© ARD Grundy UFA
After getting over the initial shock, Elisabeth finally lets go of her tight embrace of Carla. Carla gets to greet Elisabeth properly while Stella gives her a
“Ms. Ryan” greeting cheekily. Elisabeth asks about Sophia since the lil’ girl isn’t with them. Carla gives Stella a panic look and frantically utters that they’ve left Sophia behind! Elisabeth is horrified only to find out that Carla’s just pulling her legs, as usual.
(Oh, how gullible art thou, Elisabeth?!)
© ARD Grundy UFA
Carla asks if there’s anything new going on. Elisabeth looks uneasy. Carla immediately assumes it’s something to do with Ansgar and Tanja. Elisabeth dismisses the notion. She hesitantly replies that there’s one big thing that has happened which she didn’t get a chance to tell them before their return to the castle.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Just then, in walk Ansgar and Maria who is stunned to see Carla standing in the main atrium. Carla immediately goes over to give her a warm hug, at the same time, greeting her,
“Hi, Mother!” Maria looks even guiltier as she returns the hug hesitatingly. Carla feels Maria’s wavering hug and immediately senses that something’s happened so she asks point blank. Elisabeth quickly cuts in to say that it’s neither the time nor the place to talk since Carla and Stella just arrived. But Carla won’t hear of it and presses on. Maria then motions Carla to the living room.
© ARD Grundy UFA
When Carla’s in the living room with Maria, Elisabeth is just about to enter as well. Maria tries to keep her out but Elisabeth won’t hear of it and insists that she’s in the room with them when Maria breaks the
“news” to the still unsuspecting Carla. Carla is visibly impatient with all the secrecy, thus presses Maria to spill the beans already, so to speak. Maria then, with much difficulty, begins to reveal that she’s not Francesca, Carla’s mother, after all. Carla instantly exclaims, “What?!” in total disbelief. Maria continues to reveal that there were 3 sisters – Francesca, Carlotta & her, Maria. Carla looks confused and says,
“But I thought they were dead.” Maria assures her otherwise, that she was living with another family.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Carla continues to reject the notion and remarks,
“But the DNA test….” At this point, Elisabeth jumps in quickly and replies that it was bogus, much to Maria’s chagrin. Maria proceeds to express her deepest regret and apologizes to Carla, asking her to be believed. Carla is visibly disturbed and confused. Elisabeth affirms what Maria has said so far is true and that this woman is definitely not Francesca. Carla then asks if Leonard, Constantin and Ansgar were notified about this.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Elisabeth affirms but states that Ansgar knew about it before everyone else did. Carla interrupts and finishes the sentence for Elisabeth as she concludes that Ansgar obviously kept it a secret, which of ‘coz he would do that so he could take over the Holding with the deception of Maria being her mother. Maria tries to explain but Carla shuts her up.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Elisabeth then reveals an even more alarming secret – that Ansgar is the child of Johannes and Maria. By this time, Carla can’t stand it any longer. She bursts out in anger, screaming that she doesn’t even know her family anymore. She glares at Maria accusingly, shakes her head in disbelief, and storms off, leaving Maria stunned and Elisabeth giving her a similarly dirty glare.
(Yes, it’s ALL YOUR FAULT, Maria!!!)
© ARD Grundy UFA
Later, Carla is sitting in Stella’s old office, her mind miles away. Just then, Stella walks toward the office, sees Carla and is relieved that she’s finally found her
(must be looking for Carla since they left each other in the main atrium!). She goes over to Carla’s side and begins to tell her what she found out from Elisabeth – that Tanja had an accident. Carla shakes her head but seems distracted. Stella looks at Carla curiously and wonders,
“It’s true that the Tanja issue was what your mother had wanted to tell you earlier, right?” Carla looks at Stella and replies in disgust,
“That woman is not my mother!”
© ARD Grundy UFA
Meanwhile, Carla and Stella are still in Stella’s old office. Carla feels bitter about the whole scam
(oh, we feel ya, Carla! What a scandal indeed!), mocking that the whole Maria confession is all nonsense and something that the woman would do. Stella, knowing how upset Carla is, gives her an assuring and calming hug, reminding Carla that Maria, aka
“the woman” means nothing to her anymore, so no use wasting her energy on her. Carla sighs deeply, agreeing to Stella’s sensible
(as always!) reasoning.
© ARD Grundy UFA
© ARD Grundy UFA
When they break away from each other’s embrace, Carla taking Stella’s advice to heart, changes tone and tells her she’s thought of something better – she’s going to check on Sophia – and walks away, leaving Stella watching her go, not too sure if she should feel relieved or apprehensive about Carla’s sudden switch in her mindset.
© ARD Grundy UFA
At the Holding, Carla’s busy in her office. In struts Ansgar trying to unsettle Carla. He reminds her that despite all the recent revelations, nothing has changed. He’s as much a part of the Holding as she is and suggests that they should forget the past and work together.
© ARD Grundy UFA
When Carla brushes it off, not wanting to engage in the conversation, Ansgar leaves the office but not before throwing insults on Carla, as usual. Carla ponders quietly about the whole mess that’s been tossed to her now that she’s back.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Later, Carla calls Ludwig to ask if he could meet with her at
Schneider’s to discuss some matters. Maria bumps into Ludwig as he hangs up his mobile. He asks her to tag along with him, despite Maria’s apprehension. At
Schneider’s, Carla and Elisabeth are seated at the bar, Carla looking visibly nervous. Elisabeth asks if she’s nervous about seeing her uncle, Ludwig, again. Carla admits that her phone conversation with him was a bit odd but he did sound confident. Elisabeth then asks if she recognizes Ludwig.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Just then, Elisabeth sees Ludwig entering the restaurant. Carla turns around and breaks into a big smile as she gives her long-lost uncle a hug, saying how glad she is to see him which he returns the greeting similarly.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Then she spots Maria standing distantly and immediately turns away in disgust, but not before giving Ludwig a dirty look
(since obviously he brought that woman with him!). Maria walks over to Carla, pleading for her to hear her out. Carla’s back is on Maria, not heeding to what she has to say. So Maria gently taps Carla on the back to motion her to turn around. But that action clearly is a big mistake….at least for Maria, ‘coz Carla instantly turns around and gives her such a tight, stinging slap in the face that Maria bowls over.
© ARD Grundy UFA
Maria regains her balance and stares at Carla in utter shock. Carla turns away, feeling guilty about losing her temper on Maria like that in public, while Elisabeth tries to console her. Carla’s mixed emotions of anger and disappointment gets the best of her as she burst into tears.
(WELL DONE, CARLA!!!! SEE! It has to be CARLA as the perfect one to give the ever-deceitful Maria a big wallop! Bravo! Heheh!)