Pearl couldn't shake the thought of why she should believe her relatively unknown biological mother was doing well. It weighed
heavily on her mind, causing her to feel overwhelmed.
When she showed up for work, her thoughts distracted her so much that she zoned out during the meeting.
"What do you think about this report, Miss Pearl?" a colleague asked after their presentation.
Pearl, lost in her thoughts, didn't catch what was said. "What was that about? | didn't catch it," she admitted, surprising her
coworker.
"Miss Pearl, were you distracted?" the colleague asked, concerned. Pearl's lack of focus was unusual, and it worried the company's
employees.
After the meeting, people expressed their concern, asking if she was feeling unwell. Pearl thanked them but didn't tell the truth.
Wayne knocked on her office door, pretending to deliver documents.
"You're a workaholic, Pea. You never mess up at work. What happened today?" He asked, sitting down after placing the documents
on her desk.
Pearl rubbed her forehead, "Maybe | haven't been getting enough rest lately, so my mind's a bit off." Her absent-mindedness was
unexpected even for her.
"Why aren't you resting after moving to Waldorf Residence? Is Richard bothering you?" Wayne inquired.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
"Don't be ridiculous. Richard isn't givinga hard time. I've just been having trouble sleeping," Pearl clarified, feeling awkward.
The term ‘hard time' carried a less innocent connotation.
Wayne sighed and shook his head, "You weren't like this before, Pea. You used to telleverything. Why are you keeping things to
yourself now?"
"I'm not keeping things from you. It's just that | don't know how to put it into words right now."
Wayne said, "I'm all ears. Just tellwhat's going on."
Pearl, seeing his genuine concern, decided to share the whole story.
"So, you're tellingthat after all this tsearching for your mother, it turns out she might not be the one?" Wayne's disbelief
was apparent. It all seemed too surreal.
"Yeah, | had my doubts too. But a couple of days ago, | tested my DNA with hers and found that..."
"Found what?"
Pearl's expression turned bitter. "We're related, but not directly."
Wayne almost choked. "So, your mom could be your aunt?"
"But | only had one aunt, and she tragically committed suicide years ago," Pearl explained.
Wayne was ayvare of this
earths incident Pearl's aunt
had been victim of assault, leading
to her ddpression and eventual
suicide) Richard's uncle was ©
resgansible for the assault and was
als imprisoned.
english9
"Could youp grandfather have had
more thatrtwo daughters?" Wayne
speculated. "It's possible. Master
Jordap had a reputation as a.%
playtioy in Bodgow. He might have
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
hag an illegitimate child." Content
bélongs to english©
Pearl pondered. "My grandpa has always been devoted. He hasn't remarried since my grandma passed away."
"No wondegryou were distracted. If |
were youxt'd take a leave and think it
through at home." Wayne sighed”
deeply: "How about this? I'l help you
dig deeper and see if we cartfind
sleads."
english©
"Okay, please keepupdated," Pearl requested as Wayne left her office.
Alone, Pearl leaned back in her chair and contemplated the possibility of an illegitimate daughter. It seemed to be the most
plausible explanation at the moment.