OLIVIA’S POV
<b>I </b>sat next to Julian in Dr. James’s office, feeling like my heart was about to burst out of my chest. The test was done, and now all we had to do was wait. Some part of me wished deep down that it <b>was </b>true that Julian really was my brother. But another part of me was terrified, praying the
results would say otherwise.
I didn’t know why I felt so torn. Maybe it <b>was </b>the fear of change, of suddenly having someone who had always been missing from my life show up <b>just </b>like that.
After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, and Dr. James walked in with a serious look on his face. In his hands was the envelope that held all the answers I didn’t even know <b>I </b>was searching for.
“Here you go,” Dr. James said, handing it to me.
My fingers trembled as I reached for it. Julian watched me silently, his expression unreadable. I swallowed hard and slid the papers out, my eyes scanning through the medical jargon until theynded on the one word that mattered most.
POSITIVE.
blinked, reading it again and again just to be sure. Positive.
Julian was telling the truth. He really was my brother. All this time, through all the moments we’d spent together – the coffee shop meetings, thete–night talks, the countless times we’d supported each other- we had been connected by blood, without even knowing it.
–
Tears began to fill my eyes<b>, </b>blurring the words on the paper. I stood up slowly, still staring at Julian, unsure of what to do next. Should <b>I </b>hug him? Should I say something? I had never had a sibling before – never knew what it was like to have someone who shared the same blood running through their veins. I was frozen in ce, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions.
But Julian seemed to sense it. Without hesitation, he stood up too and walked toward me. He didn’t say a word – he just pulled me into a hug, wrapping his arms around me
At first, I just stood there<b>, </b>stiff and uncertain. But slowly, warmth began to seep into me, and I raised my arms to hug him back<b>. </b><b>A </b>sob broke from my lips as I held onto him.
He wasn’t just a friend anymore. He was family.
The brother I never had.
The brother I’d <b>always </b>needed without even knowing it.
“I’m sorry,” Julian whispered into my hair, his voice thick with emotion. “I really am.”
I knew what he meant. He <b>was </b>sorry for leaving me alone at the amusement park all those years ago. Sorry for everything <b>I </b><b>have </b>gone through because of that <b>day</b>. But standing there in his arms, I realized something important -none of <b>it </b><b>was </b>really his fault. We <b>were </b><b>just </b>kids. Victims <b>of </b>
circumstance<b>. </b>
<b>Just </b><b>as </b><b>we </b><b>stood </b>there<b>, </b>the moment was interrupted by <b>a </b>vibrationing from Julian’s pocket. He pulled back slightly and reached into his jeans, bringing out his phone. His brows lifted when he <b>saw </b>the caller ID.
<b>“</b>It’s my mom,” he said, then corrected himself with a small, awkwardugh, <b>“</b>I mean… our mom.”
Hearing him say <b>it </b>out loud our mom–made my heart skip a beat.
<b>“</b>What <b>a </b>coincidence<b>,” </b>he added, ncing <b>at </b>me.
<b>“</b>What’s that<b>?</b>” <b>I </b>asked, wiping my <b>eyes</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Yesterday</b><b>, </b><b>after </b><b>you </b>left…” He <b>paused </b>and seemed <b>to </b>rethink his words. <b>“</b>After you left, mom <b>called</b><b>. </b>She said she <b>was </b></diving <b>over </b><b>to </b>visit me. I <b>guess</b>… she’s at my <b>ce </b>right <b>now</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>My </b>heart started <b>to </b><b>race </b><b>again</b>.
Meeting my biological mother <b>– </b>was <b>happening </b><b>today</b><b>. </b>So soon. I could <b>barely </b>wrap my <b>head </b>around it.
<b>“</b><b>Are </b><b>you </b>sure <b>you’re </b>ready for this<b>?</b><b>” </b><b>Julian </b>asked gently, his gaze searching <b>mine</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Are </b><b>you </b>kidding <b>me</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>I said, <b>a </b><b>shaky </bugh escaping my lips<b>. </b><b>“</b><b>I’ve </b><b>been </b>looking for her. Now that I finally <b>have </b>the chance<b>, </b><b>there’s </b>no way I’m backing down.”
<b>11:35 </b>AM
<i>20 </i>
Julian <b>gave </b><b>a </b>nod of <b>approval</b>, his <b>eyes </b>glinting with something that looked a lot like pride. Without another word, he turned his attention back to Dr. James, <b>exchanging </b><b>a </b>few words of thanks.
I turned to Dr. James too, offering him <b>a </b>small smile. “Thank you for everything, Doc<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Good luck,” he said warmly.
With that, Julian and I left the office<b>, </b>
On our way back to Julian’s <b>ce</b><b>, </b>my mind <b>was </b><b>a </b>tangled mess of thoughts and emotions. Questions flooded my brain faster than I could <b>process </b>them.
What was I supposed to <b>say </b>when Julian told her? How would she <b>react</b><b>? </b>
Would she <b>believe </b>it immediately, or would she be skeptical?
Would she even want me?
—
The truth that weighed heavily on me <b>was </b>almost unbearable I had been born into luxury, into a world where my every need would have been cared for. But somewhere along the way<b>, </b><b>fate </b>had been cruel, and I ended up being handed over to a life of hardship, to adoptive parents who treated me more like a burden than <b>a </b>blessing.
The car ride was quiet except for the asional sigh that slipped from my lips. I stared out the window, feeling like <b>I </b><b>was </b>being pulled into a new life I wasn’t sure how to navigate<b>. </b>
“Don’t think about it too much,” Julian’s voice suddenly broke through my racing thoughts, warm and reassuring. “Just let it all flow.”
I turned to him, offering a small nod, grateful for his calming presence<b>. </b>It was crazy how fast everything had changed. One moment, I was alone in this world, and now – now I had a brother, a real family.
Before I knew it, we were pulling into the driveway of his mansion. The sheer size of the house still left me breathless, even after having <b>visited </b><b>so </b>many times. It was <b>a </b>stark reminder of the life I could have had. A life that had been stolen from me.
I slowly stepped out of the <b>car</b><b>, </b>my palms damp with nerves. My eyes scanned the widepound. There <b>were </b>several luxury cars parked neatly, but one particr vehicle stood out elegant, beautiful, and unfamiliar. I didn’t need Julian to tell me. I just knew.
That had to be her <b>car</b>.
My mom’s <b>car</b>.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to take a step forward. Mom.
How many times would I have to <b>say </b>that before it didn’t feel so weird?
Julian walked beside me, and together we made our <b>way </b>inside. The doors opened and we walked in
–
<b>It </b>didn’t take long before we heard hurried footsteps, and then there she <b>was</b>.
“?Mijo! It’s been too long! How <b>are </b>you?”
Her <b>voice </b><b>was </b>full of warmth and affection as she rushed toward Julian, pulling him into <b>a </b>tight hug without even waiting for his consent.
<b>I </b>watched, stunned. There <b>was </b>so much <b>love </b>in that one simple <b>embrace</b><b>, </b><b>so </b>much care<b>. </b>My heart <b>twisted </b>painfully inside my chest.
“It’s <b>only </b><b>been </b><b>two </b>months, Mom,<b>” </b>Julian managed to choke out, his <b>face </b><b>red </b>from the force <b>of </b><b>her </b>grip, “And <b>if </b>you <b>don’t </b><b>release </b>me soon<b>, </b>this might be thest time you see <b>me</b><b>.” </b>
His dramatic tone made me let out <b>a </b>small<b>, </b><b>unexpected </bugh. Despite everything, it was <b>clear </b>they had a bond <b>– </b><b>a </b>strong, stubborn one.
Something she said <b>caught </b>my attention.
<b>“</b><b>Mijo</b><b>.” </b>
<b>My </b><b>eyebrows </b>rose. <b>Julian </b>never told me he was <b>Mexican</b>.
<b>After </b><b>a </b><b>few </b>more seconds, she <b>finally </b>let him <b>go</b><b>, </b><b>giving </b>him a <b>yful </b><b>tap </b>on the <b>cheek</b>.
“We <b>have </b>a lot <b>to </b><b>talk </b>about<b>, </b><b>son</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>she said, her <b>voice </b><b>taking </b>on a <b>slightly </b>scolding <b>tone</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>Especially </b>why <b>you </b><b>refused </b><b>to </bmunicate with us properly these <b>past </b>few months.”
I nced at <b>Julian </b>and <b>caught </b>the <b>way </b>he rolled his <b>eyes</b>, a <b>silent </b>confirmation <b>of </b>all the <b>times </b>he’dined about her <b>worrying </b>over him.
<b>2/3 </b>
<b>11:35 </b>AM
Then her gaze shifted to me.
And suddenly, I was under a microscope.
“And who is this beautiful angel<b>?</b><b>” </b>she asked warmly, walking closer to me.
I stiffened.
No one had ever called me anything like that before. Angel?
My adoptive parents <b>never </b>onceplimented me. To them, I had been nothing but A responsibility.
For <b>a </b>second, I didn’t know how to <b>react</b>. I just stared at her.
She tilted her head, her eyes softening.
“Your <b>eyes</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>she said quietly, almost to herself. “They remind me of someone…”
Before I could respond, Julian quickly stepped between us, shielding me slightly.
“Here’s the thing, Mom,” he said carefully. “We really need to talk.”
His tone was serious enough that she immediately focused back on him.
“Not until you tell me who she is,” she insisted stubbornly. <b>“</b><b>Is </b>she your girlfriend?”
I groaned internally.
Why does everyone keep asking that?
This <b>was </b>the second person today to assume that a man and woman couldn’t possibly just be friends.
“No, Mom,” Julian said with a small, almost amused smile. <b>“</b><b>It’s </b>something… much more than that.”
My heart pounded in my chest.
This <b>was </b>it.
<b>3/3 </b>