"Brody never told you about this?" Selena asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Brody was worried the kid would be a hassle for me, and his mom thought the same. So, the kid''s been raised by other rtives," Ann replied, shrugging.
Selena''s face darkened, and a wild idea popped into her head.
But she had no proof yet, and if she told Ann now, she wouldn''t buy it. "Ann, go home and snag a hair from Brody and that kid," Selena said.
Ann''s eyes widened. "No way, Ms. Fair, this isn''t something to joke about."
Selena took a deep breath and grabbed her shoulders. "You haven''t married into their family yet, so to them, you''re still an outsider. Do you think Brody''s mom would send her own son away for an outsider? This kid is probably Brody''s. You were the best option for Brody before, so his mom kept it under wraps. But now that Brody''s got a better option, she doesn''t care if you find out. Ann, you''re sharp at work, how can you be so clueless in love?"
With that, she pulled Ann out of the convenience store. "Go get those hairs now. It won''t be hard. We''ll do a paternity test together."
Ann felt weak, her mouth opening but no wordsing out.
After a long pause, she croaked, "Ms. Fair, Brody wouldn''t do that."
"Ann!" Selena was getting frustrated. "Wake up. We''re just guessing now. If it''s not true, great. But we have to check."
Selena was always clear-headed about rtionships, so she had to give advice.
When you move in with a guy, and his family sends his brother away to avoid bothering you, there''s a 98% chance the kid is his.
No mom would send her own kid away for an outsider unless there''s something fishy about the kid''s identity or health. And if it''s a health issue, it could be hereditary.
This was a trick to fool women, but some women thought it meant the guy valued them.
Ann said nothing, rubbing her temples. "It''ste now. I''ll get it tomorrow."
"Alright, I''ll give you a day off tomorrow," Selena said.
"Thanks, Ms. Fair."
Seeing her state, Selena wanted to say more, but Ann clearly didn''t want to talk anymore and turned to walk inside.
As she was about to enter, she saw Brody opening the door toe out.
"Brody, where are you going?" Ann asked.
"The boss called me for something urgent. I need to go to the office," Brody said.
Ann nced at the time. It was almost ten o''clock, and he was still going to the office?
Selena''s words nted a seed of doubt in her heart. She quickly said, "I''ll go with you. I need to handle some documents on myptop."
Brody''s face changed instantly. "Ann, are you still doubting me?"
"No, I just want to go with you."
"We''ve known each other for so many years, and now you doubt me? Am I more important to you, or is your boss?"
Men are usually like this. When caught, they get angry and question, making women anxious and self-doubting. Ann said nothing, just smiled.
Brody strode away, not caring about her anymore.
Ann looked up, holding back her tears, and then looked outside the hallway.
The sky outside was dark, but the neighborhood was lit up with thousands of lights.
So beautiful.
But how did she and Brody end up like this?
Brody drove toward Jessica''s vi. He felt a bit guilty toward Ann, but seeing that beautiful vi, something he could never afford, the guilt vanished. He sat in the car for a full minute, realizing what he wanted. Having seen a better world, he couldn''t stay in the same ce.
If he really married Ann, he could see the end of his life at a nce.
Next would be marriage, working hard to pay off the mortgage, then having kids, and struggling to raise them.
Such a life was too terrifying.
He took a deep breath, opened the car door, and walked into Jessica''s vi.
Jessica had sprayed perfume on herself. As soon as she opened the door, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Brody, why are you sote?"
Brody instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, knowing what Jessica wanted tonight, and he was excited too. Although they had kissed, hugged, and tried all kinds of intimacy, they hadn''t actually had sex yet.
Tonight, Jessica was clearly ready.