CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: FACE FLUSHED BY HIM

I initially thought the paternity test results would be out in a day, marveling at the efficiency of Veridia Central Hospital.

But instead, I received an apologetic voice from the staff: "Sorry, Miss Ellison, your blood sample from yesterday was sent for testing privately, not through the normal procedures. Although Dr. Payne specifically instructed it, it was overlooked during the intern handover... The child’s sample was treated as a discarded one."

"Discarded?" My fingertips trembled, nearly dropping the phone, "Is this how you people work? This is negligence!"

"We sincerely apologize," explained the other party calmly, "Your blood sample is still here, if you still want the test, just supplement a new sample from the child."

After hanging up the phone, I turned back to look at the tightly closed hospital room door, my palms icy cold.

Previously, getting a blood sample from Doris at The Sutton Family’s kindergarten wasn’t too difficult.

But now that Timothy Xavier had decided to transfer her, meeting her in the future would be as hard as climbing to the heavens, let alone getting a sample.

As I was troubled, a small hand gently tugged at the corner of my clothes.

"Doris?"

I put away my phone, feeling a mix of emotions.

Doris whispered, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to betray you. Mom sent someone to investigate at the kindergarten, I... couldn’t lie to her."

Looking at the guilt on the little girl’s face, my heart softened, and I squatted down, saying, "It’s okay, it’s not your fault. Children... should be honest."

Still thinking about the call from the paternity test center just now,

I suddenly remembered that although blood samples are hard to get, hair could be used for testing too.

I casually smoothed her bangs and asked, "Doris, your braids look so pretty today, who did them for you?"

As I spoke, I secretly hooked a strand of her hair, and just as I was about to pull it off, Serena’s voice suddenly echoed from the other end of the corridor.

I discreetly withdrew my hand, almost getting a new sample.

"Doris!"

Serena hurried over to us, pulling Doris into her arms, frowning, "Didn’t mommy tell you not to talk to strangers?"

Doris cautiously glanced at me and nodded at Serena, "Yeah, I remember, mommy."

Serena sneered and walked over holding Doris’s hand, saying with a sinister tone, "Miss Ellison, I know what you’re trying to do. But put away your schemes! Doris is my daughter, no one can take her away!"

Then, she deliberately said to Doris in an affectionate tone, "Let’s go say goodbye to daddy and go home! Are you excited about going to the new kindergarten tomorrow?"

The little girl jumped up and down, responding, "Excited! Mommy, can we have pizza tonight, with double cheese, please?"

I stood there, watching the elevator doors slowly close, swallowing that small silhouette.

My nose suddenly felt hot, and I quickly looked up and blinked.

...

The news of Doris’s school transfer quickly reached Jenna Sutton, and at the same time, she also received a letter from Timothy Xavier’s attorney.

The next day, she asked me out.

I apologized to her with guilt, she waved her hand, saying, "What does this have to do with you? It was my own carelessness, letting Doris eat pineapple powder cakes. If I must blame someone, it’s only you for having such bad taste back then, finding such a freak!"

"What will you do now that Timothy Xavier wants to sue St. Jude’s Kindergarten?"

I asked worriedly.

Jenna Sutton said, "Although it was our fault for carelessly letting his daughter have an allergic reaction, it didn’t cause any fatalities or leave any aftereffects. If he sues, so be it, at worst, we just pay some compensation to settle it."

Only then did I feel a bit relieved and told her about the mix-up at the paternity test center with Doris’s blood sample yesterday.

"What? This... someone must be manipulating things behind the scenes!"

Jenna Sutton said firmly, "How could it be such a coincidence? I don’t believe that other people’s samples don’t get lost, just Doris’s?"

I shook my head and said, "Actually, I also suspect it. Could it be that Timothy Xavier or Serena already knows? But since they haven’t made it clear, if we confront them directly, wouldn’t we be admitting it ourselves? The only way is to obtain another sample of Doris’s blood, without anyone knowing."

"But now, Doris is no longer at St. Jude’s Kindergarten. If Timothy Xavier really suspects you, he will only have someone pay more attention to Doris, and we won’t be able to get close to her at all."

Jenna Sutton cautiously asked me, "Zoe, could it be that Doris isn’t your daughter? Although it’s indeed quite a coincidence, but when I handled her school transfer procedures last night, I saw her file. Her birthday isn’t the day you gave birth to your first child!"

My heart slightly trembled, my tone firm, "If Timothy Xavier can deceive me about the life and death of a child, then changing a birth date is nothing to him, don’t you think? Besides, December 8th and December 12th are only four days apart. Jenna, I believe, Doris is definitely my daughter!"

Jenna Sutton looked skeptical.

I knew that apart from myself, no one would believe such an absurd thing.

After all, Timothy Xavier’s motives for deceiving me were unclear, and there was no evidence to prove my relationship with Doris.

Suddenly, I thought of something and said, "I have to visit the hospital where I gave birth. I still have the medical records at home, which mention the names of the delivering doctor and nurses. They should be the ones who know best if my child is alive!"

"Then let’s go! I’ll go with you!"

Jenna Sutton stood up, ready to get started.

I said, "Why don’t you go back first? I don’t want to drag you into this any further!"

Jenna Sutton said, "What are you talking about? With Timothy Xavier involved, the worst he can do is disgust The Sutton Family! He can’t do anything to us, don’t worry!"

Just like that, Jenna Sutton accompanied me home to get the medical records, and we headed to Evergreen Maternity Hospital where I gave birth.

"Is Dr. June Morgan and Nurse May Grant here?"

The nurse looked puzzled and said, "We don’t have any doctor or nurse by those names here, are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

I took out the medical record and said, "That’s impossible, this is a record from your hospital. I gave birth here three years ago, Dr. Morgan and Nurse Grant were the ones who delivered my baby, there must be no mistake."

The nurse said, "Let me call the doctor to talk to you. I joined last year, so I don’t know these two people."

Soon, an older, experienced-looking doctor came up to me and said, "The two people you’re looking for resigned three years ago."

Resigned?

Jenna and I exchanged a look, finding it even more suspicious.

Resigned right after delivering my baby?

I asked, "Do you know why they resigned?"

"I don’t know." The doctor shook her head, and said, "They left without informing us, directly went to the HR department to handle their resignation. Maybe you can go to HR and ask."

Not willing to give up, I continued to ask, "Do you know where they went after resigning? Or perhaps, where their hometown is?"

"I don’t know,"

The doctor replied, "I was just their colleague on regular terms, and when they left, they were in quite a hurry as far as I remember."

After hearing that, I was more convinced that something was definitely off back then.

Leaving the inpatient department, Jenna asked, "Should we still go to HR to inquire?"

I shook my head and said, "No need, if I’m not mistaken, HR has probably been silenced. They won’t tell us the truth."

Jenna sighed and said, "I guess, only when the paternity test results are out will we know the truth. Or should we find a private investigator to help with obtaining Doris’s sample?"

"The last private investigator I hired was from the best domestic company, yet Timothy Xavier still found out."

I said gravely, "Those two investigators I sent to investigate Naomi have already disappeared from Veridia. In the future, no investigation firm will dare to take on cases related to Timothy Xavier."

Jenna suddenly recalled something, stopping in her tracks, and said, "I know! I know who to find! Julian Sinclair!"

"Julian Sinclair?"

I asked in confusion, "Isn’t he a lawyer?"

Jenna explained, "I heard Ethan once say that Julian Sinclair’s law firm is famous not just because of his high professionalism, but more importantly because his firm has an extremely sophisticated detective system, with an intelligence network spread all over the world. It’s said that this detective system has uncovered a lot of secret things for his clients!"

With her words, I finally saw a glimmer of hope.

I hesitated for a moment and said, "But I’m... not familiar with Julian Sinclair. I don’t know if he would agree to my request if I bring it up abruptly."

As we were talking, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.

Seeing the words "Madam Sinclair" flashing on the screen, my heart skipped a beat, and I quickly picked up the call.

The loving voice from the other side said, "Zoe, come over for dinner tonight? Julian will be here too; it would be fun to have everyone together."

I instinctively glanced at Jenna beside me, and she immediately winked at me, whispering, "Here’s your chance!"

I took a deep breath and replied softly, "Okay, I’ll come over later."

After the call, Jenna patted my shoulder, "See, even fate is helping you!"

On the way to the Sinclair Family’s home, I gave Timothy Xavier a call.

"I have something to do tonight and won’t be home for dinner. Ask Nanny Lowell to make something for you."

As soon as I said this, a displeased male voice came from the other side, "What exactly do you have to do?"

"Timothy Xavier, we’re about to get divorced. I don’t need to report everything to you in detail." I suppressed my irritation and my tone turned colder.

He, however, seemed not to hear, and said in a deep voice, "Zoe Ellison, don’t forget our deal. Is this how you take care of me?"

"Even if I’m just a maid in your house, I have the right to take a day off, don’t I? Consider today my day off, you can deduct my pay."

With that, I hung up the phone without waiting for Timothy’s response.

...

At the Sinclair Family’s villa.

Madam Sinclair immediately greeted me warmly, holding my hand and asking if I was well.

Looking at the table full of dishes, I said embarrassedly, "I’m sorry for bothering you so late."

The old lady quickly replied, "How can it be a bother? You know our family is based in Aurelia, with Julian’s uncles and aunts working there. Here in Veridia, it’s just Julian with me. But he’s so busy with work, I have no one to talk to all day."

In truth, I would like to visit Madam Sinclair often and keep her company.

But the gap between myself and the Sinclair Family is quite significant.

If I come too frequently, it always feels like I’m trying to curry favor intentionally.

Moreover, Madam Sinclair appears intentionally or unintentionally to pair me up with Julian, which makes me even more reluctant to come often.

After all, I don’t want anyone to misunderstand.

During dinner.

The old lady kept urging Julian to serve me food.

Julian looked indifferent, seemingly reluctant.

I awkwardly said, "I can do it myself!"

"Well then, make yourself at home here, don’t be shy, okay?"

Madam Sinclair smiled kindly, sneaking a dissatisfied glance at Julian.

Julian saw it, but pretended not to have noticed.

I ate absentmindedly, contemplating how to bring up that matter with Julian?

If I mention it in front of Madam Sinclair, he will definitely think I am using her to pressure him, and I certainly don’t want to do that.

But how can I find a chance to speak with him privately?

The meal ended, and I still hadn’t found a suitable moment to speak up.

After finishing the meal, Julian was the first to put down his chopsticks.

"Grandma, I’m going upstairs, you all carry on eating."

Just as Julian stood up, the old lady said, "What’s the rush? Why don’t you take Zoe for a walk in the garden to get some fresh air. Our little garden has recently been replanted with many flowers that bloom in winter, it’s quite interesting."

Julian paused for a moment and had to sit back in his previous seat upon the old lady’s request.

His meaningful gaze passed over me, as if hoping I would refuse Madam Sinclair.

Usually, when Madam Sinclair tried to match us, it was always me who declined actively.

But now, I kept my head down, eating, as if I hadn’t seen his gaze or signals.

After all, today I indeed have something to ask of him, and it has to be done privately.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so tactless as to have such a busy man accompany me for a stroll in the garden.

The night garden bathed in the hazy moonlight, the evening breeze carried faint floral fragrances.

Julian walked with a calm demeanor, exuding an unapproachable chill, without a single word.

I followed half a step behind him, looking at his tall figure, pondering how to open my mouth.

Suddenly, my left foot tripped over my right, I exclaimed in shock, and my body fell forward uncontrollably.

The next second, my wrist was gripped by a strong force.

Even through the thick woolen coat, that force transmitted through the fabric with a steady assurance.

After regaining my balance, I hastily withdrew my hand, my cheeks burning, and said in an embarrassed whisper, "Thank you, Attorney Sinclair."

He responded with a faint "Hmm," shifted his gaze away, and continued walking ahead.

Silence stretched indefinitely between us, and finally thinking of Doris, I gathered the courage to say, "Attorney Sinclair, I... I actually have a favor to ask."

Julian’s steps paused slightly, and he turned to look at me.

The moonlight outlined his chiseled profile, his gaze beneath the gold-rimmed glasses was exceptionally aloof: "In private time, I don’t like to discuss work."

His tone was flat, yet it carried an unyielding refusal.

My heart sank, and I went all out, saying, "I understand, but... I’m really at the end of my rope. Please hear me out before deciding whether to help me, okay?"

By the end, my tone was almost pleading.

"Miss Ellison."

He walked a few more steps, stopped in front of a cluster of green plums, and spoke with a layer of coldness in his voice: "Grandma truly likes you, but you shouldn’t use her affection to make any presumptuous requests."

His gaze fell on my face, carrying scrutiny and a depth I couldn’t comprehend.

I suddenly felt a wronged grievance, with a tinge of defiance in my tone, "If I wanted to exploit the old lady’s affection, I wouldn’t be asking you for help when it’s just the two of us. I would’ve directly made my request in front of Madam Sinclair, wouldn’t I?"

A fleeting look of surprise flashed in Julian’s dark eyes, he didn’t speak, seemingly waiting for further explanation from me.

I looked into the depths of his eyes and earnestly explained, "Attorney Sinclair, rest assured, I never intended to ingratiate myself with you, nor do I have any improper thoughts. I will explain everything to Madam Sinclair."

After saying it, I even forgot that I had something to ask of him, and all I wanted now was to go back and clarify things with Madam Sinclair, easing Julian’s current concerns.

But just as I was about to turn away, his deep voice suddenly sounded behind me, "What do you want me to help with?"