Missing the DNA Test
Meanwhile, Caroline was standing outside the restaurant, completely puzzled.
The door looked totally fine–no sign of it being forced open..
Who would waste their time pulling a stunt like that?
She was pretty annoyed, but then a sudden thought made her uncasy.
Last night, Ruth had tried calling to find Maia, and she had stepped in to block it.
Was it possible Ruth had planned this all along–trying to push her out of the picture on purpose?
Feeling uneasy, Caroline called Maia right away.
As soon as the line picked up, she asked, “Maia, are you okay?”
Maia answered calmly, “Yeah, I’m fine. Why are you out so early?”
Caroline let out a breath, relieved she was safe. Maybe she was just being paranoid.
“I’ll tell you everything when I’m back. Want me to grab you breakfast?”
“No need,” Maia said. “My grandma got into a car crash and was taken to the hospital. I’m heading over now.”
Caroline’s face fell. “Wait–what? Who told you that? Was it Ruth?”
She knew Wren too well–someone that scared of danger would never take risks.
With how cautious she was, getting into a car accident seemed almost impossible.
And somehow, Maia got the news the moment she stepped out of the house.
The timing felt way too perfect to be random.
“Yeah, we’re heading to the hospital now.”
Caroline’s chest tightened.
She lowered her voice so Ruth wouldn’t hear and warned, “Maia, what if this is all fake? What if your grandma’s fine and they’re just luring you out?”
Maia was quiet for a second, then said, “Don’t stress. I remember the test time. I’ll be there.”
“No, listen-”
But the line went dead.
Caroline stared at her phone, frustrated.
Ruth must’ve overheard and said something to twist her words.
Maia always trusted too easily. She probably thought Caroline was just trying to keep her from showing up
for the test.
Chapter 279 Missing the DNA Test
Caroline called back. This time, Maia answered with, “Caroline, my grandma’s in trouble. I have to see her Please don’t stop me.”
“If it’s real, I won’t stop you,” Caroline tried to explain. “But this whole thing feels off. This morning, 1
She was about to bring up the weird call at 5 a.m., but the line cut again.
All she could do was shake her head.
She was out of options now.
Hopefully, Wren really was in the hospital. If not, missing the test would be the least of it–Maia would be walking into something worse.
Caroline looked at her phone again, sighed, and gave up.
There wasn’t anything else she could do now. Maia promised she wouldn’t miss the test, so she decided to wait until ten.
If she didn’t hear anything by then, she’d know for sure it was a setup.
Caroline put her phone away, ate a simple breakfast from a shop nearby, and went back to Galaxy Bay Residences.
Once home, she cleaned the floor and did laundry to pass the time.
At 9:30, her phone rang–Alaina was calling.
“Caroline, I’m outside your building. Tell Maia to come down.”
Caroline quickly filled Alaina in on what was going on.
Alaina was stressed and mad. “This has Ruth written all over it. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
But the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced Maia was really her daughter. Why else I would Ruth go to so much trouble to stop the test?
Caroline said, “I did warn her. She just wouldn’t believe me. And if she won’t listen to me, you think she’ll listen to you?”
Even if Alaina was Maia’s real mom, it didn’t change the fact that Maia still held a grudge.
Alaina knew that too. After a short pause, she asked, “Want to come with me to find her?”
She didn’t think she could handle Ruth alone, but with Caroline there, maybe they had a shot.
It was getting close to ten and still no word from Maia. Caroline couldn’t sit still anymore. “Alright, wait me. I’m coming.”
They headed to Wagner Residence.
Wren seemed clueless about the situation and asked with a frown, “Alaina, did you come to see Ruth?”
From the look on Wren’s face, Alaina figured she had no idea Ruth had taken Maia. So she asked, “Aunt Wren, do you happen to know where she went?”
