Episode 3 of Season 1 of "The Stolen Girl" kicks off with a poignant flashback, nine months prior to Lucia's abduction. Rebecca, then in France, encounters Delphine, a woman who recognizes her as Nina. Delphine's query about her deceased husband, Nicolas, catches Rebecca off guard. She hastily clarifies that Nicolas perished in an accident and reveals her recent acquisition of his ancestral home.
Months later, the scene shifts to a restaurant where Rebecca approaches a stranger with an earnest plea. She implores the woman to facilitate a connection with Milan, the secondary kidnapper. With tears welling up, Rebecca shares her harrowing tale of a daughter torn from her arms. Moved by her plight, the woman agrees to put Rebecca in touch with Milan. Three weeks before executing her daring rescue of Lucia, Rebecca arrives in the UK to set her plan into motion.
Present times unfold as Lucia grapples with adjusting to life with Rebecca and Josie in France. Rebecca, eyes filled with emotion, introduces herself as her mother, explaining how she was ripped away from her in childhood. She reassures Lucia that they are a family, finally reunited, and vows never to let her slip away again. Over the ensuing days, Rebecca shares childhood photographs of Josie with her father, and Lucia's doubts dissipate upon recognizing her birthmark in the pictures.
Back in their hometown, Fred turns himself in for assault, much to Elisa's fury. Despite her anger, she posts bail for him, and Sinclair updates them on the latest developments. Elisa and Fred are astounded to learn their daughter might be in France. Sinclair reassures them that the French police are already involved and that answers are imminent. Insistent on doing everything in her power, Elisa decides to post the footage on her social media account, appealing to the public for help in bringing their daughter home.
Meanwhile, Selma persists in delving into Elisa's shadowy past. Her editor congratulates her on the success of her recent article about the ransom letter, revealing that she now has a compelling story on her hands. This triumph fuels Selma's determination to unravel Elisa's history with uncontainable zeal. She unearths Elisa's birth records, which lead her to Eyton, a commune where Elisa spent her entire upbringing. Selma embarks on a journey to Eyton, where she seeks out Elisa's mother. The woman's words are tinged with disdain, her heart heavy with resentment for her daughter's departure from the commune. Selma also engages with another commune member, who confirms that Elisa harbored an unwavering desire to escape.
Back in France, Rebecca glances at her phone and discovers to her dismay that the police are hot on Lucia's trail and are aware of Milan's involvement. She hastily dials Milan's number, only to receive a stern warning never to call again. Despite this, she inquiries about the getaway car, to which Milan curtly responds that it is where they had agreed upon. Seeking confirmation, Rebecca ventures to the secluded site and verifies that Milan has indeed disposed of the vehicle.
Upon returning home, she is met with an unexpected visitor – her new neighbor, Anton, who introduces himself. The sudden encounter catches Rebecca off guard, but she quickly regains her composure. Later, she cautions her children to refrain from discussing their family matters.
Across the pond in the UK, Selma makes a decision to pen an article exploring how Elisa's tumultuous childhood might have shaped her parenting. She subtly places the blame on Elisa for abandoning Lucia with Rebecca. Elisa stumbles upon the post and promptly unleashes her frustrations on Fred. Fred vows to take action against Selma for her defamatory journalism. He also inquiries if Elisa is concealing any dark secrets from her communal upbringing, but she vehemently denies it, refusing to revisit those haunting memories.
In the dim evening twilight, Rebecca gently soothed Lucia after another harrowing nightmare had left her trembling. She whispered reassuringly that Lucia's subconscious must be grappling with the harrowing memory of her father's accident.
The following day, Selma received a tantalizing tip from her trusted police contact. The French authorities had discovered traces of Lucia’s blood in the suspected abduction house. However, the forensic report cautioned that the quantity was insufficient for definitive conclusions. With a mix of hope and caution, Selma conveyed this information to her editor, who sternly advised her to steer clear of Elisa. The aggrieved couple had already lodged a complaint against her.
Elsewhere, Sinclair imparted the grim news of the blood evidence to the couple, sending Elisa into a state of emotional turmoil. Meanwhile, by the tranquil yet invigorating shores of the beach, Rebecca unexpectedly encountered Delphine once more. This encounter marked a significant shift as Rebecca introduced the children, including Lucia, as her daughters. Lucia, displaying remarkable poise, eagerly participated in the charade, even conversing in French with Delphine, her tones natural and unforced.
As dusk settled in, Rebecca made a solemn promise to Lucia: she vowed to uncover more photographs of her and her father. With determined resolve, she turned to her laptop, meticulously editing the family albums to isolate and highlight Lucia's distinctive birthmark amidst the cherished memories.
