardless of who gets affected,” he told her.
Helena told Charlie about her earlier encounter with Julius, who was looking for Anna. She explained that Julius only wanted to talk to her regarding work, but Charlie didn’t think that was the actual reason. He reminded Helena that Anna and Julius had almost married before she suddenly disappeared.
Helena admitted she couldn’t blame Julius if he still resented Anna, as what she did was humiliating. Oscar came to Sarah’s place to ask if she knew a woman called Mila, but Sarah said she didn’t. He told her Grace could be with that woman, and Sarah lost her calm, believing Mila had kidnapped her daughter.
Julius reviewed the footage again with Oscar, discussing the woman Grace went to Quezon with. He asked if there was a chance her name wasn’t really Mila, and Oscar said it was possible since people had described Grace as a boy. He suspected Mila might have disguised her. Oscar asked Julius how he noticed that and if he knew something they didn’t.
Julius told him about Anna, who had also disappeared the same day Grace did. Miss Lucy became concerned about Anna after seeing how hard she was working. Anna explained she needed money immediately. Miss Lucy, thinking she might be the reason, assured her she wasn’t kicking her out and that she and Bright (Grace) could stay as long as they wanted.
She handed Anna her phone to look for another job. Upon opening her email, Anna saw a message from “The National Law Enforcement Agency” regarding the ongoing investigation. Sarah went to Miranda to tell her about Anna, who was also missing since Grace disappeared. They went to the NLEA, and Miranda told Oscar that Sarah might know who Mila was.
Before they could talk further, Anna arrived. She explained that she had reported what happened to Grace before but denied having anything to do with the current situation. “If I had anything to do with it, why would I even bother showing up?” she asked.
Miranda reminded Oscar of the reason Anna was there, and Oscar explained he had been asking about her whereabouts the day Grace disappeared, as she was supposed to leave for Hong Kong but didn’t.
“And what did she say?” Miranda asked.
Anna showed them her sister’s wedding invitation, explaining that she had stayed because of it.
“Is that so?” Julius asked from behind, showing her the bus terminal footage, believing the woman in it was her. But Anna denied being the woman in the video.
Miranda asked Anna if she had any idea where Grace could have gone or if she knew anyone who could have taken her. Anna replied that wasn’t the question they should be asking. Instead, they should asked: what kind of life did the child have? Why was she malnourished and always dirty? Why was her body covered in bruises?
“Are you blaming me?” Sarah asked angrily. Anna said she wasn’t blaming anyone, as they were all at fault—they all neglected Grace. They never asked what she was going through because she always seemed okay and happy. She told them it was everyone’s fault, not leaving herself out. Everyone looked on, speechless, not knowing what to say.
