Chapter 121


    Sophia was left speechless, thrown off bnce by his relentless argument. She felt like she’d lost the


    plot and without realizing it, her confidence took a nosedive.


    But Brandon was still on the offensive, “Sophia, you’ve crashed and burned under my watch five times


    already. Are you really willing to gamble your future on a sixth?”


    Sophia managed a forced smile, “That’s a pretty bleak way to put it.”


    “What’s there to be bleak about? You’re over it anyway, right? To you, I’m just another Joe Blow, no


    different from any Tom, Dick, or Harry on the street. Doesn’t that make it easier for you to focus on your


    career?”


    Sophia pretended not to catch the sarcasm in his voice and kept her lips tightly sealed.


    Brandon then sat back, stretched his long arm behind his seat, pulled out a contract and a pen, and


    handed them to her, “Sign this.”


    Sophia nced at it. It was the same contract he had shoved into her hands at the restaurant, just a


    fresh copy, probably one of several he had printed out.


    Sophia didn’t reach out to take it.


    “I need more time to think about it.”


    Brandon turned to look at her, “How much more time?”


    Sophia didn’t know. Her emotions had been a rollercoaster today, and she hadn’t had a moment to stop


    and think it all through. “I can only give you a week and a half.”


    “The newpanyunches next Friday. If you’re not there, consider it a forfeit,” Brandon said as he


    thrust the contract into her hands. “If you don’t show, I’ll rece you on the Zenithan-style resort


    project. I’d rather ditch the n than have to bring someone new on board halfway through.”


    Without waiting for her to respond, he started the car again, “I’ll drop you back at the hotel.”


    After dropping Sophia off at the hotel and just as he got back into his car, Don called.


    “How are you two doing?” Don sounded worried on the phone, “Everything okay?”


    “It’s fine.”


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    “And the designer, I mean Sophia.” Don corrected himself, “How’s she holding up? Is she feeling


    better?”


    “She’s fine.”


    Don said, “What about the project? Is she taking it? And the position of head designer?”


    “I don’t know.”


    Don didn’t know what to say.


    “Let’s wait until next Friday,” Brandon said, “If she shows, she stays on. If not, we find someone else.”


    “Come on,” Don tried to persuade him, “It would be such a waste if she quit.”


    Brandon said, “What else can I say? Didn’t you see your star designer is ready to pay up just to avoid


    me?”


    Don was at a loss for words, “Alright, I’ll figure something else out.”


    As he was about to hang up, Brandon cut in, “How long has Sophia been at your firm?”


    “A year.”


    Brandon said, “Anything out of the ordinary?”


    Don was puzzled by the question, “What could be out of the ordinary for a girl? Just the usual work, off


    work, attending sses, you know.”


    Then, remembering how Brandon had grilled Sophia at the restaurant about whether the child was still


    there, Don hesitated, “You’re not suspecting she had a kid behind your back, are you? That’s not likely.


    I met her the first time you came to Wye City, and she hasn’t changed much over the year. She hasn’t


    gained weight, and there’s been no talk of a child. Plus, her ssmate works with us and has never


    mentioned anything,” Don analyzed earnestly.


    “Give me her ssmate’s number.”


    09-303


    “Huh?”


    “I need to talk to her.”


    “Okay, I’ll let her know first,” Don hung up with Brandon and called Sylvia to exin the situation before


    passing her number to Brandon.


    Brandon was still in his car downstairs at the hotel.


    He immediately dialed Sylvia’s number but stopped midway, thinking it over. She was close to Sophia,


    and it might not yield any useful information.


    Eventually, Brandon backed out, took onest look at the brightly lit hotel, and drove off.


    He didn’t head straight home but went to the Frost family instead.


    The Frost family lived in an old vi in the West district. Even though it was over twenty years old, the


    house didn’t look overly aged. Instead, it had a quiet dignity thates with time.


    Ynda was born and raised in that house until she was over five years old.


    The Frost family had all lived there for over two decades. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford to move, but


    the Frost patriarch feared that if they did, Ynda wouldn’t be able to find her way home if she ever


    came back.


    Since Ynda’s disappearance, Brandon rarely visited, so histe-night arrival took everyone by


    surprise, especially Louis, who was already in his pajamas ready for bed. Hearing that Brandon had


    come, he made an effort despite being unwell, “Brandon, what brings you here?”


    As he spoke, he called up the stairs, “Martin, Brandon’s here.”


    Martin appeared at the top of the staircase, looking down at Brandon.


    The two hadn’t been in touch since that incident in Wye City two years ago.


    Brandon nced at Martin, then turned to Louis, “I’m here to see Marian.”


    Louis’s eyes lit up with excitement, “So you came especially for Yoli, eh? She’s in her room.”


    He called out to Martin, “Tell Ynda toe down, Brandon’s looking for her.”


    Then looking back at Brandon, “How did you know Ynda was back?”


    “I heard.”


    He had already looked up at the staircase.


    Marian was reluctantly following Martin down the stairs.


    Brandon had no idea why Marian had agreed to move into the Frost family home.


    Sophia mentioned once that Marian was heading back to the homnd, and Patricia and Daniel kinda


    let it slip a few times in front of him too, hinting that she had moved back into the Frost family’s digs and


    suggesting he should swing by for a catch-up.


    When Marian caught sight of Brandon, she was taken aback, “Huh? What brings you here?”


    “I need to talk to you about something,” said Brandon. “Can we step outside for a sec?”


    Marian nced hesitantly at Martin and Louis, then back at Brandon, not daring to agree right off the


    bat.


    “Just by the door, no sweat,” Brandon assured her.


    Marian hesitated, then nodded, “Alright, fine.”


    And with that, she followed Brandon outside.


    Brandon didn’t wander off too far, just to the yard right in front of the living room, within in sight of


    Louis and Martin inside.


    He turned to look at Marian, who was trailing with a touch of hesitation, “Ms. Barlow, during your first


    master’s year, did Sophia ever take a long leave?”


    Caught off guard by the question, Marian took a moment to think, then shook her head, “Nah.”


    “What about short leaves?” asked Brandon.


    Marian couldn’t recall that. She couldn’t even remember her own days off, let alone someone else’s.


    “I don’t remember, Marian admitted honestly. “But as far as I know, probably not. Sophia’s super


    dedicated and disciplined, neverte or leaves early, let alone taking time off.”


    “Got any photos from back then?” Brandon probed.


    “Sophia’s not the picture-taking type, how on earth would I have her photos?” Marian responded.


    “Not asking for her selfies, but what about group shots from any events?”


    Marian thought hard for a moment, “There might be some.”


    She whipped out her phone, scrolled through Facebook, and sure enough, came across a photo from


    the previous February. “This was when our ss went to check out a construction site, it’s a group pic


    we all snapped together,” Marian exined, turning her phone screen towards Brandon, “Sophia’s in it,


    right there in the top right corner.”