Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Ever since Yolanda vanished into thin air, the bracelet went MIA too.

Martin never thought he’d lay eyes on that eyesore of a bracelet again in this lifetime. But out of the blue, boom, there it was, after all these years.

The image of that little munchkin, showing off the bracelet with such glee, popped into Martin’s head. Something seemed to be stuck in his throat, and he turned his head slightly, his thumb absentmindedly caressing the “y” etched on the bracelet. His gaze inevitably shifted to Marian.

She didn’t much look like Yolanda as a rugrat, and the way she looked at him was all strangers and defense. Yet, she was about the same age as Yolanda would’ve been.

He hadn’t missed her earlier remark. “Even if I was your so-called sister, I wouldn’t go with you. I’m living the good life now, with my mom, dad, and brother who adore me.”

“Did your folks adopt you?” Martin asked.

Marian nodded briskly, “Yeah, they found me and just kinda took me in.”

“When did they find you?”

Marian pouted, “What’s it to you? I’m not gonna go with you anyway.”

4

After saying that, she stepped forward, trying to snatch the bracelet from his hand, “Give it back, I gotta get to class.”

Martin let go.

Marian grabbed the bracelet back, tucking it behind her like it was her precious, still eyeing Martin warily, as if she was worried he’d pull a fast one.

Martin couldn’t help but chuckle at her guarded look. He glanced at his watch and said to her, “Looks like your ride took off. I can drop you off at school.”

With that, he hit the elevator button.

Marian quickly rejected the offer, “No need. I can walk.”

As she saw the elevator doors open, she hurried inside.

Martin followed and pressed the button for the ground floor.

Marian, standing in the opposite corner of the elevator, looked even more on guard. “What are you up to? I told you, even if I were your sister, I wouldn’t go with you, I’m doing just fine. You’d better drop it.”

“And another thing,” Marian emphasized seriously, “Don’t you dare bother my parents. If they find out their adopted daughter’s real family came looking, and it upsets them, you’ll have me to answer to.”

Her anxious protectiveness reminded Martin of a young Yolanda, who back then was looking out for Brandon.

Marian’s wariness deepened at Martin’s look.

”

2

1

“Don’t worry, I’m not here to take you back,” Martin reassured her softly, “I just want to clear up whether you’re Yolanda or not. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like you to take a DNA test with me. Grandpa’s getting on in years, and he’s been worried sick about you ever since you disappeared. If he knew you were alive, it would mean the world to him.”

“I don’t want to,” Marian rejected outright, “What do I care if he’s old and worried about his granddaughter? I don’t remember him.”

Martin frowned.

Marian recoiled a little at the intensity of his frown but stood her ground, “Like I said, I’m not going back with you. I don’t want to find my birth parents. My parents now are my real parents. They’re good to me and I don’t want to do any DNA test. If it proves we’re related, it’ll just complicate things. I don’t want to trouble myself or my parents. Just let it go.”

The elevator doors opened mid-conversation, and Marian bolted out like she was escaping a flood, constantly looking back to see if Martin was following.

Martin chuckled at her eagerness to avoid him and followed her out.

Marian’s cab was still waiting. She dashed to it, flung open the door, and jumped in. As the car pulled away, she didn’t forget to stick her head out the window and yell at Martin. “Stop looking for me! No matter who I am, I’m not going back with you!”

Martin ignored her barking and watched as she drove off. Then he hailed a cab and followed.

In Brandon’s car

Brandon drove in silence.

Sophia sat quietly in the passenger seat, her demeanor calm and composed, seemingly unaffected by the recent hiccup.

After a while, Brandon spoke up softly, “Martin’s Yolanda’s biological brother.”

Sophia hummed in acknowledgment, “He’s pretty easy on the eyes.”

She then smiled and turned to Brandon, “Looks like good genes run in her family.”

Brandon glanced at her and curled the corner of his lips slightly, “Guess so.”

Sophia managed a polite smile in return.

Brandon remembered the look of surprise in her eyes when she heard Martin ask if Marian was Yolanda.

“Initially, I was the one who tipped off Martin,” Brandon explained, “Marian is about the same age as Yolanda, and she’s always wearing that bracelet. So I wanted Martin to meet Marian and possibly do a DNA test, just to be sure.”

Sophia smiled, “That’s a good move. If she turns out to be Yolanda, it’ll be one less thing for you to worry about.”

“But then, I regretted it,” said Brandon, glancing at her. “My gut tells me she can’t be Yolanda, no need to check. But Martin didn’t want to miss any leads, so he came anyway.”

Sophia frowned, puzzled, “Isn’t it good that he came? Whether she is or isn’t, you need to have an answer.”

“Yeah, an answer is needed,” Brandon agreed with a laugh, though it faded quickly as he watched the green light turn red and gently pressed the brake, bringing the car to a smooth stop a good arm’s length from the vehicle ahead.

He turned to Sophia, “Sophia, why don’t you and Martin do a DNA test?”

His voice was slow and calm, articulate and clear.

Sophia was taken aback for a sec, hesitated, and glanced over at Brandon, but his face was dead serious – no sign of joking or looking for her two cents. He was just staring at her, dead serious.

She couldn’t exactly burst into laughter, just asked him softly, “Do we really gotta go there? Yolanda’s a couple years younger than you, and you remember we were in the same class, right?”

She chuckled and added, “I didn’t skip any grades, that much I’m sure of.”

“I think we do,” Brandon said. “My head tells me it’s a long shot, so I’ve never gone down that road to check it out before, but even if there’s just a one in ten thousand chance, I don’t wanna miss it.”

“Is Yolanda really that big of a deal to you?” she asked quietly.

Brandon nodded, “Yeah, she means a lot.”

“Did you ever think, what if the results say I’m not Yolanda, what am I supposed to do then?” Sophia looked at him and asked softly, “And what’s your game plan?”