Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Outside the Sunflower Orphanage, the lights shone brightly, a rare sight for a place that usually embraced the quiet of the evening.

Mark, Mark, stood at the entrance with a look of bewilderment as two sleek limousines pulled up at the gates. Nearby, a doctor they had brought in was sifting through a pile of tattered records.

These records detailed the lives of the orphanage’s children: their arrival dates, the places they were found, and more. Given the high turnover of kids over the years, each child’s file had been meticulously compiled and archived.

Mark had always been deeply committed to the welfare of his charges, even going so far as to save a lock of hair from each child upon their entry into the system. After all, some were abandoned, while others were simply lost, their parents clinging to a sliver of hope that they might someday be found through a DNA match.

The orphanage’s commitment was to care for the children until they reached adulthood, and once they did, their futures were a mystery – what professions they took up or which places they might call home. The preserved hair became a vital clue for potential DNA comparisons.

However, a fire in the records room had damaged some of the files, including those belonging to Lillian and Brielle.

Mark had mentioned that Brielle had been reclaimed by the Haywood family and couldn’t possibly be the missing girl they were searching for, but their response was to leave no stone unturned, an exercise in caution. So he needed to get in touch with Brielle.

When Mark saw Lillian, his face lit up with a smile. “Lillian, glad you could make it.” His gaze then shifted to the two individuals who had arrived with her. They looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t quite place them. With a polite nod, he acknowledged them, a silent greeting.

Lillian watched the doctor with a tremor of excitement, her voice hushed, “Mark, what information do I need to provide?”

The doctor, his forehead glistening with sweat from poring over files, glanced up at her. Everyone in the room was on edge, the atmosphere taut like a bowstring drawn tight.

The doctor’s hands began to tremble as he continued his search, and Lillian’s initial hope turned to impatience.

To ease the tension, Mark tried to change the subject. “The doctor’s still busy. We need to narrow down the suspects. They are very thorough, and they can’t afford mistakes. But your and Bri were already screened when the Haywood family came looking for their kin. Your files matched the best, and with Bri being a Haywood, you’re the most likely the person they are looking for. Speaking of which, where’s Bri?”

The last thing Lillian wanted to hear about was Brielle. If it weren’t for her, Lillian wouldn’t be in this mess. But her fortunes were about to change. It seemed like fate was finally on her side.

17:00

“I don’t know where she is, Mark,” Lillian replied, her patience waning.

“Both your files were lost in the fire, and I can’t reach her. I thought she might be with you,”

Mark’s concern was palpable as he pulled out his phone to make another call, only to be met with voicemail once again.

Brielle’s phone was currently with Faith, who noticed the flashing “Director” on the screen and guessed it was from the orphanage. Were there developments?

Switching off Brielle’s phone, Faith used her own to call Miranda.

Back at the orphanage, after about an hour, the doctor finally narrowed down the list. It was still just Lian and Brielle. The directive was clear: every girl must be tested, regardless of status. With both their records damaged, they had to be present for verification. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Pushing his glasses up, the doctor announced, “It seems we need to redo the paternity tests for both Brielle and Lillian.” Mark’s hands shook with excitement. With no other children in the running, the odds were now overwhelmingly in favor of Lillian.