The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Martin glanced hesitantly at him, unable to infer anything from Louis's current state, and chose to remain silent.

Louis grew even more enraged, his cane thumping on the floor with a "thud": "Speak up! Is she or is she not Yoli?"

Martin had no choice but to face him: "She..."

He wanted to say "isn't," but the words were stuck in his throat; he feared that Louis would be so shocked he'd gasp for air and

pass out right then and there.

His health had been hanging by a thread these past few years.

But Louis had already caught on to something from Martin's hesitant expression.

"She's not Yoli, is she?" he demanded angrily.

With another hesitant look, Martin finally nodded: "Yes."

Marian looked at Martin in astonishment, not expecting his candid acknowledgment.

"Then where is the real Yoli?"

Louis asked, his cane still punctuating his inquiry with thuds against the floor, "Where has my Yoli gone?"

Martin cast his eyes downward, still fearing to speak the full truth.

"lI don't know," "I can't find her,"—every single admission could be a death sentence for Louis.

"And what of that paternity test report?"

Louis pressed on. Martin had originally informed them that they found Yolanda by sending them her bracelet and a paternity test

report confirming their relationship, which is why the family had joyously rushed to Wye City for the reunion.

Martin slightly averted his eyes: "| faked it."

"And what about Yoli's bracelet?" Louis asked, heartbroken, "If a paternity result can be faked, how could you replicate that

bracelet?"

Martin looked at Marian.

This was another thing he himself could not ascertain.

One of the reasons he had Marian pretend to be Yolanda, aside from considering Louis's health, was that the bracelet was the only

lead related to Yolanda. He had hoped that by keeping Marian close, they might find sclue about Yolanda.

However, neither the police nor private detectives could find any trace of how the bracelet entered the market, and Marian had

always insisted that it was hers, ever since she could remember.

Seeing Martin was looking at her, Marian subconsciously covered her wrist: "The bracelet is mine."

The bracelet wasn't on her wrist.

Ever since returning to the Frost family, she had carefully put it away.

Louis looked at her: "Bring that bracelet tofor another look."

Marian hesitated but eventually nodded in agreement.

She went back to her room, took the jewelry box out of the safe, and rook the bracelet, clutching it tightly in her hand, hesitating.

Martin was already knocking at the door.

"Are you done?"

Marian clenched the bracelet, nodding slightly: "Yes."

When she returned to the study, Marian handed the bracelet to Louis.

Louis's hand trembled as he reached for the bracelet.

As the vintage bracelet with a sense of the past fell into his palm, Louis couldn't suppress his emotions, his eyes reddening and his

Adam's apple bobbing violently, especially when he saw the engraved "Y" inside the bracelet. His body, which had been sitting up

straight, slumped into the chair as if drained of strength.

"Grandpa."

Martin moved forward, concerned to support him.

Louis gestured for him to stop.

Martin had to pause, looking at Louis with worry.

Holding himself stead with one elbow propped against the arm of the chair, Louis mustered his strength to sit up again, his eyes

piercingly fixed on Marian: "Where exactly did you get this bracelet from?"

Marian had never seen Louis so stern. His gaze intimidated her, but she still defiantly met his eyes.

"It's really mine," she said, her voice choking and her expression one of wounded innocence.

Whether because of the bracelet or the bond they'd formed over more than two years, the severity in Louis’ eyes softened, yet he

still looked at her intently: "How could Yoli's things end up with you?"

Marian's lower lip quivered, and when she met Louis's gaze again, she choked out: "Is there a possibility that | am Yoli?"

Martin turned to her sharply: "Marian!"

Unfazed, Marian looked at him: "Martin, we went to the paternity testing center together, didn't we? And the sample wasn't from

me. What if there has been a mistake? Or what if that place wasn't authentic?"

A flicker of doubt crossed Martin's eyes.

This was indeed a factor beyond his control.

The initial paternity test had been conducted abroad, in a center he stumbled upon on the street, and he could not vouch for its

authenticity.

Louis also caught the uncertainty in Martin's eyes.

"You two will go to the hospital for a paternity test now," Louis decided, “Right now.”

Marian pursed her lips slightly, then nodded: "Okay."

"I'll go change."

After saying that, she opened the study door and went back to her room, grabbed sclothes from the closet, and stepped into

the bathroom.

Not until she had locked the bathroom door did Marian let out a soft sigh of relief.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her expression anxious but with a hint of daring determination.

From her pocket, Marian pulled out the tissue wrapped around the strand of hair, sorting through them carefully.

She wasn't sure if Sophia really was Yolanda, but she was ready to take a gamble.

If she won, she would remain Yolanda.

If she lost, she would simply revert to being Marian.

Her guidance towards retaking the paternity test was strategic, yet it was a reasonable. Even if the results revealed she wasn't

Yolanda, neither Martin nor Louis would fault her for it.

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