Chapter 76
Facing Brandonâs calm gaze, Martin let out a long sigh, cocked his head to the side, his eyes briefly pausing on the DNA report in Brandonâs hand, then slowly drifting away, looking towards Brandon
âWhether sheâs Yolanda or not doesnât matter. If my grandpa believes she is, thatâs enough for him. Sheâs about the same age as Yolanda, with a similar history of going missing, and her childhood memories are fuzzy. Most importantly, sheâs got that keepsake Yolanda had when she disappeared. Plus, sheâs not hell-bent on finding her family, which means, even if sheâs Yolanda, sheâs not coming back to our side. But for Grandpa, itâs like heâs finally putting to rest a heartache thatâs been nagging him for over a decade.â Martin said to Brandon slowly, âYou and I can keep searching, but my grandpa canât wait. When Yolanda disappeared, though you always thought it was because you werenât vigilant enough, we all know the main blame lies with Grandpa. If he hadnât been so stubborn about going there, Yolanda would never have gone missing. Heâs been living with regret and guilt all these years, torturing himself over and over. He canât take it anymore.â
Brandon turned his head away, not wanting to delve into the past.
His yearning for Yolanda was half because of the fond memories she brought from their childhood together and half because of the regret and debt he felt for not keeping her safe. He had found her, yet he still couldnât hold on..
As a young boy, he didnât have the strength to pull up a child who was almost as tall as his chin. Young Yolanda had sprouted up too fast, outpacing the speed at which his strength could grow.
âI know you wonât approve of what I did, so I didnât consult you this time.â
Martin continued, âI donât need your cooperation, but please donât blow the whistle, at least not while my grandpa is in Wye City. Let him be happy for a while. Marian doesnât accept that sheâs Yolanda, and she doesnât want to return to the Frost family. It just so happens that sheâll be studying here for the next couple of years, so her not being able to go back is perfectly reasonable.
Given Grandpaâs current condition, he might not last another two years, so for our family, having Marian-who has Yolandaâs keepsake-appear is the best consolation.â
Brandon looked at Martin. âHave you thought about Yolandaâs feelings?â
Martin didnât answer him directly. âHave you thought about reality? Is Yolanda really still out there?â
Brandon turned his head away.
Martin looked at his tense profile.
âIn truth, both of us know very well the slim chances a small child would have of surviving in that situation. Weâve never given up, but itâs just been a way to keep the hope alive.â
His voice was very calm. He wasnât the last one to see his sister, and he didnât have the experience of almost rescuing her only to lose her again, so although he had regrets, his psychological burden wasnât as heavy as Brandonâs.
âThat bracelet was too loose on Yolandaâs wrist at the time. Itâs not impossible that it got lost in the chaos. The thing is valuable. Itâs plausible someone could have found it and sold it.â
Martin continued, âOf course, this is assuming the best in people. I definitely donât want to think thereâs any foul play involved, but regardless, itâs always good to keep the person close and under watch, especially since this is the only lead we have related to Yolanda.â
구
Brandon looked at him. âI have no right to interfere with your decision, but I hope youâre not letting the wolf in, risking someone taking
over our nest.â
âIf that day ever comes, you know, I wonât just stand by and do nothing.â
After saying that, Brandon didnât add anything more. He turned around and walked toward the door to the rooftop, pulling out his phone out of habit. He then saw a text from Sophia.
[Iâve moved back to the apartment. I didnât bring much with me. Could you pack up my stuff and have someone send it over to the apartment?]