She burst through the door and ran straight to the end of the hallway.
Judd called her name from behind, but she didn’t hear him.
He frowned, casting a glance back at Stevenson’s hospital room. Stevenson sat with his face buried in his hands, equally lost in pain.
By the time Judd reached the stairwell, Charlotte was crouched on the steps, quietly sobbing.
He pressed his lips together and walked over to her.
Hearing footsteps, Charlotte quickly wiped her tears away and stood up as if nothing had happened.
When she saw it was Judd, she froze, her voice hoarse. “Pro… Professor Carstairs.”
“You’ve been crying?”
Charlotte’s knuckles brushed her eyes. “No.”
“Still insisting, huh?” Judd gently moved her hand aside, locking eyes with her red-rimmed ones. “I heard everything.”
She stared at the floor, silent.
Judd leaned in closer. “What’s wrong?”
She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “What if your real parents mistook someone else for their child? You’re their child, but they don’t know it. What would you do?”
“If it were me, I’d just tell them.”
“…What if they didn’t believe you?”
“These days, there’s such a thing as DNA tests. If words aren’t enough, evidence will be.”
Charlotte’s eyelids fluttered. She said nothing more.
A thought seemed to dawn on Judd; he narrowed his eyes. “You’re not talking about the Rayburn family finding their long-lost daughter, are you? That girl—she’s not actually the Rayburns’ child?”
“You’re this upset because you’re connected to the Rayburns, or… you’re saying you might be their real daughter?”
“I don’t know.” Charlotte gripped her wrist tightly. “Right now, I’m not even sure who I am.”
Judd suddenly chuckled. “Charlotte, the old you was never like this. Instead of hiding out here and wallowing, why not take matters into your own hands?”
*The old you was never like this.*

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