Chapter 162

Lottie wouldn’t have come if she hadn’t already agreed to the DNA test.
Charlotte glanced up, her eyes drifting over to Kenneth with a lazy sort of boredom. The look in her eyes turned sharp, then just plain annoyed. Seriously? She thought to herself, There’s no way we look alike. Not even close.
Kenneth crouched down in front of her, speaking softly, like he was afraid she’d bolt if he wasn’t careful. “I know this probably feels kind of sudden, but there’s a real chance we’re family. Your mom… she’s my aunt.”
He paused, searching her face. “All we need is a DNA test to know for sure.”
He hesitated, then tried again. “Lottie, would you be okay doing the test with me?” His voice was gentle, almost nervous. “You don’t have to decide right now. Take your time, breathe. I know it’s a lot to process.”
Anthony didn’t say a word. He just watched Charlotte, his expression soft and steady, making it clear he’d back her up no matter what. If she didn’t want to go through with this, nobody was going to force her.
Charlotte didn’t even blink. She turned off her phone, tossed it into her bag, and said in a flat, bored voice, “Already did the DNA test.”
Kenneth stared at her. “What?”
Without another word, Charlotte put her tablet on the coffee table and opened the test results. The answer was right there in black and white: Siblings.
Kenneth just sat there, frozen, like someone had pressed pause on him. This wasn’t how he’d pictured it at all. Shouldn’t she have been shocked, then in disbelief, then crying happy tears because she finally found out she had a super handsome
brother? Wasn’t she supposed to jump up, throw her arms around him, and sob, “I have a brother now”?
Instead, Charlotte tossed the report aside and flopped back on the sofa, acting like none of this had anything to do with her.
Kenneth tried again. “Your mom’s name was
Charlotte cut him off, not even looking up. “Nora.”
He blinked Nora? That was his aunt’s name. Suddenly it felt like fireworks were exploding inside his head so loud and bright he couldn’t think straight. bottie really was Nora’s daughter. She was his sister.
Anthony’s eyes narrowed a little as he glanced at the report. He leaned in close, his voice low and warm near Charlotte’s ear. “You already knew last night?”
She nodded, lips pressed together, her features as calm as ever. “Yeah. Didn’t think we’d actually be related, though.”
She sounded almost disappointed.
Anthony let out a soft laugh and gave her a teasing, affectionate smile. “You’re so beautiful. I guess it’s a shock to find out your brother’s such a disaster.”
Kenneth, the so-called disaster, clung to the tablet and read the report again and again it was true. Lottie was the granddaughter his grandfather had spent half a lifetime searching for.
Anthony glanced back at Kenneth, then looked at Charlotte. “He’s going to be like this all night. Let’s get you home so you can rest. He squeezed her hand and started to lead her away. Whatever needed to be said could wait until tomorrow
But as Anthony led Charlotte toward the door, Kenneth suddenly jumped up, legs
still shaky and sore from his injuries, and stumbled after them.
“Anthony, where do you think you’re taking my sister?”
Now that the DNA results had confirmed it, Kenneth’s voice was steadier than ever.
He was officially her big brother, and it showed.