Chapter 72


    Sophia honestly never gave it much thought.


    She’s not exactly tight with her family, not even with Haley, who kinda had a soft spot for her. Probably


    ’cause she knew from a young age that her dad wasn’t her bio-dad, and with Haley being away for


    work all the time, they barely got to hang out. She couldn’t be all cuddly and curious with her folks


    about where her name came from like other kids.


    “I don’t know,” Sophia candidly answered him.


    She figured Brandon must’ve caught wind of her chat with Marian and got curious about the whole “SY”


    initials coincidence with Ynda. She herself had that same nagging question in her head-was it just


    serendipity or something more? The bracelet’s touch brought back that familiar fog of confusion.


    Sophia didn’t know if it was all because Brandon was so adamant she was Ynda, messing with her


    head, or if some buried memories were ying tricks on her. She even started doubting whether she


    was actually Ynda or not.


    This doubt had nothing to do with what Ynda meant to Brandon. It was all about her own confusion


    as to who she really was, where she came from.


    Ynda’s identity was the closest she’d evere to possibly knowing her true self after all these


    years.


    Sophia was torn between wanting to dig deeper and being scared of what she might find.


    It’s a weird mix of feelings. On one hand, she’s gottenfy with her nearly two-decade-long life as


    Sophia-her social circle, family habits, you name it, all set in stone. She didn’t know what a new family


    would be like, whether she’d have to start all over and if she could even handle that, or if it would just


    bring new headaches. She’s found her cozy corner in life as it is, figuring out how to make the best of it.


    She wasn’t sure if finding her original family meant scouting out a whole newfort zone. She kinda


    agreed with Marian’s point of view-she was doing just fine, found a new focus in life, so why mess with


    the status quo?


    But then, in the dead of night when she’s all by herself, she can’t help but daydream about what her


    real family might be like. She longed to have a loving mom and dad, siblings, and that warm, fuzzy


    family vibe like everyone else.


    Her feelings towards Brandon were just as mixed up.


    Without Ynda’s memories-even if she was Ynda-she couldn’t see herself as the same person.


    She didn’t know how to deal with Brandon.


    To him, Sophia was never the main deal. It was always Ynda with their shared childhood memories


    that mattered.


    He might change his tune because she was Ynda, but he wouldn’t give Sophia a second nce just


    for being Sophia. But for her, Sophia was always just Sophia.


    She got why Brandon married her back then, out of duty and responsibility, and she understood his


    lack of affection. That’s why she chose to let both herself and Brandon off the hook.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    She didn’t want to get dragged back into Brandon’s life just because she might be Ynda.


    She couldn’t find any memories of Ynda; in her heart, she and Ynda were two totally separate


    people.


    7


    She had no ns to keep things with Brandon messy andplicated, especially with the kid in the


    mix already making things hazy. But Sophia knew that everything needed closure.


    “When will we get the paternity test results?” Sophia asked Brandon softly. “Let me know either way, so


    I can have some peace of mind.” Brandon stared at her for a long moment, then nodded gently, “Okay.”


    Sophia gave a small smile, “Thanks.”


    Brandon just watched her silently, and after a while, he leaned in for a hug.


    Sophia didn’t resist or hug him. She just let him hold her.


    Brandon could feel her resistance.


    She didn’t share the excitement of potentially finding her family. All she had was a sense of emptiness.


    Her emotional breakdown that day wasn’t a fluke. It was a minor eruption of long-suppressed feelings.


    Brandon suddenly wasn’t sure if this was the right time to seek such confirmation.


    So, when the paternity center called to tell him the results were ready, he didn’t rush over. Instead, he


    sat in his hotel office, staring nkly at hisputer screen.


    The urgency he once felt to get confirmation suddenly seemed meaningless.


    Never had Brandon been more acutely aware that even if Sophia was Ynda, Ynda was gone for


    good.


    Her memories held nothing of Ynda, nothing of Brandon. Ynda had vanished from the world the


    moment she disappeared.


    Harsh as reality was, it was still the truth.


    Brandon didn’t quite remember how he ended up at the paternity center. When the staff handed him


    the results, he only nced at the report before closing it, his expression calm.


    In this world, Ynda was gone.