Chapter 455 Paternity Test
Katniss froze for a moment, quickly pulling her hand back. "Sorry, you must have mistaken me for someone else."
"No mistake!" The woman, who looked to be in her forties or fifties and was fairly well-maintained, stared at her with urgent emotion. "You're here from Velvet City to find your family. Your name is Katniss, right?"
Katniss had introduced herself last night. "Yeah, that's me."
The woman immediately grabbed her, her eyes welling up. "You are my niece."
"Who are you?" Katniss asked cautiously, unsure of her relationship with the woman in front of her.
The woman held her wrist and started walking out, wiping away tears that hadn't fallen yet. "I'm your aunt. Your grandmother's health isn't great, and she's been longing for you to come back. That's why we found you. Your grandmother knows you're coming today and is waiting at home. Let's hurry."
Without giving Katniss a chance to react, the woman pulled her outside the airport and into a Ford car worth around a hundred thousand dollars.
Once in the car, Katniss remembered that Evie and Tristan were still at the airport.
She quickly took out her phone and messaged Tristan, asking him to take Evie to find a hotel and settle in. She would handle things here and find time for them to come over later.
On the way, the woman explained the family situation to Katniss.
Her mother, Briar Banks, was the heiress of the Banks family, while her father, Dwayne Larson, came from a modest background and married into the Banks family.
But after Dwayne and Briar had Katniss, she was lost within a few months, and Briar went mad searching for her. A few years ago, Briar passed away in despair, and the Banks family fell into decline.
Now, the family consisted of her father, Dwayne, and her nearly ninety-year-old grandmother, Charlotte Banks.
"Your mother was the hope of the Banks family, with a great business mind. It's a pity..." Violette Banks said, her expression somber, leaving the rest unsaid.
It was a pity that Briar was devastated by Katniss's loss and never recovered.
"Now, the Banks family is supported by your father and my son, your cousin. They both work to support the family."
Katniss responded with a nod.
The news she feared hearing had finally come.
Although Katniss had never met Dwayne and Briar, she still felt sad by hearing Briar's news.
"Even if you're sad, you have to hold it in. Your grandmother is still lying at home, and you mustn't let her get too excited," Violette advised Katniss.
Katniss nodded, about to say something, when Violette answered a phone call. Whatever the caller said made her eyes flicker.
After a moment, she hung up and turned to Katniss, "Katniss, on our way home, we'll pass by the hospital. Let's get some medicine for your grandmother and also get you a check-up?"
The previously emotional atmosphere dissipated significantly, and in the cramped space, Violette's forced smile suddenly felt unsettling.
"Aunt Violette, there's no need for a check-up. We can just do a DNA test."
Violette's smile became awkward and embarrassed, "Because of the last time someone sent an impostor, you understand. But I'm sure you're part of the Banks family."
As she spoke, Violette instructed the driver to stop at the nearest hospital.
Katniss didn't respond, focusing on replying to Tristan's message.
He said Evie was tired, and it wasn't convenient to bring her over, so they would find a hotel to stay in.
Tristan told Katniss to stay safe and call him immediately if anything happened, and to send her location once she settled in.
The car's heater was on full blast, but Katniss still felt cold.
After about ten more minutes, the car stopped in front of a hospital.
Katniss got out and followed Violette into the hospital, heading straight to the lab.
"Dwayne." Violette walked quickly to meet Dwayne at the blood draw window.
Dwayne, around fifty years old, slightly overweight, with a somewhat cold expression, looked over with an emotionless gaze.
As Katniss approached, she moved her lips and said, "Mr. Larson."
Dwayne frowned.
But he didn't correct Katniss's address, instead instructing the nurse to hurry with the blood draw.
After the blood was drawn, Dwayne pressed a cotton swab to his arm. While Violette talked to the nurse, he finally spoke to Katniss.
"You look a lot like your mother. I can confirm your identity without a DNA test."
Katniss gently dabbed the needle mark with a cotton swab and smiled at Dwayne, "It's better to be sure."
Hearing this, Dwayne adjusted his glasses and said, "I originally planned to wait for the DNA test results before letting you see your grandmother. But now that I've seen you, I think we should go directly."
They were almost certain at first glance that Katniss was their daughter.
This made Katniss wonder just how much she resembled Briar.
She sighed inwardly, knowing she would never see her mother again. Violette had already returned.
"Dwayne, are you going to work? If not, we'll go home together. If you are, I'll take Katniss home myself."
Dwayne threw away the cotton swab and rolled down his sleeve, "I have to go to work. You go home and get settled. I'll come back with Atticus for dinner tonight."
Finally, he looked at Katniss and said, "Let her stay in her mother's room before she got married."
"Alright, I've arranged everything," Violette waved to Dwayne and then led Katniss away.
Northern Grassland City was large, and Katniss started to feel drowsy once she got in the car. Violette suggested she take a nap.
She slept until six o'clock, and the car stopped in front of a large estate.
The sun was still bright at six o'clock in this place.
Violette woke Katniss up, handed her a blanket, and then led her into the Banks Manor.
"This Banks Manor was left by our ancestors. Now the Gibson family is just living off the remains," Violette explained. "That yard over there is where your parents lived after they got married."
"This side is where Atticus and I live. Atticus is my son, your cousin. Your mother lived with your grandmother in the same yard."
The large villa was divided into four parts.
They each lived in one part, and there was another part for guests and the garden.
Each section had a semi-circular courtyard entrance, leading to several spacious and bright rooms.
The innermost courtyard was slightly larger, and a few servants stood at the entrance of the room facing the door. When they saw Violette bringing Katniss over, they quickly nodded in greeting.
"Ms. Banks."
Violette nodded and led Katniss inside.
The indoor lighting was dim, with a large willow tree outside the window blocking much of the orange glow of the setting sun. An elderly woman with white hair lay on the bed.
Hearing footsteps, Charlotte opened her eyes and turned her head. At a glance, her lips began to tremble.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
