Chapter 68
After Brandon wrapped up the registration and payment, he spun on his heel and took off.
His ride was parked right out front of the testing center, and as he drove off, a red taxi zipped by, narrowly missing his car and snagged the spot he’d just vacated.
Brandon shot a glance in the rearview at the red cab, whipped the steering wheel like a pro, and the car took a sharp turn and headed
out.
Almost at the same time, Martin pushed his way out of the taxi.
He looked up at the paternity testing center’s entrance and strode in, handing over two samples to the staff, “I need a paternity test done.”
The same words, the same tall and handsome dude, the same hair samples, and all within a five-minute window. Martin’s and Brandon’s synchronized moves got the staff member all chatty, “What’s the deal today? Why are all these Zenitha folks coming in for DNA tests?” “Even the samples are carbon copies.” He shook Brandon’s freshly bagged sample at his colleague and then pulled out an identical bag from the toolbox to pack up the samples.
Martin frowned faintly, turning to the youthful-looking staff member, “So a Zenitha guy about my height was just here?”
“Yep, he just left.” The staff member stretched his neck toward the door, “He was just outside. Looked a lot like you, tall, dashing, in a black suit.”
To him, all Zenithians seemed to be cut from the same cloth.
Martin also glanced towards the door, saw no familiar figures, but from the staff’s description, it sounded like Brandon.
When his gaze returned, it caught the surveillance camera at the entrance. After a brief pause, he addressed the staff member, “Could I have a look at your surveillance footage? That guy might be a buddy of mine.”
The staff member gave a polite refusal with a smile, “Sorry, that’s confidential. Can’t just show it to anyone.”
Martin nodded in understanding, “No worries, thanks anyway.”
He didn’t pester the staff member further. He couldn’t fathom Brandon’s actions. Hadn’t he asked him to mail in hair samples so that Marian could get tested first with him? But now, with Marian not on board, was he going ahead with the test behind her back? “Sir?” The staff member tapped the desk.
Martin snapped back to reality, offered an apologetic glance, and followed through with the registration and payment before leaving. The results of the paternity test would take three business days.
Martin had made a spur-of-the-moment decision to fly over, leaving many work matters unarranged. Though he was running the company, his grandfather, Louis, kept a close eye on things, and he’d notice something was up if Martin didn’t show up for a day. Right after leaving the paternity testing center, Louis’s call came through, “Where have you vanished to? Not a peep in over a day? You didn’t show up at the office, and there was some board meeting today that got canceled last minute. What’s going on?”.
“I’m over in Wye City, got some stuff to sort out. I’ll be back in a few days, Martin replied, holding back the info about the DNA results to avoid getting Louis’s hopes up prematurely.
But sly as he was, Louis wasn’t easily fooled, “What’s so important that you’d fly all the way over without planning your work ahead of time? This isn’t like you. And we don’t have business in Wye City, nor plans to expand there anytime soon. What’s really going on?”
Martin offered a vague response, “Just some personal business.”
Louis retorted, “What personal business could you possibly have? A bachelor through and through, no wife, no girlfriend, your life’s all about work. What could it be?”
Martin was silent.
Louis pressed on, “Tell me the truth, did you get a lead on Yolanda?”
By the end, Louis’s voice quivered with barely contained excitement, “All these years, it’s only Yoli’s matters that make you bolt without a word, even ignoring your work. Tell me, have you heard from her?”
“Yoli” was Louis’s pet name for Yolanda, a term of affection he’d been using for years and hadn’t given up.
After a moment’s silence, Martin hesitated, considering whether to keep the secret.
“Martin,” Louis couldn’t wait, urging him with an anxious tone as his cane thumped on the floor, his voice full of impatience, “Speak up, are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
Martin exhaled softly, knowing he couldn’t keep it from him. Louis had raised and trained him. There was nothing Martin could hide.
1/2
10:39
And Martin knew Louis too well. Louis was probably plotting to fly over right this second.
“There is something,” Martin admitted reluctantly, trying to dissuade Louis from flying over, “I just came from the paternity testing center. It’ll be about three days before we get the results. I’ll let you know once they’re out.”
“Why wait three days?” Predictably, Louis was already getting up to take action, “It’s perfect timing. We fly over now, factor in the time change, and the results should be cut by the time we arrive. No point waiting around at home.”
While speaking, he turned to Nell, who had been caring for him for years, and whispered, “Nell, book us a flight to Wye City. Today. The
soonest one.”
Louis wasn’t trying to be quiet, and Martin heard it all, immediately trying to stop him, “Grandpa, don’t rush over. It’s a long trip. Wait for the results, and it won’t be too late to fly then. I’ll keep an eye on things here; she won’t get away. Besides, we’re not even sure it’s Yolanda yet.”
Louis was adamant, “It’s no trouble. A nap on the plane and we’re there. I can’t wait a day longer.” There was no room for negotiation, “Besides, if you weren’t at least 80% sure, would you be in such a rush for a DNA test? Tell me, what’s the situation with the girl? Why do you think she might be Yolanda?”
Martin thought of the bracelet on Marian’s wrist and felt his throat constrict uncontrollably.
Louis quickly picked up on the emotional turbulence in Martin’s voice. “Martin?”
“She was wearing that bracelet with SY engraved on it, the same emerald bracelet Brandon gave her back in the day.” Martin cleared his throat, suppressing the untimely surge of emotions, “The age matches up too. She was picked up and adopted by a family, but I’m not sure about the specifics of that household yet. I’ve just gotten here and haven’t had the chance to dig into it.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Louis, voice choked with urgency, instructed Nell, “Nell, hurry up and check the flights. It doesn’t have to be a direct one, look for a connecting flight, anything as long as it’s the soonest one, the quicker, the better.”
Martin could imagine Louis’s desperation on the other end of the phone.
Their family had a bunch of grandkids, but Yolanda was the only girl. As a child, she was exceptionally cute and lovely, a real beauty, and while she was the apple of everyone’s eye, she wasn’t spoiled or willful. Instead, she was sensible, thoughtful, and caring. She had a knack for noticing when someone was feeling down. She wouldn’t do anything extravagant to cheer them up. She would just quietly sidle up and take their hand with her baby-soft voice, asking, “Grandpa, are you feeling down?” or “Martin, are you unhappy?” Then, with her big, shining eyes, she’d softly say, “How about I keep you company for a chat, okay?” or “It’s okay, a hug will make everything better.” For this reason, the entire family adored this sweet and loving little girl. They would hold her preciously in their palms, afraid she’d fall, and keep her close to their hearts, afraid she’d melt away-if not for that year’s tragic mishap.
