The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 431

Marian changed her clothes and carefully selected two strands of hair to take with her to the hospital, one they all trusted, alongside Martin and Louis.

The hair being used for the new test should be freshly plucked but, under the guise of this procedure, Marian handed over the two strands she'd brought back from Sophia.

After they submitted the samples, Marian went back to the Frost family's home with Martin and Louis. Before the new paternity results would come in, there was no need for Marian to move out immediately.

But she had to begin preparing her apology.

"Get your apology statement ready tonight," Martin told Marian with a poker face when they got home. "It should cover three points: first, you are not Yolanda, just some partner Martin hired to play the part—your actions are purely your own and unrelated to Yolanda; second, explain in the statement how you plagiarized Sophia’s design work, making clear that the estate project was Sophia’s own design; third, offer a formal apology to Sophia."

Marian was freaking out: "The paternity test results haven’t come out yet."

"The paternity result doesn't change your apology!" Martin shot back. " This is the latest public apology demand from Brandon. Regardless of whether you are Yolanda or not, you must clarify that you have no relation to her."

Marian turned to Louis with a plea in her eyes: "Grandpa."

But Louis was visibly exhausted: "You listened to your brother before, now do the same."

With that, he brushed past her and retreated to his room.

Just as he reached his door, he paused.

"Oh, and Martin, Ms. Yearwood has eased up on the project. The woman has shown genuine affection for your grandmother—we cannot let her down. If credit is due to someone as the lead designer, give it. If royalties must be paid, pay them. If promotion is needed, promote. And as for Yoli. Ms. Barlow, it's time to apologize, even if she really is Yoli. We can't keep making excuses for her."

Louis walked into his room without looking back.

Martin then turned to Marian: "Draft that apology tonight and send it to me tomorrow morning. The company will hold a press conference responding to the incident tomorrow; prepare yourself."

"Bro." Marian couldn't help but blurt out in desperation.

"Calling me 'Dad' won't help you now. I warned you not to mess with Brandon, but you still went there and showed off at his place."

Without those final words, Martin left as well.

Marian collapsed onto the couch, exhausted and overwhelmed.

Marian ran desperately in the direction Sophy pointed, clutching the bracelet. But before she could find the parents and brother that Sophy said would treat her well, she encountered her current parents.

Shocked to see her alone and stumbling in the snow, they embraced her, asking where her own parents were.

She no longer had parents.

She looked blankly at the kind man and woman before her as she heard herself murmured.

Then, she saw sympathy in their eyes; the woman bent down and picked her up. The warmth in her embrace was so enchanting and comforting that Marian allowed herself to faint into the woman’s arms.

When she woke up again, she was in a hospital, with her current parents gently caring for her by her bedside, feeding her treats and comforting her, telling her not to be afraid.

Desiring them to be her parents, when the police came to ask where her family was, she said nothing, only clinging to the woman she wanted as her mother.

Her longing for her new parents made her forget to tell them about the little girl, who had saved her, was still waiting in the snow.