Chapter 56


    Sophia was stumped by the question, instinctively lifting her gaze to meet Brandon’s.


    Brandon was staring right back at her, his deep, mysterious eyes calm and tranquil, quietly waiting for


    her answer.


    Sophia chuckled softly, her eyshes fluttering down as she fell silent for a moment before looking


    back at him. “Is it that important?” Brandon nodded. “To me, it is.”


    Sophia knew he was talking about the whole Ynda situation.


    “What if I were her? What then?” Sophia asked. “And if I’m not her, what about that?”


    Brandon was caught off guard.


    He hadn’t thought about that question.


    He didn’t even want to think about it-the possibility of Sophia not being Ynda.


    Sophia let out a lightugh. “You’re hung up on her because of all the sweet memories you guys share.


    But if you’re the only one holding onto those memories, is she still that important?”


    Brandon just looked at her, silent.


    Sophia’s smile faded. “There’s nothing in my memory linked to you. Don’t pin your hopes on me. I’m


    afraid you’ll end up disappointed.”


    “I’m sorry,” Brandon apologized.


    Sophia smiled again. “It’s alright.”


    She nced at the empty bowl and stood up. “Shall we head back?”.


    Brandon nodded, rising to his feet, ready to walk back with her when suddenly, the previously calm


    crowd erupted intomotion, along with a shrill female shout. “Robbery, there’s a robbery!”


    Brandon instinctively looked up and saw a tall,nky Ephemora man clutching a woman’s purse and


    charging their way. He reflexively reached out for Sophia, pulling her to the side as the man came


    barreling towards them, his foot hooking back, and with a “snap,” a loud thud followed as something


    heavy hit the ground.


    Sophia, still shaken, looked up from Brandon’s arms to see the skinny man sprawled on the ground,


    struggling to get up but quickly subdued by helpful bystanders, his grip on the purse relinquished.


    The panting girl caught up, bent down to pick up her bag, and when her eyesnded on the familiar,


    slightly vintage emerald bracelet, Sophia instinctively looked at the girl’s face, and to her surprise, it


    was Marian.


    Marian opened her bag to check that nothing was missing, then turned to re at the subdued thief.


    “Robbing in broad daylight, are you out of your mind?”


    After giving the thief a piece of her mind, without paying him any more attention, she cheerfully


    approached Brandon. “Hey sir, thanks for that just now.”


    She only recognized Brandon after thanking him. “Huh? It’s you again!”


    But this time, there was a hint of pleasant surprise instead of the previous disdain.


    Brandon nced at her, his gaze pausing habitually on the bracelet, then slowly moving up to her


    slightly surprised face, replying coolly with simple words. “You’re wee.”


    His hand, which had been protectively around Sophia’s waist, gradually loosened.


    Marian then noticed the girl Brandon was protecting was Sophia and waved at her. “What a


    coincidence, running into you again.”


    Sophia politely returned a smile. “Yeah, quite a coincidence.”


    Not forgetting the near robbery, she asked with concern. “Are you alright?”


    “I’m fine, just got a little startled when I left the hotel, almost had my bag snatched, that’s all.” Marian


    said nonchntly, gesturing towards the “Starlight Hotel” up ahead, “I’m staying over there for now.”


    Brandon thought back to the encounter with Darcy and Dennis Barlow in the hotel parking lot and


    looked thoughtfully at Marian.


    Sophia smiled at Marian, “Are you staying at the hotel for a while?”


    Marian replied, “Not exactly, I just got here recently and haven’t found a suitable apartment yet. My


    dad’s around, so I’m mooching off him, free food and lodging, and I can even squeeze some pocket


    money out of him from time to time. Plus, staying in the presidential suite is pretty sweet.”


    When Brandon heard the words “my dad’s around,” he looked at Marian again.


    Marian’s attention shifted back to Brandon. “You’re not staying at the Starlight Hotel too, are you?


    That’s where I ran into youst time.


    Brandon gave her a nod. “Staying here for now.”


    Marian beamed. “Which room? I shoulde visit you guys when I’m bored at the hotel.”


    Turning to Sophia, she continued. “You guys are staying together, right?”


    Sophia wasn’t sure how to respond to that, especially if Marian was Ynda-it could lead to


    misunderstandings.


    As she was pondering how to answer, Brandon simply nodded. “Yeah, together.”


    “Are you two a couple?” Marian’s curiosity bounced between them.


    Sophia shook her head gently. “No.”


    Quickly changing the subject, shemented. “That bracelet of yours is really nice. Where did you get


    it?”


    Marian yed with the bracelet on her wrist. “This old thing? It’s so ugly. I wouldn’t wear it if it hadn’t


    been on me since I was a kid. My parents say it’s a talisman that’s supposed to protect me, that’s the


    only reason I keep it on.”


    Sophia nced at the bracelet, her mind wandering for a moment before returning to Marian. “You’ve


    had it since you were a kid?”


    “Yeah, my parents told me I had it on when they found me. See the Jesus on it? They believe it


    protected me, that it’s the reason I was found safely and grew up without harm, so they insist I never


    take it off.” Marian stuck out her tongue sheepishly, “My parents are pretty superstitious.”


    Sophia smiled. “It’s a kind of faith for them, I guess.”


    Her gaze instinctively turned to Brandon.


    Brandon was looking at Marian, his eyes reflecting thoughts she couldn’t decipher.


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    She wasn’t sure if his contemtion stemmed from hearing that Marian had been found or something


    else. His expression was too calm and deep for her to read.


    As Brandon’s gaze swept over Marian’s face and settled back on the bracelet on her wrist, his eyes


    half-closed, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.


    Sophia kinda had a hunch that the bracelet had something to do with Ynda, even though she didn’t


    have a clue about the specifics. But judging by the look on Brandon’s face, she had a sneaking


    suspicion that it was a gift from him to Ynda.


    After a moment’s hesitation, she nced at Marian and, speaking for Brandon, popped the question,


    “So, do you remember who gave you that bracelet?”


    No sooner had the words left her lips than Brandon suddenly grabbed her hand, abruptly changing the


    subject. “Let’s head back.”


    Seemingly with no desire to dig for an answer.


    When Marian heard they were leaving, she hurried to say, “Hey, don’t rush off. I haven’t even had the


    chance to thank you guys properly. Let me treat you to meal.”


    “No, thanks.”


    Brandon declined and, taking Sophia by the hand, they left.


    Sophia faintly remembered hitting a nerve with Brandon. He seemed upset that day when she brought


    up Ynda.


    “Sorry,” she whispered an apology, “I wasn’t thinking just now.”


    Brandon’s lips tightened slightly as he nced back at her. “Sophia, you don’t need to confirm anything


    for me. I can make my own judgments.