Chapter 76
Facing Brandon’s calm gaze, Martin let out a long sigh, cocked his head to the side, his eyes briefly pausing on the DNA report in Brandon’s hand, then slowly drifting away, looking towards Brandon
“Whether she’s Yolanda or not doesn’t matter. If my grandpa believes she is, that’s enough for him. She’s about the same age as Yolanda, with a similar history of going missing, and her childhood memories are fuzzy. Most importantly, she’s got that keepsake Yolanda had when she disappeared. Plus, she’s not hell-bent on finding her family, which means, even if she’s Yolanda, she’s not coming back to our side. But for Grandpa, it’s like he’s finally putting to rest a heartache that’s been nagging him for over a decade.” Martin said to Brandon slowly, “You and I can keep searching, but my grandpa can’t wait. When Yolanda disappeared, though you always thought it was because you weren’t vigilant enough, we all know the main blame lies with Grandpa. If he hadn’t been so stubborn about going there, Yolanda would never have gone missing. He’s been living with regret and guilt all these years, torturing himself over and over. He can’t take it anymore.”
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 couldn’t hold on..
As a young boy, he didn’t 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.
“I know you won’t approve of what I did, so I didn’t consult you this time.”
Martin continued, “I don’t need your cooperation, but please don’t blow the whistle, at least not while my grandpa is in Wye City. Let him be happy for a while. Marian doesn’t accept that she’s Yolanda, and she doesn’t want to return to the Frost family. It just so happens that she’ll be studying here for the next couple of years, so her not being able to go back is perfectly reasonable.
Given Grandpa’s current condition, he might not last another two years, so for our family, having Marian-who has Yolanda’s keepsake-appear is the best consolation.”
Brandon looked at Martin. “Have you thought about Yolanda’s feelings?”
Martin didn’t answer him directly. “Have you thought about reality? Is Yolanda really still out there?”
Brandon turned his head away.
Martin looked at his tense profile.
“In truth, both of us know very well the slim chances a small child would have of surviving in that situation. We’ve never given up, but it’s just been a way to keep the hope alive.”
His voice was very calm. He wasn’t the last one to see his sister, and he didn’t have the experience of almost rescuing her only to lose her again, so although he had regrets, his psychological burden wasn’t as heavy as Brandon’s.
“That bracelet was too loose on Yolanda’s wrist at the time. It’s not impossible that it got lost in the chaos. The thing is valuable. It’s plausible someone could have found it and sold it.”
Martin continued, “Of course, this is assuming the best in people. I definitely don’t want to think there’s any foul play involved, but regardless, it’s always good to keep the person close and under watch, especially since this is the only lead we have related to Yolanda.”
구
Brandon looked at him. “I have no right to interfere with your decision, but I hope you’re not letting the wolf in, risking someone taking
over our nest.”
“If that day ever comes, you know, I won’t just stand by and do nothing.”
After saying that, Brandon didn’t 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.
[I’ve moved back to the apartment. I didn’t bring much with me. Could you pack up my stuff and have someone send it over to the apartment?]
