Chapter 73

Brandon stood in the middle of the paternity test center’s lobby, staring blankly at the bustling staff and clients, feeling a weariness and emptiness like never before.

It was like the beliefs that had propped him up inside just crumbled in an instant, leaving him totally lost.

Then, among all those unfamiliar faces, Brandon spotted Martin on the phone, clutching a folded-up paternity test report.

Martin saw him too, his face just as composed.

Neither of them said hello.

Brandon didn’t greet him either. His gaze lingered on the DNA report in Martin’s hand for a moment before calmly shifting away. After a brief silence, he asked, “Need a lift?”

“No, I’m good,” Martin smiled and declined. “My grandpa and my parents are in town, at the airport. I’m heading there to pick them up.” Brandon nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

“Brandon,” Martin called after him, “why don’t you join us at the airport? You haven’t seen them in a while.”

“No need, I’ve got things to do, Brandon declined.

Martin nodded, not pressing any further.

When Brandon got home, Sophia was sketching design drawings in the living room.

It wasn’t homework or work. She was just doodling in her free time.

She sat in front of her easel on the balcony, wielding her drawing pen with ease, her long curly hair pinned up behind her head, her side-swept bangs curling softly against her cheek. Bathed in the light and shadows, her face was tranquil and gentle, her expression serious and focused.

just bored, once she sat in front of her canvas, her whole demeanor

be happy without relying on anyone else’s emotional support or pep

balancing herself amidst a long-standing absence of familial

depend on people, to trust them, and

her with a calm yet wooden expression, filled with a hint

on it before looking

looked at her for a while before nodding

“Have

just had something. You?”

had something

shifted the DNA test results in his hand, offering them to her, but Sophia pushed them back.

got to

look, nodded

the report away.

way to school, neither of

their

the car stopped at the school, Sophia finally turned to Brandon with a smile,

before he too got out and followed her

buzzing with people, Brandon saw Louis and Martin,

Daniel Crawley,

their eyes red and teary,

the group, watching the tears in their eyes, especially Louis’s, but his expression wasn’t as animated

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