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Leah nodded and smiled at Jane. “Alright then.”
When Jane saw how accommodating and unspoiled Leah was, she could not help feeling
even more tender and affectionate toward her. She took a card out of her purse. “There’s
still some credit on this card. Go ahead and use it for whatever you want; if it’s not
enough, let me or your father know.”
Leah could not help feeling moved by this gesture. She replied with genuine gratitude,
“I’ve got more than enough money. I’ve still got credit on the card you gave me last time.”
“Spend the money if you have to, don’t scrimp on things, alright?” Jane advised, smiling.
“I’ve noticed that you’ve not been looking very well lately. If you have time, go for a health
checkup at the hospital. Also, if anything happens or anyone tries to bully you, you must
tell me…”
“Yes, I will.” Tears welled up in Leah’s eyes. She had never experienced a feeling of
belonging like this before. She had a home to return to, a family who was concerned about
her, and people who were willing to stand up for her and protect her.
She had experienced none of these things when she had been in the care of her previous
adoptive father, Charlie.
Forget about the past now, Leah told herself. From now on, she would make her home with
the White family and live a peaceful, happy life with them as Ms. Sarah White.
…
Gordon retrieved a photograph from a folder and placed it on the table. “Do you still
remember this girl?” He asked Dr. Fenton.
Dr. Fenton picked up the photograph and stared at the image of Sasha. Frowning, he
pondered for a while. “I seem to recall her. Isn’t this the little girl whose face was severely
damaged? I attended to her, didn’t I? That’s right, I did. It’s definitely her. It’s been ten
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtyears since then, though.” The elderly doctor gave a long sigh, then looked up shrewdly at
Gordon and asked, “I remember that she was adopted by a couple, but I don’t know how
she’s doing now. Why are you asking me about this?”
“My wife and I were the ones who adopted her,” Gordon explained. “However, we’ve
discovered that we might have adopted the wrong girl by mistake. I suspect that there
was someone manipulating things behind the scenes, so I’ve come to see you to clear up
a few things.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Do you know who brought her to the orphanage back then?” Gordon asked.
Dr. Fenton listened to Gordon in silence, staring at the photograph. He put on a pair of
glasses and thought long and hard, his brow deeply furrowed.
After a while, he suddenly cracked a smile. “Now I remember. She was brought to the
orphanage by a man.”
“Do you remember what he looked like?” Gordon pursued eagerly.
Dr. Fenton sucked his teeth with a soft hiss, his brow creasing even more. “That, I don’t
really recall. Oh, yes! That’s right, I remember now. He had a scar on his chin.”
Gordon frowned slightly. A scar on the chin? He thought hard, but he could not recall
anyone of his acquaintance who had a scar on the chin. Furthermore, he was an affable
man who had not fallen afoul of anyone yet, so he did not think that he would have many
enemies. Nonetheless, he committed this clue to memory and would ask Leah about it
when he got home.
“In that case, do you still have the DNA report for the paternity test you conducted on
her?” Gordon asked.
“It’s been so long, I don’t remember anymore…” Dr. Fenton murmured, his gaze clouding
over. As he spoke, he got to his feet. “However, you’re in luck. I didn’t throw away the
reports of the examinations I made back then. They’re all in my old files. Let me take a
look and see.”
Dr. Fenton went into his study and began searching. A while later, he finally pulled out a
file, his hands trembling from age. “There, this is it.” He brushed the dust off the file’s
surface and handed it to Gordon.
Gordon hurriedly took the file from Dr. Fenton and opened it. When he saw the contents,
his brow immediately knitted tightly together.
“How can this be…” Gordon’s expression turned grim as he stared at the file in front of
him. An unpleasant idea was slowly taking shape in his mind. Sasha’s DNA report was
indeed inside the folder! However, it was completely different from the one that the
orphanage director had given to him and his wife!
Even though he was not a medical professional, he could see at a glance that this DNA
report and Sasha’s blood type indicated that they were not related at all. If they had
received this report ten years ago, they would certainly not have adopted Sasha.
They could not possibly have taken the wrong report, after all. There was only one way
this could have happened.
Someone had switched the reports!
Gordon’s expression was very grim. If this was the case, then they had been duped like
fools for a full decade.
He clutched the report tightly, then turned to Dr. Fenton. “Dr. Fenton, can I take this with
me?”
Dr. Fenton nodded. “Of course, take it with you. When the orphanage caught fire ten years
ago, these reports would have all been destroyed if I hadn’t rushed in to save at least
some of them.”
Gordon’s brow furrowed even more at this. Dr. Fenton’s comment further strengthened his
suspicions. Someone had wanted to use the fire to cover their tracks. However, it would
not have occurred to them that something like this might happen.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmGordon thanked Dr. Fenton, then hurried home, taking the report with him.
On the way, he kept thinking about the matter. In a fit of anxiety, he called Leah. As soon
as she answered the call, she asked immediately, “Dad? Where have you been?”
“I’m in Torrance County, where you used to live,” Gordon replied. “Sarah, do you know any
men who have scars on their chins?”
Leah frowned at this. Gordon’s description immediately made her think of one specific
person. “Yes, I do,” she answered. “My former adoptive father, Charlie Parridge.”
Gordon’s brow knitted. He knew now that his suspicions were correct.
“Listen to me, Sarah. I’ve discovered that ten years ago, you and Sasha’s identities may
have been switched…” Gordon said slowly. “Furthermore, I’ve more or less been able to
confirm that your adoptive father was behind it. I’m on my way home now. When I get
back, I’ll look into this again.”
“Alright.” Leah’s heart skipped a beat. If that was true, then Sasha and Charlie…
Her hands clutched tightly at each other.
Gordon ended the call and hit the gas pedal, eager to get home. However, Torrance
County was some distance away from Linkville, so it took him a full day and night to make
the journey back. He finally reached home the next day, utterly exhausted.
Everything was quiet when he opened the door and went into the mansion.
“Sarah?” Gordon called, but nobody answered.
One of the maids came out. When she saw him, she exclaimed, “Mr. White, you’re home!”
“Where are the others?” Gordon asked.
“Mrs. White has gone out for tea, and Ms. Sarah is still asleep. Ms. Sasha has gone out as
well,” the maid replied respectfully.
Since no one was at home, Gordon realized that continuing to worry would do no good
whatsoever. With that, he went up to his room and put the folder on the bed. Then he
picked out a change of clothes and decided to take a shower.
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