Chapter 523

522

Jennifer rushed to the hospital , only to find she was a step too late . Sanford had already submitted both Michael’s and his own hair samples for the DNA
test .
Furious , Jennifer grabbed Sanford by the collar . “ What the hell are you trying to do ? ”
Sanford helplessly let go of Jennifer . “ What are you so scared of ? I’m just curious about the kid’s background , that’s all . ”
“ No , wait . ” Jennifer finally sensed that something was off .
Jennifer stared at Sanford in disbelief . “ You pulled out Mike’s hair ? But you don’t have any of Teresa’s hair , let alone the biological father’s . So how could you possibly do the DNA test ? ”
“ Right , ” Sanford said slowly and deliberately . “ I pulled out Michael’s hair , and my own , to run a DNA test . ”
Jennifer looked at Sanford in utter disbelief , then let out a scoffing laugh . “ Come on , there’s absolutely no way you’re Michael’s father . ”
Jennifer thought , ‘ After all , Teresa had never even met Sanford before . So why is he acting so crazy ? ‘
Sanford nodded calmly . “ Yeah , I know . ”
“ Then why this unnecessary move ? ” Jennifer demanded . “ I told you , the kid’s situation is complicated , and I don’t want you meddling in this . ”
“ I’m not trying to interfere , ” Sanford said calmly . “ I’m just curious whether I’m actually related to this kid in some way . ”
“ How is that even possible ? Are you out of your mind , or did you forget your meds ? ” Jennifer shot back at Sanford .
Seeing Jennifer look as if she were itching to check his forehead for a fever , Sanford offered a wry smile . “ What if I told
Jennifer retorted , “ You must be out of your mind . Seriously sick in the head . You need to see a psychiatrist . ”
“ Say whatever you want . ” Sanford shrugged , turning slightly away . “ I paid for express service – results in 24 hours . ”
might be the kid’s uncle ? ”
“ Aren’t you afraid I might just destroy the test report before you ever see it , and never tell you what it says ? ” Jennifer shot back
Sanford shrugged . “ Then I’ll just run the test again . ” Jennifer was speechless .
Sanford gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder . “ Seriously though , I took Michael’s hair , right ? Shouldn’t Teresa be the one coming after me ? Then why is it you ? ”
Teresa wasn’t worried at all , yet Jennifer was practically frantic . That only made Sanford even more curious .
‘ Why was Jennifer so terrified ? ‘ he wondered . All he did was run a DNA test , yet it was enough to send the usually unflappable Jennifer chasing after him in person .
Jennifer clenched her fists . “ Stop asking , ” she snapped . “ I don’t want to talk about it . ”
Sanford noticed Jennifer looked uneasy and probed cautiously, “ Did someone get something on you or are you being threatened ? ”
“ No , ” Jennifer insisted , refusing to elaborate .
Jennifer fixed Sanford with a sharp stare and pressed , “ Sanford , I just need one straight answer from you . Did you really use your own hair for the DNA
test ? ”
“ Yeah , ” Sanford replied softly .
“ Alright , I’ll trust you this once , ” Jennifer said , enunciating each word . “ But promise me , if the results show you’re not related to Michael at all , you’ll

leave Nareigh for good .”
“ Alright , ” Sanford agreed , his tone firm and resolute .

‘ As long as the DNA test proves Michael isn’t related to me , it’ll also indirectly prove I have no connection to Jonathan . Then I’ll leave Nareigh for good , Sanford thought

Rather than just confirming the child’s parentage , what Sanford truly wanted to know was whether Jonathan was actually his brother , and whether the man Liora had been pining for all these years , was , in fact , his father .
Back home , Teresa finally received Jennifer’s call .
‘ Sanford actually used his own hair and Michael’s for a DNA test ? ‘ Teresa thought in disbelief . At first , just like Jennifer , Teresa thought Sanford must be either running a fever or simply out of his mind .
However , it suddenly struck Teresa . Sanford bore a striking resemblance to Werner , Donald’s father .
Turning to Jennifer , she asked , “ Does Donald have any brothers ? Could Sanford be his brother ? ”
Jennifer asked , “ What makes you say that ? ”
“ Don’t you think Sanford looks a bit like Werner ? Maybe it’s just because Werner’s older now , but if you really look , don’t you think they look alike ? Otherwise , why would he want to do a DNA test with Michael ? ” Teresa said .
Jennifer fell silent for a moment . Finally , she said , “ Let me go ask . ” She hung up the phone .
That evening , Jennifer waited for Donald to get off work . Over dinner , she lightheartedly brought up the subject with him . Donald said frankly , “ Cheryl’s my only sister . My parents only had the two of us . ”
Jennifer chuckled . “ I was just kidding . It suddenly struck me that my friend looks a bit like your dad . ”
“ Not really , I don’t think so , ” Donald replied . After all , no one would ever think a stranger looks like their own father .
Jennifer didn’t press further . She told Teresa that Sanford had nothing to do with Donald , but speculated he might be connected to Jonathan .
“ No way ! Jonathan’s an only child . Irene never had any other sons , ” Jennifer said .
“ Then Sanford told me he might be Michael’s uncle , ” Teresa said incredulously . “ Is he out of his damn mind or what ? ”
Teresa also wanted to know the reason .
Meanwhile , Sanford had stayed nearby the whole time , waiting anxiously for the test results . The moment Sanford got his hands on the test report , he tore it open and scanned the results .
Sanford was calm at first , then a rare smile broke across his face as the tension left his shoulders . He hadn’t felt this genuinely happy in ages . Everything had unfolded exactly as he’d predicted . Still , he turned to the geneticist to confirm it .
Sanford asked , “ So , this means I’m related to Michael , right ? ”
The doctor said , “ The test results show some myatching DNA sequences , but the similarities are limited . ”
The initial autosomal DNA test confirmed that Sanford and Michael were not biologically related . However , a Y – chromosome test can yield results
In other words , starting from the Lynn family patriarch’s generation , all male descendants in the direct paternal line will share identical Y chromosome

The DNA test results only showed that Sanford and Michael shared the same paternal lineage . It couldn’t confirm a father – son relationship , let alone determine their exact familial connection .
Sanford declared . “ Of course the kid isn’t my son . I’m his uncle . ”
The doctor paused for a few seconds . “ It’s more likely that you’re a half – uncle or a more distant uncle . If you were his full uncle , the autosomal DNA test should have shown that right away . ”
Sanford explained , “ That’s because the kid’s father and I have different mothers . So I’m more of a half – uncle than a full one . ”
The doctor looked a bit baffled . “ Your family situation is really complicated . ”
Sanford wasted no more words and quickly left . He immediately sent the DNA test results to Jennifer . Jennifer insisted on meeting Sanford right away .
“ Jennifer , I can’t meet you right now , but rest assured my promise stands . My business won’t drag you or Teresa into it . Besides , I’m Michael’s uncle now . I’d never hurt him . ”
Jennifer insisted , “ Let’s meet face – to – face . I’ll bring Teresa , and we can— ”
“ Jennifer , ” Sanford said with a wry , helpless smile . “ If you don’t trust me , then forget it . ”
Sanford hung up without another word . Without a moment’s hesitation , Sanford made his next call to Liora .