Chapter 4

The boy sitting across from her reading a book looked up.

The woman kissed her cheek and whispered, "You will have a good life from now on. Once the paternity test results come back, you’ll have a new home.”

No matter what kind of family it was, it would surely be better than her criminal biological mother.

The teacher got up to tend to the other children, and Yanny continued drawing with her head down.

Suddenly, a cool, youthful voice came from across the table. "They won't want you."

Yanny stopped drawing and looked up, puzzled.

The boy before her had chiseled features. Though only ten years old, he was taller than his peers, and one could already see the handsome man he would become.

He sat with his legs crossed, holding a Cinderella storybook. His narrow eyes were devoid of warmth. “Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

She pouted, "I won't! Daddy will definitely come get me. Don’t mess with me.”

Hayes Garcia had arrived at the orphanage two years ago.

Everyone said he was the illegitimate son of a wealthy man. After his mother died, the man disowned him and sent him here.

Hayes was fierce and a skilled fighter. When he first arrived, no one dared to provoke him. He was like a temperamental lion cub, biting anyone who crossed his path.

Yanny used to get bullied at the orphanage because of her looks. Whenever Hayes saw her being picked on, he helped her fight back. He taught her how to defend herself and always stood up for her.

Of all the children in the orphanage, Hayes was kind only to Yanny.

Whenever the staff couldn’t control Hayes, Yanny was the one who went to relay the message, and only then would Hayes listen, albeit reluctantly.

Everyone joked that she was the one “the boss” looked out for.

On the day her mother came to take her home, Hayes didn’t show up. But seven days ago, the moment she returned to the orphanage, Hayes was the first to appear.

She preferred to stay in her room and didn't care much for playing outside.

He used to be out and about all the time, but for the past seven days, he’d stayed by her side, reading fairy tales with her and complaining that the princesses were crazy.

He was a little gentle, but not entirely so.

Hayes sat down beside her and, adopting a mature tone, analyzed the situation. "In the year since your mom took you away, has that man ever come to see you? Not even once, right? They all look down on your less-than-respectable background. Even if you were really their daughter, they wouldn't acknowledge it."

A few boys who had just walked in heard this and teased, "Boss, you just don't want Yanny to leave, do you? You must be overjoyed that she’s back—you couldn’t even eat when she was gone!”

Hayes’s expression darkened. He grabbed the storybook in his hand and threw it at them. "Get lost!"

Yanny sat gloomily, clutching her paintbrush and staring at the little figure drawn on the greeting card. She felt even less cheerful.

Even if the paternity test results were correct, would Dad still refuse to acknowledge her?

Andrew stared grimly at the paternity test report in his hands.

The results showed a 99.9991% probability of a paternal relationship.

Yanny was his biological daughter.

Upon seeing the report, the three sons all displayed varying degrees of agitation.

Jace reacted the most vehemently. "Even if she’s our biological sister, I refuse. She has no right to be our sister! We can’t accept her. With her mother’s genes, she could turn out like her mother and try to harm our mom!”

The other two boys said nothing, merely glancing at Andrew.

Their expressions made it clear that they didn’t want to acknowledge Yanny either.

If she were their mother's daughter, they would cherish her.

But who was Yanny really?

Her birth had been unwelcome to this family from the beginning.

She was Cecily’s daughter.

Andrew was silent for a moment, then finally tossed the paper in his hand into the wastebasket.

He’d been busy all week, but whenever he had a spare moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if Yanny really was his daughter, what should he do?

Should he raise her?

The night he spent with Cecily had hurt Vivian deeply, but she was kind and didn’t press the issue. She hadn’t brought it up again in all these years. But if he told her now that Cecily had given birth to a daughter that night, would she be able to accept it?

She was so fragile.

Andrew fell silent for a moment, then made his decision. "I won't acknowledge her."

His sons immediately let out sighs of relief.

Jace was so happy he nearly jumped for joy. "Then I'll go tell her right now and put an end to her delusions! I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she finds out!”

With that, he turned and headed for the door.

Andrew paused for a moment, then said, "I'll go with you."

The boys were taken aback for a moment, but they didn't object and readily agreed.

Meanwhile, at the orphanage, Yanny had finally finished drawing the greeting card she intended to give to Andrew.

Today was already the eighth day.

The gift she had prepared was finally ready to be delivered!

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside. “Yanny! Your dad is here to see you!"

Overjoyed, Yanny jumped out of her chair and ran toward the door as fast as she could.

In the distance, she saw a familiar car parked at the orphanage entrance. A man was standing by it—it was Jace.

He was holding the latest iPhone, scrolling restlessly. When he looked up, he saw Yanny running toward him, followed by a crowd of curious children.

They were all kids who wanted to know if Yanny really had a dad now.

He frowned in disgust.

It was just like a bunch of tagalongs having a party.

Yanny looked at him and felt as though his whole being was glowing. She stood carefully in front of him and said softly, "Hello."

Her big, grape-like eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Seeing her, Jace’s expression softened slightly.

He had to admit that, for a girl her age, she was quite adorable.

He said in a heavy tone, "The results are in."

Yanny swallowed nervously and nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"You're not my dad's daughter," Jace said bluntly. "From now on, don't try to claim any connection to our family."

The words hit Yanny like a blow to the gut, and she froze in place.

All her hopes crumbled in an instant. Unable to believe it, she whispered, "Really?"

Jace said, staring at her coldly. “Don’t go around telling people you have a dad anymore.”

The kids behind them burst into laughter, a few rolling around on the ground in exaggerated hilarity. "Yanny doesn't have a dad! Yanny doesn’t have a dad!”

“Yanny’s full of it!”

“Liar!”

"Yanny, your dad died ages ago!"

Jace shouted back, "Your dad's the one who's dead!"

The children paused for a moment, then ran off, grinning. "Our dad's dead anyway!"

He felt a wave of disgust wash over him.

What kind of decent kids could grow up in a place like this?

Yanny was just that kind of person.

She hadn't quite come to her senses yet, but one thing was still on her mind. “Wait for me—I’m going to get your present.”

She ran back on her little legs. Jace frowned at her for a moment, then got into the car.

Inside, Andrew and his two brothers watched him in silence.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's go."

Yanny rushed to the door with the card in hand, only to see the black sedan drive off. She shouted, "Wait!"

No one answered.

She squeezed through the door and ran out, holding up the card and shouting, "Wait for me!"

The car accelerated and turned the corner. Yanny chased after it, crying and shouting, "Don’t go!”

Jace leaned back in the backseat, feeling irritable. Suddenly, he happened to glance back and saw Yanny’s tiny figure running after the car. He shouted, "Stop the car!"