Bella blurted out, “What are the odds?”
Two years ago, Summer had impersonated Jane.
Summer and Jane shared the same birthday. They were also born in the same hospital.
Individually, these coincidences might seem normal, but when piled together like this, they were downright eerie.
Bella began to pore over the documents with increasing focus, and Ivy chimed in at just the right moment, “Right? Don’t you think it’s all a bit too coincidental?”
“Yes.” The more Bella read, the graver her expression became.
Considering Summer's past of assuming another's identity, Bella couldn't help but harbor some doubts.
She loved Summer, no question about it. She would do anything for her. But only if Summer was truly her daughter!
Ivy seemed to read her mind, her face paling as her voice grew louder, “You don’t think... Ms. Webster is actually...”
“Shh.” Bella frowned, cutting her off while glancing towards the door, voicing her concerns, “But, you personally took care of the DNA test through your contacts. There’s no way it could be wrong, right?”
Finding her biological daughter was a matter of great joy for Bella, but she approached it with extreme caution.
They had done the DNA test thrice. One was submitted normally to the hospital, another was sent abroad, and the most conclusive one was arranged by Ivy through her contacts.
All of them were without error.
That’s why she had placed Summer so close to her heart overnight. Whatever Summer asked for, Bella would make it happen.
Ivy hesitated. “But... nothing’s foolproof, right?”
She racked her brain, wondering if there was any possibility of a mistake, any chance someone tampered with the DNA report.
But what kinda pull would someone need to tweak the results from three different places? Besides, the contact Ivy used was known only to her, not even Summer knew!
Where would they even start?
Seeing Bella’s heavy expression, Ivy suggested, “Maybe we should do another DNA test?”
“With Summer?”
Ivy furrowed her brow, “...You’re making this difficult for me.” But then an idea struck her, “Okay, leave it to me!”
“You have a plan?”
“Yes, but I’ll need your help.”
“Tell me.”
“Tomorrow, before you leave for the red carpet event, casually pick up a few strands of Summer’s hair from her bed and bring them to me.”
“That’s easy.” Bella agreed readily.
It was perfect timing since Summer was scheduled to film a TV show the next day. For a mother, entering her daughter’s room was perfectly normal.
However, after agreeing, Bella felt a wave of nervousness, “Ivy, it couldn’t be, right...?”
“Let’s hope not.”
Ivy, unsure of how to offer comfort, could only speak the truth, “The jade pendant showing up with Summer, the DNA tests clear... if we’re wrong, it’s not because we weren’t cautious. It would just mean we were outwitted.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson)