Chapter 234: The meeting with Nathan (Part 2)

Words : 1243 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Chapter 234: The meeting with Nathan (Part 2) Anne handed Nathan a few strands of her hair, which he carefully placed into a transparent plastic pouch. He slid it into his pocket. "I know you are my sister without a doubt. I’ve always felt it the moment I saw you, but others will want proof. This test is for them." His expression shifted slightly as a bitter memory crossed his mind. The resistance from his father flashed behind his eyes. He had stubbornly refused to believe that Raya could still be alive. Nathan was determined to present the DNA results and silence that denial once and for all. "Who are these people?" Augustine asked, unable to contain his growing curiosity. Nathan let out a sigh, his shoulders slightly slumping. "After Raya disappeared, the police conducted a search operation. They cracked down on a child trafficking ring operating in the area. Several children were rescued during that raid. But..." His voice faltered briefly before he continued, "The gang retaliated. They set the place on fire. Some of the kids didn’t make it out." "What?" Anne and Augustine echoed in unison, their eyes flickering with disbelief. Anne felt a wave of chills crossing down her spine at his words, while Augustine narrowed his eyes with suspicion. A fire? This didn’t align with the information he had uncovered. There was no mention of a fire, no trace of children dying in any raid. The pieces didn’t fit, and the inconsistencies gnawed at his instincts like a silent alarm. Something was terribly wrong—he could feel it in his bones. This wasn’t merely a tragic case of a missing child. It was something far more tangled, something dark and intentionally concealed. Secrets had been buried, and someone had worked hard to keep them that way. Augustine’s gut clenched with a resolve. He would get to the bottom of it, no matter how deep he had to dig. Nathan’s voice pulled them back. "I didn’t know about the fire either. Not until recently," he said grimly. "I found out during a recent conversation with my father." His jaw tightened with resentment as he recalled their argument. "He deliberately kept it from us. Apparently, he convinced the investigating officer to omit the report from the records. He said he did that for my mother, reasoning it would only make things worse for my mother." Nathan’s voice broke slightly as emotion surged within him. "She has been suffering from depression ever since. And..." He swallowed hard, his eyes clouding with pain. "She tried to take her own life several times." Anne gasped sharply, her hand rising to cover her mouth. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she thought about her mother’s suffering, the years of heartbreak she had endured in silence. Augustine reached over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, anchoring her trembling form against him. His touch was firm and protective, silently promising her that he would be there for her and face any revelation, no matter how ugly it was. "But all that’s behind us now," Nathan said, forcing a smile, trying to lighten the heaviness clouding over them. "What matters is that we’ve finally found you, after everything. There is no point in holding on to the pain. It’s time to move forward. This is a new beginning." "Yes," Augustine chimed in. "The past is over. Now, it’s about what lies ahead. And don’t forget. You’ve got me, always." He drew her closer into a comforting embrace. Anne gave a faint smile, touched by their words. She leaned into Augustine’s arms, his presence calming her mind. His reassuring tone gave her strength. With him beside her, she felt like she could weather any storm. Just then, the waiter arrived with their food, placing the dishes on the table. The atmosphere began to ease as the conversation slowly turned lighter. Nathan cracked a few jokes, and even Anne managed to laugh along. But behind her smile, her heart remained heavy. As much as she tried to enjoy the moment, her mind kept drifting back to her mother, aching for the woman who had endured so much, longing to embrace her and take that pain away. After lunch, Anne left the restaurant with Augustine. But they were unaware of the watchful eyes hidden nearby. In a quiet corner near the entrance, partially concealed behind a row of decorative plants, a man in a hooded jacket stood motionless. His eyes followed them sharply, tracking their every step. He waited patiently, and once Nathan exited the building minutes later, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He dialed swiftly. "They just left the restaurant," he murmured into the phone. On the other end, Megan sat tensely in her office, her face hardening as she heard the update. Rage flickered in her eyes. She gritted her teeth and commanded, "Follow Nathan. I want to know every single place he visits. Don’t miss a thing." "Understood." The man ended the call and casually fell into step behind Nathan, careful to keep his distance and remain unnoticed. Meanwhile, Megan clenched the phone tightly. "I warned you, Anne," she muttered coldly. "I told you to stay away from Nathan. But you didn’t listen. Now, don’t blame me for what comes next. You’ll never be one of us. I’ll make sure of that." Augustine had gone back to the office, but Anne returned home. Her mind was too unsettled, her emotions tangled in a storm of confusion, sorrow, and hope. She needed some time alone to breathe, to think, to come to terms with everything Nathan had revealed. Back in her room, she sat down at the edge of the bed with a distant look in her eyes, her posture slouched with emotional exhaustion. With gentle fingers, she reached into her bag and pulled out the sapphire pendant. Her eyes softened as she stared at it, as if it could answer the thousand questions swirling inside her. She ran her thumb over its surface, tracing the small, carved letter at the back. A sigh slipped past her lips. "I just hope nothing goes wrong with the test." At the hospital... Nathan stepped into the Genetic Testing Department of the hospital, his heart thumping with tension. "I’ve come to submit samples for a paternity test," he said. A lab technician guided him to a separate cubicle. After the formalities and documentation, Nathan handed over the pouch containing Anne’s hair strands. "How long will it take?" he asked the doctor standing beside the technician, his tone strained with urgency. "One day max," the doctor replied. Nathan’s brows furrowed. "Can’t you make it sooner?" he pressed. The doctor gave a faint, apologetic smile. "Even if I rush it, it’ll take at least sixteen hours. You have to wait. We’ll notify you as soon as it’s ready." Nathan exhaled sharply, nodding though it clearly pained him. "Okay," he murmured. "I’ll wait." He turned and left the room, his steps heavy. As the door to the lab clicked shut behind Nathan, the man in the hooded jacket, who had been roaming around in the corridor like a shadow, swiftly turned his back to the room, lowering his head and pulling the hood a little tighter. He raised his phone to his ear, pretending to have a conversation. Nathan didn’t notice him, engrossed in his own thoughts. His steps were slow and heavy as he walked away.

Chapter 234: The meeting with Nathan (Part 2)

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