“What!
Juliette is A negative!
But this is impossible.
You must have some error.
Run the test again!” Kevin slammed on the desk of the testing assistant of the pathology department.
The poor assistant shivered at the impact and weakly said, “We have run the test three times to remove any kind of testing error.
All the reports come exactly the same.
Miss Juliette is A negative.
As for the DNA report…”
“WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO SAY?” Kevin belowed.
“Ya, old man.” A feminine voice interuppted the conversation.
“This ain’t your house, ok?
That you can just scream and yell as you please.
If you don’t like the report, work it out.
There are other patients other than you.”
Kevin felt heat arising in his cheeks.
He looked around and saw how other people were already recording him on their phones.
Never in his career years had he lost his cool in public.
Now, he was having a total meltdown, the PR department’s nightmare.
Embarassed, he searched for the source of the voice.
His intuition said that it was from the blood transfusion part of the room.
“You, young woman.
Don’t you have manners…” Kevin’s voice faltered as he saw the woman’s face.
The woman probably was around his Juliette’s age.
She was wearing a blue and black plaid shirt with a black lacy tube top.
She had some faded high-rise jeans with silver chains running as a belt and accessory.
Her collarbone had a fluid red ink tattoo of a snake.
Her ebony black wavy hair was tied into a twisted hair bun with front fringes.
And her facial features.
That’s what made him stop in his tracks.
How could someone look so identical to his mother?
It was like seeing the younger version of his mother.
“You,” Kevin asked sharply.
“Have you ever done any kind of plastic surgery?”
“Old man, none of your business.” The young woman replied annoyingly.
“It is my business when someone looks like my dead mother and roams around looking like…this.” Kevin pointed at the woman’s clothes.
“First of all, ouch.
My sense of fashion is amazing, FYI, for my generation, you sexist old man.
Second, what the actual fuck!
How dare you call me an old woman!” The woman retorted.
“Excuse me, I am so sorry about Daddy.” Juliette entered the room in panic and stood still.
Seeing the woman’s face, a silent gnawing thought crept into her.
Somehow, this complete stranger looked more Ravenwood than her.
It made her feel things that she had never before.
Fear.
Fear of losing.
“Losing what?
Mumma and Daddy?
Impossible!” Juliette thought to herself.
“What my daddy wants to say is that you, look incredibly identical to my grandma’s younger version.
And it makes him uncomfortable.
So, he just wanted to ask whether, you know, did you do any kind of cosmetics that helped you look like that?” Juliette tried to explain.
The stranger scoffed and ran her hand through her hair.
“How I dress up is my wish, ok, old man?
Second, no, I didn’t get any plastic surgery done.
I love the face that my parents have given me, ge-ne-ti-ca-lly.
”
“Also, I don’t want to get anything done if this is some kind of grand scheme to get me one and earn money as a commission fee.
I love my face just the way it is.” The woman stood up as she was done donating blood.
“Where are you going?
I have to talk to you.” Kevin held the woman’s hand tightly.
He glared at the disobedient woman tightly.
She winced in pain as it was the hand from which she just donated.
Gritting her teeth in anger, the woman said, “That sounds like a you problem, old man.
Let me go before I scream for security.
You’re hurting me.”
Kevin glared and let her go.
Juliette said hurrily, “I am so sorry about daddy.
It’s really shocking for us, you see.
We just want to check whether you are related to us by any chance.”
“Again, that sounds like a you problem.
I have no interest in involving into whatever you guys are in.” The woman started to walk away.
“At least could you tell us your name?” Juliette pleaded.
“Lara Collins.” The woman said and left the room before either of them could ask her anything.
“Search everything you can find about Lara Collins.” Kevin called his assistant and ordered.
*****
“Some rich ass family’s problem getting public.
Why the hell did I get some backlash from it?” Lara winced as the hand that was held was paining.
“Fuck it!
Let’s get some water and a sandwich to eat.
Need to eat something,” Lara told herself and went to the hospital cafeteria.
Thank goodness she doesn’t like drinking while singing in the bar.
Otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to help that poor woman in need.
She knew how harsh anaemia could be to a woman’s body.
In her previous life, due to the harsh conditions she lived under the company’s policy, she had severe anaemia and even lost her ability to menstruate.
She returned back to Mrs Tina and Mrs Nina.
Grandma Bella was wheeled out of the operation theatre and was now placed in the ICU.
Lara saw her frail grandmother through the door window and at the approaching doctor.
She remembered the name.
Liam Fernandez.
Her first crush in this lifetime.
“Liam, wasn’t it?” Lara asked.
“It is.
Nice to meet you again.
Holding alright?” Liam affirmed.
“I am.
For now.” Lara lightly smiled and continued, “Are those my grandmother’s filles?”
“They are.” Liam paused.
“My professor would like to meet you, regarding them.”
“Ok then.
Lead the way, please, Liam,” Lara said.