Seventy and Swept off My Feet

"I've waited 50 years for my sister. I have one foot in the grave, so I shouldn't continue hoping that she'll come back. I won't press the matter further. Go on now. Don't make this mess any worse," Daniel said.

Anna proudly lifted her head. Her voice dripped with scorn as she said, "You're just a scammer. The results won't change, no matter how many tests you take. Now get out of here!"

Suddenly, the boy from the corner of the room spoke up. "Grandpa, let her take the test again. She really is our great-aunt."

"Shut up, Skyler. No one asked for your opinion!" Anna roared.

Skyler Slater ignored her and stepped closer to Daniel. He dropped to his knees. His eyes were bloodshot as he pleaded. "Grandpa, no one but you and I has ever seen her portrait. You forgot her face because of your illness, but I remember it clearly. I broke that frame myself.

"Please, let me take the sample back to the hospital and run the test again!"

Anna clenched her fists. She stormed forward and struck Skyler hard across the face.

"I thought you were just unlucky, but now I see you for what you are. You're scheming with a fake relative so you can take everything from the Slaters," Anna said through clenched teeth. "Do you really think I'll let you succeed? Security, take him out of here and teach him a lesson!"

The guards moved in, but Skyler resisted. "Grandpa, I'm begging you! Just one more test. She's telling the truth."

Skyler never got up.

Daniel's chest heaved. His expression finally wavered. "That's enough. I'll give her one more chance. But if the result is the same, I won't show her any mercy. The same goes for you."

"Grandpa!" Anna panicked.

Daniel turned away and waved her off. "It's settled. Get it over with."

Skyler scrambled to his feet and nodded. "Thank you, Grandpa. I'll take care of it right away!"

I watched as Skyler clutched the samples and bolted from the room. My heart twisted. He truly wanted to help me. If he were the one handling the test, there could be no mistake.

All I had to do was wait. Once the results were back, the truth would finally crush them.

Comments scrolled madly across my face.

"Zoe's stupidity is giving me hives. She won't live through tonight."

"Pack up, folks. She's cooked."

Annoyed, I averted my gaze. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Michael beside me. His thoughts sounded in my ears. "Damn it. Another obstacle came out of nowhere. Zoe's way too lucky."

"Michael, how did it come to this? Are we going to fail the mission?"

"No. If she insists on fighting me, then I'll just do what the comments say. She won't live past tonight."

I turned my gaze away. I let my gaze settle back to Anna, who was furiously tapping away on her phone. When our eyes met, her glare was full of malice.

I closed my eyes, deciding that it was better than getting annoyed.

Time ticked by.

Suddenly, a video call from Skyler was connected. The screen was instantly cast onto a giant display. "Guys, the second test results are out."