Chapter 32 - Ayumi Clark

***DNA test?***

It was devastating for me to discover that I had been deceived. I had truly believed that I had found my mother and that my dream had finally come true.

**Memories…**

I find myself locked in this room, wondering how I could have been so foolish as to overlook the details. Why didn't I dig deeper into this story? I let myself be carried away by my emotions. Suddenly, I am interrupted from my thoughts by the sound of someone knocking on my door, and I know it's him.

“Léo, please, leave me alone.”

“Smile, it's me. I came to talk to you. Open the door,” I hear Havah's voice.

Reluctantly, I get up and walk to the door, opening it. She smiles and enters the room. I close the door behind her, and she takes a seat on my bed, patting the space next to her, inviting me to join her.

“Come, let's talk,” she says, and I sit down beside her. She turns to face me, gently caressing my face, and tears start to blur my vision. She pulls me into a hug. “Don't be like this, my love. Let's find out the truth, if what she said about your mother is true.” I pull away from her and wipe my face.

“I was so blind, Mom. How could I not see through things or investigate further to verify the truth? How could I be so naive?”

“Don't be so hard on yourself, my love. You were overwhelmed by the news of finding someone who claimed to be your mother, and everything seemed to support it.”

“I was a fool, driven by my longing to uncover my origins, to truly discover who I am…”

“Daughter, our past or origins don't define us. You are an incredible person, regardless of your history. We will uncover the truth, but let's give it time, and things will fall into place. We will find out who your real mother is, and I'm sure she will be overjoyed to meet the wonderful daughter she couldn't be with, for some reason,” she says, embracing me once again.

I am determined to find out who my real mother is and to ask her why she left me in the hands of that woman, abandoning me at the orphanage. I don't hold any grudges against her; I simply want to understand the reasons behind her actions.

**End of memories.**

Havah, Jhon, Kaléo, Mayke, and my friends have been a great help to me during this difficult time. Ruth, or should I say Maria Acosta, confessed that she did it all for money and refused to reveal my mother's name as a form of revenge. It made me furious and gave me the urge to attack her. She truly brings out a side of me that I didn't know existed.

Today is Friday, and it's been a few days since I went to the company. Léo told me to stay home and relax, so I'm trying to do that. But the day seems to drag on like a snail. I hear the doors opening, and I place the book I'm reading on the couch, leaning back to see who's coming in. I see Evy walking in arm with a woman, and Kaléo talking to a man.

I stand up, and as they approach, Evy lets go of the woman and hugs me.

“Hey, how are you?” she asks, stepping back.

“I'm better, thank you. And you?” I ask, looking at the woman who stares at me wide-eyed. The man next to Kaléo looks at me with tears in his eyes, and I don't understand what's going on.

“I'm fine, but let me introduce you. This is my mother, Sheila, and this is my father, Thomas.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma'am,” I say, extending my hand, and the woman snaps out of her trance and shakes my hand.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Ayumi. Evy talks a lot about you!” I smile.

“Hello, sir, nice to meet you,” I say, extending my hand to him, but I'm taken aback when he throws himself at me, hugging me. I'm speechless, and he cries like a child.

I place my hands on his back and gently stroke it, looking at everyone without understanding anything. Evy and Sheila have tears streaming down their faces, Kaléo is smiling. I really don't understand what's going on. The man steps back, wiping his face, somewhat embarrassed.

“I'm sorry, I'm becoming an old crybaby,” he says, smiling.

“That's alright. Please have a seat,” I say, trying to be polite. Kaléo approaches and sits next to me, handing me my book.

I look at him, still not understanding anything, then I turn my attention back to Evy and her parents, who are looking at me with smiles.

“So, Yumi, you must be going crazy trying to understand what's happening here, but let me show you something first,” Evy says, opening her bag and taking out a photo frame, handing it to me.

“This is my mother,” Thomas says, and I look at the photograph, but…

“She looks like me!” I say, smiling at the coincidence. I look at him, and he nods affirmatively, then looks at Evy.

“Thom showed up at home with this photo,” Evy says, holding her father's hand. “He said it was his great-grandma and that he also had a photo of you, mentioning that you looked a lot like her. I had never really stopped to look, especially because her photos are stored in the basement. But when I saw it, I was shocked by the resemblance between the two of you,” Evy says, her voice filled with surprise and wonder. “Do they think I'm her reincarnation? Not that I believe in those things, but you never know what goes through people's minds!”

“If you allow me, I'll tell you from the beginning,” Thomas says, and I nod in agreement. “Almost twenty-seven years ago, I met a woman named Eloisa…” My attention is completely focused on every word he says, trying to understand if this really has something to do with me or if I'm imagining things.

My heart feels tight and racing with each word that comes out of his mouth. My life is a puzzle, and now it seems like the pieces are falling into place. I just can't define my feelings as I listen to all of this. He appears nervous and anxious at the same time. Kaléo's hands grip mine, conveying courage and the usual comfort, silently telling me that he'll be by my side. I can feel my body trembling from the avalanche of emotions I'm experiencing. But now, at least I have the answers I've been searching for. Finally, he is here, and now I can discover who I really am.

“Now we just need a DNA test to erase any doubts! Is that alright with you, Ayumi?” Sheila asks.

“Of course, whenever you schedule it, I'll be there,” I say, looking at them.

“We won't wait another minute. I've spent too much time away from my daughter. We're going now!” Thomas says, standing up.

“Oh, my God!” Evy exclaims, rolling her eyes and getting up.

“Stay quiet, daddy, don't dampen my excitement. I knew from the start that she was my sister, I knew it the moment I saved her. That's why I said at the hospital that she was a Williams. A sister's heart never deceives!” she approaches Kaléo and gives him a little punch on the shoulder. “I told you she was my sister, I said it! I'm still mad at you for taking her away. If she had been with me, she wouldn't have gone through everything she went through with that crazy old lady.”

“What's this, Evelyn? Don't be mad at me, you know why?” she looks at him with her hand on her hip. “Moreover, you gained an older brother as a bonus,” he said, making everyone smile, even Evy.

“Now let's go, and I promise you, Ayumi, that I will find your mother,” Thomas says, approaching and embracing me.

How I longed for this embrace, how I dreamed of this day!