"Kids' appearances change so quickly. After a year, they can look completely different. When Joey and Jon came back to the orphanage, they were in a terrible state—skin and bones, their hair a mess. If Joey hadn't spoken up and told us their names, we wouldn't have recognized either of them," the orphanage director recalled. "Jon was always quiet, so we didn't pay him much attention. Aside from his birthmark, there's not much more I can tell you.""You've already helped us a lot," Penelope said gratefully. "We won't take up more of your time. I'll come by again this weekend to see the kids.""Take care on your way back," the director said, walking us to the gate of the orphanage. "Once you find out the results, be sure to let me know.""Of course, Director!"Penelope and I waved goodbye to the director before unlocking the car.Penelope didn't want to trouble me and was about to hail a taxi."I'll drive you home," I insisted."Jen...""I'm your cousin, right? So why are you sti
Joey had a strained relationship with Penelope and me. Stephen, worried that seeing us would upset her, tried to stop us from entering her room. I stepped in front of him and said, "Mr. York, we need to verify something important with Joey.""Her health is the priority right now," Stephen replied, his expression turning cold and his eyes full of warning."If you want to find a suitable bone marrow match for Joey as soon as possible, you should come inside with us and ask her where the real Jon is.""The real Jon?""The real Jon, Joey's biological brother. The chances of a successful match are much higher.""Why are you talking about two Jons?""You should ask Joey."While I was speaking with Stephen, Penelope had already entered the room.Joey was sitting on the bed, staring blankly. Her face was pale, and her hair was slightly disheveled. Hearing the door open, she slowly lifted her head. The moment she saw Penelope, her already weary face turned visibly colder. "Are you here
After I finished speaking, Penelope and I left. She had collected biological samples from both Joey and Jon, and we decided to take them to a different facility for testing.On the way to drop Penelope off at home, she murmured, "Joey has a rare blood type, and her illness is progressing rapidly. The doctors have advised her to get the surgery as soon as possible. If the real Jon were still alive, she wouldn't stay silent about it."I nodded in agreement. "If the real Jon is no longer alive, then why did she bring back someone unrelated by blood?""Loneliness," Penelope said softly. She had been forced to sever ties with her family at a young age and had wandered through unfamiliar cities, trying to make a living. She understood that kind of loneliness all too well. "Being alone for so long can make you seem accustomed to it, but deep down, there's still a yearning for family. Jon's situation is unique; he can't reciprocate Joey's feelings. But just having him around is enough—a r
"Alright, I'll go ahead and ask for your help, Mr. Walker. Make that call quickly," I said, ending the call.Luke's deep, resonant voice made my name sound better than anyone else's ever could. Especially when he was half-asleep, every soft murmur of "Jen" was filled with warmth and affection, as if I were the most precious person in his world. It felt like a stone dropping into the still waters of my heart, creating ripples that made my face flush uncontrollably. That warmth spread all the way to my ears, just like it was now.I rolled down the car window, letting the cold breeze rush in and cool my heated face."Achoo!"Penelope, dressed lightly, sneezed from the sudden draft.I quickly apologized and rolled the window back up."Jen, your face is so red. Are you running a fever?" Penelope asked with concern as she pulled a tissue from her bag to wipe her nose. When she looked up, she noticed the flush on my cheeks."I'm just overdressed," I said, switching off the overhead lig
"Get home early. It's not safe for a young woman to be out late at night.""Got it, Jen. See you later!"Penelope took her equipment out of her bag and quickly set it up. After adjusting the focus, she waved at me and dashed off in the direction Jethro had gone.Once she left, the car felt empty with just me inside.Her words echoed in my mind.When my parents were alive, even if I didn't go home for a while, just knowing they were there made me feel like I always had a place to belong, and I never felt lonely.But now, I knew the taste of loneliness all too well.I shifted slightly, resting my head against the car window, watching the people hurrying along the sidewalk.My phone rang, and when I saw "Mr. Walker" on the screen, all the loneliness melted away. The reflection in the window showed a smile spreading across my face."I've sent you a phone number. You can reach out to him," Luke said."Okay, Mr. Walker.""Just explain the situation to him. If there's any progress,
"Is that case related to Stephen?""I was planning to tell you after I investigated everything, but since you met Officer Miller tonight, I'll tell you now." Luke gazed ahead, his thoughts drifting back to years ago. "Joey was a diligent student. She was admitted to the same high school as Stephen and me without taking the entrance exam. That school had many privileged students. With family backing, they were assured a good future, even without studying hard. Joey didn’t fit in; she was like an outsider.""Classmates often picked on her. Her composure only made them escalate their efforts to break her. Stephen was in her class, and disgusted by their behavior, he helped her a few times."They were bullying her!Though I disliked Joey, hearing about her school experiences made me frown, and I unconsciously gripped the steering wheel tighter."Stephen was smart and good-looking, popular with girls. His help to Joey sparked jealousy and resentment from other girls, making Joey's situ
If I had to live in such an environment for a long time, I'm not sure I could endure it.I listened silently, without commenting."Joey couldn't take it anymore. After her transfer request was denied, she decided to drop out. On her last day, she was drenched from head to toe due to their pranks. High school girls' bodies are developed, and in the middle of summer, her thin, wet clothes turned her into an object of lewd attention for some of the boys. The classroom was filled with whistles and vulgar comments—it was unbearable.""Stephen couldn't stand it. He wrapped his school uniform around her and escorted her out of the school. He intended to take her back to the orphanage by taxi, but halfway there, a group of thugs blocked their path. They called Joey out by name. Some of those thugs were familiar faces, known for their frequent run-ins with the law.""The driver, not wanting trouble, urged them to get out when Stephen called the police. Stephen begged the driver to let them
"You think so too?""I don't believe Stephen owes Joey anything." Recalling the events from years ago, Luke's mood grew somber. "When Stephen told me about it back then, he begged me to help Joey. I approached my father and explained the situation. At the time, my father..."Luke paused. "After everything was arranged and Stephen gave Joey the transfer papers, she decided not to transfer.""She was bullied so badly at school. Why would she give up the chance to transfer?""She told Stephen she believed good would triumph over evil. Also, her financial situation was limited. As a scholarship student, her tuition was waived, and she received living expenses. If she transferred, she'd lose all those benefits.""Stephen told her he could find a way to help. Joey said she'd think about it, but nothing came of it. By the time she wanted to transfer again, my father was no longer willing to help.""How foolish of her! If she had transferred then, everything might have been different!"