Chapter 70


    He saw Sophia turn to Marian with a nk 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.


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    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 byyers of


    fog. She was lost in that dense mist, unable to see or touch anything clearly.


    Brandon stood at the back door of the ssroom, silently watching her, frozen in ce.


    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 ced 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 Ynda’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 ord. When he gestured to take back


    the bracelet he’d given her, she pouted, teary-eyed, slowly removing the bracelet and cing 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 hisints and carefully replied. “You haven’t been at thepanytely, 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


    nning 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 sessfullyunched 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 aplished. The son, Eric Barlow, 30, single, has a


    degree from a prestigious foreign university. He came back to help Dennis with thepany 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 epted, also to a prestigious school, supposedly in


    Wye City, I guess Apex Engineering University, but not further confirmed.”


    “Where did the daughtere 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?”


    “Neen years ago.”Neen years ago? Brandon frowned, Ynda 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. Ynda 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 ssroom.


    Sophia had packed up her stuff and was heading out of the ssroom.


    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.