Chapter 70
He saw Sophia turn to Marian with a blank look, shaking her head cluelessly. “I don’t know, I was just curious to take a peek.”
Her eyes were filled with pure bewilderment and confusion. Her slender fingers, which were resting on the bracelet, unconsciously stroked it back and forth, carrying a hint of inexplicable longing and nostalgia.
Brandon’s gaze slowly fell on her fair fingers lingering over the initials “SY,” his starry eyes partially closed, not moving for a long time. Marian was already smiling at Sophia. “Could this be what they call fate? Sophia, your name initials are also SY. No wonder you spotted the engraving so quickly.”
Sophia hesitated for a second before giving Marian a forced smile. “Yeah, what a coincidence.”
Her fingers paused slightly over the “SY” letters, unconsciously tracing the lines, and she sank back into a familiar daze. It was like something flickered through her mind, but it was obscured by layers of fog. She was lost in that dense mist, unable to see or touch anything clearly.
Brandon stood at the back door of the classroom, silently watching her, frozen in place.
Eventually, Marian noticed something off about Sophia and looked at her worriedly. “What’s going on?”
Her eyes already filled with concern for the bracelet in Sophia’s hand, her hand twitched as if she feared Sophia would take it, reaching out halfway then hesitating, worried that it might be improper to do so.
Sophia caught the hesitant gesture, snapping back to reality. She awkwardly looked down at the bracelet in her hand and handed it
back.
“Sorry about that, this bracelet is just so unique, it kinda zoned me out.”
She apologized awkwardly, her movement halting briefly as she placed the bracelet in Marian’s palm, her eyes involuntarily drawn to it again, revealing an unfamiliar sense of reluctance.
Brandon’s attention had been on Sophia the whole time. He didn’t miss the slight pause in her motion as she set down the bracelet, nor the reluctance that flickered in her eyes.
He had seen that look on Yolanda’s face before, when he angrily thought she didn’t cherish the bracelet he gave her and assumed she had given it away on her own accord. When he gestured to take back the bracelet he’d given her, she pouted, teary-eyed, slowly removing the bracelet and placing it in his hand with the same careful reluctance. The hesitation of her fingers in that moment and the look in her eyes were identical.
Brandon slightly turned his head, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently.
He didn’t approach her but silently stepped out and made a phone call to Kent in the hallway..
“What’s the situation with Marian and Dennis, the ones I asked you to check on the other day?”
Kent, who was about to turn off the lights and sleep, suddenly lost all sleepiness upon hearing the question. “Why the sudden interest?” He quickly responded. “Still looking into it.”
Brandon said, “How many days has it been?”
His voice was quiet and calm, not angry, but Kent still broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to remind Brandon it hadn’t been many days, and besides, he had tasked him with looking into several people and matters-Ivan, Sophia, Dennis, and Marian-on top of handling work, his connections were extensive and his information sorting skills were strong, but his day job was still just a secretary.
Kent held back his complaints and carefully replied. “You haven’t been at the company lately, and there’s been quite a bit going on.”
Before he could finish, fearing a misunderstanding, he hurriedly added. “But I have dug up some stuff, I thought it wasn’t urgent so I haven’t organized and reported back to you yet.”
“No need for the hassle, just spill what you’ve got.”
“Alright.” Kent scrambled to recall the information he’d gathered, “Recently, it seems like Dennis is planning to sell the Barlow Hotel he owns, but something about it doesn’t seem right. He made his fortune in the hotel industry when he was young, cultivated it for over twenty years, and more than a decade ago he successfully launched the Barlow Hotel chain, quickly establishing it as a top international hotel and swiftly taking over the domestic luxury hotel market. Although its momentum was disrupted by the emergence of Starlight Hotel, but,”
“No need for the business report,” Brandon cut him off. “What about his family?”
“Uh?” Kent was taken aback by the question. As a business rival, he thought Brandon would be more interested in the other’s business
moves.
“Not investigated?” Brandon asked.
“That aspect has been less touched upon,” Kent admitted honestly, “but I did probe a little, nothing special so I didn’t delve deeper.”
“Go on.”
“He and his wife were college sweethearts, started a business together after graduation, and have come this far. They seem to have a good marriage, no issues heard of. Dennis didn’t ditch his wife for a younger model after getting rich, nor has he been caught up in any messy affairs, quite the loyal guy.”
“What about kids?”
“They have a son and a daughter, both quite accomplished. The son, Eric Barlow, 30, single, has a degree from a prestigious foreign university. He came back to help Dennis with the company after graduation, clean-living just like his dad, with good reviews from friends. The daughter, Marian, 24, is currently studying for a master’s abroad, just got accepted, also to a prestigious school, supposedly in Wye City, I guess Apex Engineering University, but not further confirmed.”
“Where did the daughter come from?” Brandon asked, “Is she their biological child?”
“Not exactly.” Kent was surprised by the question but remembered the story well, “Apparently, they found her on a trip up north, picked her up on the road when they couldn’t locate her biological parents, felt sorry for the girl and went through with the adoption process. The couple was busy starting their business back then and only had a son. Later, they wanted another child, a daughter, but couldn’t conceive, which was a regret for them, so they’ve been very affectionate towards this adopted daughter, raising her like their own flesh. and blood. The girl has turned out to be quite promising.”
When did they find her?”
“Nineteen years ago.”Nineteen years ago? Brandon frowned, Yolanda had also vanished that same year.
“Which season?” asked Brandon.
“They said it was winter, found it during a trip over Christmas.
Brandon’s frown deepened. Yolanda had disappeared over Christmas as well.
Kent sensed something off with Brandon and asked with concern, “Is there something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
Brandon brushed it off casually, his gaze lifting to look at Sophia in the classroom.
Sophia had packed up her stuff and was heading out of the classroom.
Watching her approach, Brandon slowly spoke to Kent on the phone, “I’ve got to run, let’s hang up. Dig deeper into Dennis and Marian’s story, including the exact day they found her, where, and who can back it up. Get the full picture and report back to me.”
Kent thought, “Didn’t you just say no need for reports?”
Brandon had already swiftly ended the call and was walking towards Sophia.
