Chapter 27


    The girl looked up at him, puzzled. “Where did this bracelete from? Of course, it’s mine.”


    As she spoke, she twisted her wrist, trying to pull it back.


    Brandon looked at her face “What’s your name?”


    “Are you sick or something?” The girl was even more baffled. “Who asks for names the first time they


    meet? I don’t even know you.”


    Brandon frowned slightly, sizing her up with his gaze.


    The girl was young around twenty-three or twenty-four, with delicate and pretty features. She had a


    slim and well-proportioned figure, wavy light brown hair, and was dressed in a simple yet chic outfit that


    screamed youthful fashion Her demeanor was calm with a hint of yful boldness, but her face was


    completely unfamiliar to him.


    Feeling Brandon’s stare, she grew anxious. “Let go of me or I’m calling the cops.”


    Then she started shouting. “Help! There’s a creep here!”


    Only then did Brandon realize he was still holding her wrist through her sleeve, a reflex from his


    wandering thoughts


    “Sorry,” he let go of her hand, nced at the bracelet in her hand, then back at her face with a look of


    confusion and contemtion.


    The girl eyed him warily and quickly withdrew her hand the moment she was free. She gave Brandon a


    look as if he was a nutcase, backing away towards the door and asionally turning back to look at


    him in wonder.


    Brandon didn’t pursue her again and headed upstairs to his room. Once there, he called Kent to ask


    him to pull the hotel’s lobby surveince footage.


    ‘Mr. Crawley, what do you need that for?” Kent asked, puzzled.


    “Just send it over, Brandon didn’t borate, “I need it in five minutes.”


    “Alright, I’m on it, Kent promised right away.


    “And another thing, Brandon settled on the sofa, check who Ivan Evert is.”


    “Huh?” Kent waspletely bewildered. “Who’s that now?”


    “Just do it. I’ll send over the basic info, Brandon instructed


    “Got it, Kent nodded.


    Efficient as always, Kent quickly retrieved the surveince footage and sent it to Brandon.


    Brandon’s eyes


    fell on the bracelet in her hand, the initials “SY etched on it flickering in and out of view as she moved.


    He furrowed his brow slightly and tapped his long fingers idly on the back of his phone, lost in thought.


    At that moment, the doorbell rang.


    Brandon nced at the door and got up to answer it.


    “Surprise?” As soon as the door opened, a handsome face with a big smile appeared, clearly in high


    spirits


    Compared to his excitement, Brandon was much moreposed.


    He let go of the doorknob, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, and nced at the


    neer. “Who told you ! was here?”


    Don Dempsey’s smile didn’t fade. “Who else but your buddy Kent?”


    He tried to push past Brandon into the roorn, but Brandon blocked the doorway with his leg, standing


    firm like a mountain, and asked, “He called you?”


    No way, Don didn’t mind, still grinning from ear to ear, “I tried calling you when you were on the ne,


    but couldn’t get through, so I called Kent instead. He said you were on a business trip, so i pried a little


    and found out you’d flown into


    Wye City What a coincidence, since I’m also in Wye City. Of course, I had to take the chance to catch


    up for a drink. It’s been ages since west saw each other”


    Don and Brandon had grown up together, from the same neighborhood, attending the same


    kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. It was only in high school that Don, the cker, didn’t


    reach the schrly heights of Brandon, the brainiac, and they ended up at different schools. But that


    didn’t affect their friendship Brandon had always been a bit aloof, while Don was more outgoing Don


    had initially been somewhat dismissive of Brandon, finding him too stiff and no fun, but his admiration


    for strength gradually drew him to Brandon, and he got used to Brandon’s cool responses. Most


    importantly Brandon was meticulous and considerate, with a keen and unique perspective. While


    others were still looking short-term, Brandon could think three steps ahead Hanging with Brandon gave


    Don a sense of security.


    Brandon might not be as loud and boisterous as Don when it came to friends, but he was sincere and


    righteous. Over the years, their friendship deepened in a subtle and profound way After the test, when


    Don chose to study abroad due to not getting into a good university and spent most of his time abroad,


    they rarely see each other, but it never affected their bond


    Hearing that Brandon was in Wye City, Don had hurried over after wrapping up his work.


    Seeing that Don didn’t seem to be lying. Brandon finally moved away from the door, letting him in.


    “So, what brings you to Wye City? Brandon asked as he watched Don enter and casually shut the door.


    He walked to the fridge, grabbed two cans of cold beer, and tossed one to him.


    He had the penthouse suite, with its spacious room and excellent view, where one could even see


    Sophia’s apartment


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    and school from afar


    Thinking of Sophia, the earlier scene of her standing by Ivan’s side giving him the cold shoulder shed


    through hist mind, and his eyes instantly grew colder.


    Don, oblivious to the change in Brandon’s expression, lifted his left arm and neatly caught the cold beer


    thrown his way. As he popped the tab, he said, “The firm’s been swampedtely, so I thought I’d hire


    some frence designers. Came here to check out the college since the School of Architecture here is


    world-ss.”


    At the mention of “School of Architecture, Brandon’s hand paused mid-motion with his beer. Don raised


    an eyebrow. “What’s up?”


    “No biggie.” Brandon popped open a cold beer with a poker face, took a hefty swig, and plopped down


    on the couch before finally turning to him, “Looks like business is booming


    Don studied architecture in college Back in the day, he didn’t make the cut at home, so he applied to


    universities abroad. He originally nned to go for an easy out finance major, but due to a twist of fate


    ended up in architecture He stuck with it, and after graduating, spent a couple of years at an


    architectural firm to get some experience andwork. Then he teamed up with a ssmate to start


    their own firm. The first couple of years were rough, all about the red ink. When Don couldn’t take it


    anymore, he made a special trip to chat with Brandon. Brandonid out the strengths and weaknesses


    of his firm and gave him the lowdown on the Ephemoran market, suggesting he ditch residential design


    and give public architecture a whirl. They hadn’t touched base for a while, and lo and behold, Don’s


    firm had gone from the red to the ck.


    Don’s eyes lit up with a hint of pride, “Not too shabby.


    He raised his cold beer and toasted Brandon from across the room, “Gotta thank you for your sage


    advice.


    Brandon lifted his beer for a remote cheers, “Congrats


    Then he downed the rest of his beer in one go.


    Don raised an eyebrow at him, “Got the blues?”


    “Nope.”


    Don’t try to fool me, I’ve known you long enough to spot your shady schemes just from the way you roll


    your eyes” Don said as he walked over and sat down next to him, tipping his head to look at him,


    “Something on your mind?”


    “Nothing Brandon replied, still with that nonchnt tone.


    Don snorted lightly and prodded again, “Work stuff?”


    “Nah.”


    “Love life?” Don scooted closer, “Speaking of which, you’ve been hitched for two years, and I haven’t


    even had a chance to meet your wife.”


    Brandon didn’t look at him, “You’ve only been back for a few days, right?”


    ‘True Don nodded, thinking it over. He had been too busy starting up his business to visit.


    They had video chatted plenty, but with the time difference, it was usually when Brandon was at work


    On the rare asion that Brandon was home, he was typically holed up in his study, and even if he


    was eating, he wouldn’t go out of his way to introduce his wife. That just wasn’t Brandon’s style.


    Don, ever the easygoing guy missed Brandon’s wedding, which was a quick affair. Most of the time, he


    barely remembered that Brandon was married, so even though it had been two years, he hadn’t met


    Brandon’s wife. Now that the topic came up. Don casually inquired, So, you’re here. Why not bring your


    wife along?”


    He couldn’t help but scan the room, Or is she here with you? Let’s grab a meal sometime; I’m curious


    to see the angel who captured your heart.”


    Brandon nced sideways at him, “Do youe all this way just to pry into my love life?”


    “Just showing a little concern, you know.”


    Brandon ignored him and scooted over, his gaze inadvertently catching his phone still lit up on the


    coffee table, with the hotel lobby’s surveince video paused, the image of a young girl heading for the


    revolving door frozen on the screen, her bracelet lifting slightly with her movement.


    Don noticed where Brandon’s gaze lingered and followed it to the phone, “That’s not your wife, is it?”


    “Nope.


    “Then why are you eyeballing her? Don leaned in closer to the phone, curious, and caught a glimpse of


    the girl’s bracelet. He eximed, “Yo!” and suddenly turned to Brandon.


    Is that, He pointed at the girl on the phone, “Ynda?”