Alexandra woke up early in the morning, even before the sun had risen above the horizon to illuminate the city with its first rays. She couldn’t afford the slightest hurry—today was a special day. Her first serious job interview ever, which could become the beginning of something bigger than just a job. It was a chance to start a career at the dream company she had long aimed to join. Alexandra knew everything depended on her performance. Everything she had worked toward for years.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling an unpleasant tremor run through her body. Her nerves wouldn’t let her rest. Though she tried to breathe deeper and calmer, her heart raced as if sensing something important or dangerous. She had passed the first stage—the resume submission. Now she had to meet the future employer face to face, convince him that she was the right person for the position. She had no work experience, but she had a red diploma (with honors), positive recommendations from the internship director, and, most importantly, ironclad self-confidence. But would that be enough? Or would she have to fight for the spot that dozens of other candidates also wanted?
Since childhood, Alexandra had learned to rely only on herself. Her mother died when Alexandra was just five years old, and she never knew her father—his name sounded like a foreign word to her, devoid of warmth or meaning. There were no relatives. She grew up in an orphanage, where she learned a simple truth: to survive, you must be strong, have an inner core that won’t let you break even in the hardest moments. But now, despite all her determination, she felt anxious. Something inside told her the day would not be easy.
She dressed neatly, checked her documents several times, rehearsed answers to possible questions in her mind, and left the house. The weather was clear, the air fresh, and the morning sun’s light danced on the asphalt. It seemed like the perfect day to start a new chapter. Alexandra crossed the street at the green light, confident in her steps. But suddenly… the screech of brakes pierced her ears, pain shot through her body, and the world darkened before her eyes. Consciousness slipped away like sand through her fingers.
When Alexandra came to, she was surrounded by endless darkness. There was nothing around—no walls, no floor, no source of light. She walked through this strange, boundless tunnel, trying to remember who she was, what had happened, why she was here. The only thing clear was that she was rushing somewhere. Late for something. But for what? Why? What could be more important than this eternal emptiness?
Suddenly, she heard the beeping of medical instruments. Then the sharp smell of antiseptic hit her nose, making her wince. Consciousness returned slowly, but her body felt heavy, as if it didn’t belong to her. When she opened her eyes, everything swam before her. Nausea squeezed her stomach, her mouth was dry like a desert. She wanted to drink. She wanted to scream. But her voice didn’t obey. She felt lost, as if just beginning to return to this world.
Nearby, a woman’s voice spoke:
— I only found out about this when I had already started the surgery. We have to keep this secret until I am completely sure.
— So, there was no wrongdoing? — the nurse asked cautiously.
— No. I still doubt that this girl is really my daughter. I need to check everything, — answered a deep, strict male voice.
Alexandra barely shrugged, trying to understand what they were talking about. Could it be about her? Impossible. How could that be?
— How did you guess? — the nurse whispered.
— I noticed the pendant on her chest. The very one I ordered many years ago and gave to my beloved. A jade orchid with our initials on the petals. I thought it was a coincidence. But then, during the surgery, I found a birthmark on her shoulder. Exactly the same as mine. From my grandfather. I never believed in fate, but if this is really my daughter… I need to know the truth.
Jade orchid…
Those words struck Alexandra like a lightning bolt. Her body trembled. It was impossible. That pendant was the last thing her mother gave her before she died. It held the memory of a woman who loved and waited for a person who never came back. Could fate have brought them together this way—through a hospital, through injury, through chance?
She tried to speak, but only an indistinct sound came from her throat. The doctor and nurse approached, checking her vitals. Her vision was still blurry, but she managed to make out the doctor’s face. His features were familiar. Could he really be her father?
Before, she had imagined that if she met him, she would tell him everything she thought. Call him a traitor who abandoned her mother in a hard moment. But now she depended on him. Lying helpless, unable even to move. She wished all this was a mistake. A foolish, absurd mistake. She had long learned to live alone, to build her life herself, stone by stone. And suddenly—here he was, the father who appeared at the very moment she lost her chance.
Shock turned to horror when she realized—she hadn’t made it to the interview. Such a chance only comes once in a lifetime, and she missed it. Just because at the crucial moment she was not where she needed to be.
— She’s stable. We’ll give her a sedative so she can sleep until morning. No visitors for now—she’s not ready for all this.
Alexandra wanted to say she heard them, that she understood everything, but she had no strength. The nurse added the medication to the IV, and consciousness began to fade again.
The next morning Alexandra woke with a heavy head and the thought that none of this was a dream. She remembered every word, every sound. Clutching the edge of the sheet, she fought back tears. Most of all, she was tormented by missing the job. But then came another realization—that she might have gained a father.
But was that a good thing? If he had left her mother alone, pregnant and unsupported, was he worthy of forgiveness? Alexandra decided to pretend she hadn’t heard the conversation. It would be easier that way. She didn’t want a relationship with a man she considered a traitor. Her mother could no longer protect herself, but Alexandra preserved her memory, her love, and her pain. To forgive her father meant to betray the one she treasured.
When the ward door opened, Alexandra prepared to pretend. The doctor entered—a tall man with tightly pressed lips, cold eyes, and a stern expression.
— It’s good you came to. Can you speak?
— With difficulty, — she whispered.
— The police want to question you, and the other party involved in the accident demands a meeting. I told them you must not get stressed. You suffered a concussion, several fractures, including a shattered humerus. Surgery was necessary. But you’re in good hands; recovery will take time, but you will manage.
Alexandra nodded, studying the man closely. She saw features she herself had inherited. It was him. Her father. But she remained silent. She didn’t want to admit it. As soon as she could, she would run away. Disappear. And never come back.
For a moment, the thought flickered in her mind: “What if we have a chance?” But she immediately pushed it away. If he had come earlier, when she needed him, when her mother needed support… maybe things would have been different. But now it was too late.
When the doctor left, another man entered the room. A sharp suit, confident steps. Alexandra immediately recognized him—it was Pavel Evgenievich, the owner of the company she so wanted to join. Now he stood before her as the husband of the woman who hit her on the road.
— Hello, Alexandra. My name is Pavel Evgenievich. I am the husband of the woman who hit you. I paid for this ward and all necessary medicines as compensation. But I want to be honest: my wife recently got her driver’s license, and the cameras at the intersection don’t work. If you say you crossed on a red light, I’ll make your compensation much more generous.
Alexandra felt a wave of disgust wash over her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. She sat on the bed, weak and still in pain, but mentally tense as if about to jump into the unknown. Pavel Evgenievich stood before her—a man who seemed to come with an offer of help but was actually proposing a deal that hurt her just to think about.
His wife, newly licensed, hit Alexandra at a crossing where Alexandra had the green light. And instead of taking responsibility, the man tried to hush up the matter, buying conscience with money. He smiled restrainedly, almost kindly, but his eyes revealed confidence: he was used to settling things with money. For him, it was just a formality that could turn profitable for everyone if the accents were “rightly” placed.
Alexandra was silent, thinking. Were there cameras nearby? Maybe a café across the street had surveillance. Surely someone saw the incident, someone remembered details. But what difference did it make if an influential man was ready to hide the truth? If she agreed to his terms, she would save her career but lose herself. If she refused, she would lose the job she had fought so long for. At that moment she understood: the choice was not between truth and lie but between conscience and survival.
— You are silent, — he said softly, but with a tone of confident pressure. — I understand that making a deal with your conscience is not always easy. But think carefully, Alexandra. I found out that on this very day you were heading to an interview at my company. The accident happened literally two steps from the business center. What if we sign the employment contract right now? As soon as you recover, you can start working. I promise you will be treated with special attention, and you will never regret making a small concession.
His voice was even, even gentle, but every word grated on her ears. Concession… As if such an important thing as truth could be called that.
She smiled slowly—not happily, not joyfully, but with cold, sarcastic certainty. Many thoughts raced through her head. Yes, she could agree. Get the desired position, protect the guilty party, close her eyes to what happened. But could she work at a company whose head allowed such things? Where leadership was built on corruption and deception?
— You are right, — she finally spoke, looking him straight in the eyes. — I only need a few words, and my dream will come true. However, after your visit, I realized one thing: you are not right for me. A career should begin not where lies, bribery, and attempts to buy conscience prevail. I must choose a company where I feel comfortable and safe. We will not come to an agreement. And if you decide to threaten me, know this: our conversation is recorded on my phone. A copy is already in the cloud. Please do not bother me again. I will not cover for your wife.
The man abruptly rose from his chair, his face reddening with anger. He spat some rude words, said Alexandra missed her chance, that no one would take the testimony of a girl without experience and connections seriously, but she stopped listening. At that moment, she understood: fate had saved her from working in a place where she would have to be part of a system contrary to all her principles. It was not a failure but salvation.
When the police came to question her, Alexandra gave honest testimony. She told everything as it was, without a second thought about consequences. After that, she promised herself she would find a decent job—maybe not immediately, but definitely. And life, as if hearing her silent plea, began to change.
Two weeks later, Maxim Petrovich—the surgeon who operated on her and, as it turned out, her father—entered her room. He carefully sat on the edge of a chair and handed her an envelope with the results of a DNA test. A piece of paper confirming a connection that had always existed but only now received official confirmation.
— It means nothing, — Alexandra said quietly. — I had no father all those years. I didn’t look for you. You betrayed mom.
— No! — he exclaimed. — I didn’t know she was pregnant. I didn’t betray her. I asked her to wait for me when I left abroad to study, but we were separated. Gossip, intrigue… When I found out the truth, your mother was already dead. I didn’t know about you at all. If then… if I had known, I would have taken you.
He told how his cousin and her friend organized a whole conspiracy, spreading rumors about his infidelity. Alexandra’s mother believed it, broke up, and disappeared. Maxim tried to find her for a long time, but it was too late. He said every day he thought about her, that his love for her mother never faded.
— I didn’t want to do the test without your consent, — he added, — but when I saw the pendant on your chest—the jade orchid I gave your mother—I began to believe it wasn’t a coincidence. And the birthmark on your shoulder… it’s the same as mine. Then I understood: you are my daughter.
— Mom would never have sold this pendant, — Alexandra whispered, holding back emotion. — She cherished it very much.
Listening to the story of her parents’ separation, the girl felt a new feeling awaken in her heart—not resentment, not anger, but hope. Maybe they were separated not by mistakes but by others’ games? Maybe mom also wanted to fix things but didn’t have time?
Alexandra decided to give Maxim Petrovich a chance. She had been alone for too long. If mom kept the pendant, it meant she hadn’t completely let go of the past. Perhaps deep down she hoped for a meeting, a chance to explain. It was a pity they never could talk. But Alexandra was lucky—she had a second chance.
When the girl was discharged from the hospital, she quickly found a job in a small but cozy company that valued honesty and professionalism. She liked the work, the team was friendly, and the boss was fair. She did not regret refusing to cooperate with Pavel Evgenievich. His wife lost her driver’s license and was also required to pay a significant sum as compensation for the harm caused. Criminal prosecution was avoided thanks to her husband’s influence, but Alexandra knew that sooner or later such carelessness would play a cruel joke on the woman.
At the same time, her relationship with her father grew. They talked a lot, shared memories, and tried to make up for lost time. Maxim told how he met her mother, how they fell in love, how they fought for the right to be together. Alexandra listened, absorbing every word, as if finding a piece of herself lost in childhood.
They both made a mistake, letting outside influence destroy their love. But they never stopped loving each other. And although her mother could no longer forgive or be near, her daughter made a decision—to give her father a chance. Not by forgetting the pain but through understanding and forgiveness.
That’s how they found each other—despite years of separation, despite circumstances that could have torn them apart forever. Fate gave them a second chance, and they didn’t waste it. Alexandra and Maxim Petrovich were grateful to life for this gift—the chance to be family, no matter what.