Chapter 196 Quinn Wants a Paternity Test with Jasmine
Jasmine's tears fell unchecked, tracing a path down the back of her hand, their moisture seeping into the fabric of her scarf.
Ethan had long been aware of Jasmine's scars, yet he never broached the subject, always treating her with respect. Still, he had the tailor craft a matching scarf for her wrist, a gesture of genuine thoughtfulness that could easily have made her fall for him.
But Jasmine felt she had no more strength left to love someone, fearing that allowing herself to fall in love again might put her life in jeopardy.
The wedding banquet was predictably extravagant, befitting a wealthy heiress. Rumor had it that each guest received lavish gifts, and only the elite were granted invitations. From the Douglas Family, only Ethan and Howard were present. Ethan attended, but Howard was notably absent, possibly due to recent embarrassments involving Clara, the chairwoman of Stellar Enterprises. Meanwhile, the entire Cunningham Family was in attendance, underscoring their significant influence in the business world.
"Nolan Cunningham, have you missed me?" The bride, not exceptionally beautiful but undeniably gracious, greeted her guests warmly.
She exuded the air of a carefully raised princess, her laughter bright and pure.
"If I say I missed you, the groom should be getting nervous," Nolan Cunningham quipped with a chuckle.
Jasmine, seeking refuge, stayed close to Ethan, attempting to avoid any interaction with Nolan Cunningham.
'Evidently, Nolan Cunningham could joke too. I had thought him to be perpetually scowling,' Jasmine mused silently.
"Ethan, what about you? Do you miss me?" the bride asked directly.
Ethan took Jasmine's hand and smiled. "If I admitted missing you, then it's me who should be nervous."
Jasmine blushed, standing beside Ethan, feeling the weight of the curious gazes around her.
Before entering the venue, Jasmine had overheard whispers about the bride's past feelings for Ethan. Despite his rejection, she remained amicable with him, eventually finding her own love and now preparing to marry—a testament to her generous spirit and sunny disposition.
"What a beauty! Ethan, you've hit the jackpot. How did you manage to win her over?" The bride, now excited, approached Jasmine, reaching out to cup her face. "She's stunning, isn't she? Forget about him; what's so special about men anyway? Choose me instead."
Jasmine looked nervously at the bride, uncertain of how to respond.
"My girl here is a bit shy, don't scare her," Ethan laughed, enveloping Jasmine in his embrace.
"Look at you, Mr. Ethan, even you have your special day," the bride exclaimed as if witnessing a miracle. "Nolan Cunningham, take a good look. Ethan's found someone he likes, what about you?"
Nolan Cunningham's gaze lingered on Jasmine, but he remained silent.
"I also have someone I like," Edward chimed in. "Lily, I'm in competition with Mr. Ethan here."
"And me too! We're all vying for her affection," Edgar added, accompanied by his child.
"And me, she's my Mommy," the little one exclaimed, reaching out eagerly for Jasmine's embrace.
Overwhelmed by the Cunningham brothers' attention, Ethan's displeasure deepened, casting Jasmine as the event's focal point.
Feeling uneasy, Jasmine worried about upsetting the bride on her special day. Anxious thoughts raced through her mind, considering leaving with the child.
Ignoring the teasing, the bride chuckled at Ethan. "Keep a close eye on your girl. The Cunningham brothers seem quite taken with her."
Ethan responded with a confident smirk. "Rest assured, I'll be vigilant."
The bride laughed. "But I've heard rumors about your company's troubles. I've been keeping up with the local news. What's this about your engagement to the Browns?"
Ethan glanced at her. "It's all part of the plan, nothing to fret over."
She nodded. "I'm not worried about you. After all, you're Ethan."
It was Ethan who had propelled Stellar Enterprises to its current stature.
"How old are you, Jasmine?" The Cunningham matriarch approached, her question abrupt.
Jasmine stood nervously, showing respect. "Ma'am, I'm almost twenty-seven."
"When's your birthday?" the matriarch asked, surprised.
Jasmine's spirits sank. "I'm sorry, Ma'am... I'm the child mistakenly taken by the Wilsons. I've celebrated someone else's birthday my whole life."
To this day, Jasmine remains unaware of her true birthday.
"Jasmine, may I ask a personal question?" Quinn's voice trembled with anxiety. "Please, don't be offended."
Jasmine nodded, feeling a warmth toward Quinn.
"Go ahead."
"When the Wilsons and the Summers discovered the baby switch, did the Wilsons conduct a paternity test?" Quinn's desperation to find her daughter was evident.
Jasmine nervously clenched her hands and nodded. "Yes, they did with Serena."
"And you? Did you undergo a paternity test with the Summers?" Quinn's anxiety was palpable.
Jasmine paused, reflecting.
The Wilsons had only needed to confirm Serena's paternity. Once Serena's adoptive mother, Richard's mother, acknowledged her, further testing seemed unnecessary.
"Mom, Uncle Zhang is looking for you. What are you doing here?"
Before Jasmine could respond, Nolan Cunningham guided Quinn away gently.
Quinn glanced back at Jasmine several times before murmuring, "Han Chen, Jasmine is the same age as your sister; they're about to turn twenty-seven. Can you check for me, please? Or should I do a paternity test with her?"
Quinn looked to Nolan Cunningham, her concern genuine. She truly hoped Jasmine was her daughter.
"Mom, you've asked this about every girl you've liked. Jasmine isn't a Cunningham. I've investigated. Isn't she the Wilson family's nanny's child?" Nolan sighed deeply.
Quinn shook her head. "This time is different."
Nolan sighed again. "Okay, I'll look into it."
Quinn nodded. "Could you ask Jasmine if she's willing to do a DNA test with me? I'd appreciate it if you could just ask her."
Nolan nodded with tenderness. "I will."
He understood the years of effort his mother had invested in searching for her daughter.
"Mom, if she's not the one this time, let me handle the search. We'll take our time, okay?" Nolan reassured softly.
Quinn whispered back, "I have a feeling she is, this time for sure."
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