Chapter 584

A couple of months later.

Saturday rolled around, and the weather was starting to warm up, bathing

everything outside in a pleasant sunshine.

Brandon squatted down, meticulously fixing Theresa's clothes until they were just right, then finally looked up at her and said, "All set."

Theresa, who had just stretched her arm out to place her little teddy bear at a distance, immediately pulled it back into a tight hug against her chest.

This had become her go-to comfort move over the past few months. Brandon had gotten used to this little ritual of hers and didn't try to correct it anymore, even if the teddy bear wasn't looking its freshest from being clung to and slept with all the time.

Silently, he brushed off some lint sticking to the teddy bear, his fingertips lingering a bit too long on the bear's soft fabric before he pulled away, his expression drifting into a reminiscent daze.

"Daddy?" Theresa called out, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Brandon snapped back to reality, offering her a reassuring smile as his gaze drifted past her shoulder to the long table behind her.

On that table was an album, holding a picture of Sophia from when she first joined the company.

He had seen that photo on the wall at Star Dempsey Architects two months ago, and had since gotten the negative from HR, developed and printed it out.

He didn't have a picture of Sophia on his phone. Neither did Sophia on hers.

She wasn't into taking photos, so her phone gallery was devoid of selfies, even though it was filled with lots of moments capturing Theresa.

In the photo, Sophia was sitting at her desk, smiling quietly and gently, obviously taken spontaneously when the HR came by for a shoot. She wasn't showy, but her youth and beauty shone through her calm and gentle gaze.

seemed to speak volumes, as soft and serene as ever. It was as if she was smiling right at him through the photo, and Brandon couldn't help but smile back, though his throat tightened with a sudden wave of

who was bustling in the

Grace called out, her

Kent and Susan walking in. She greeted them politely, "Uncle Kent,

in an attempt to cheer

the little girl had become much quieter. But as before,

just watched him with her big, round eyes, a faint smile on her face, her expression showing a maturity and

Theresa like this made Brandon's heart twinge, but he said

take you shopping for new clothes for the New Year. Are

Theresa nodded, "Yes."

out to touch it,

clutched the teddy tighter,

and hugged her, whispering soothingly, "We

his words, and gazing at

grin, "Let's go; we'll start with the New Year's shopping and getting new

"We're about to celebrate

Theresa nodded blankly, "Yeah."

New Year's meant. She didn't remember much from her first New Year, and now was her first real sense of the holiday as a conscious little

out new outfits and prepping for the holiday. Whether it was because Sophia was gone or Brandon subconsciously avoiding the festive season, they

didn't want Theresa

thing, so she took the opportunity to take her out shopping with Kent, hoping to give her that

was determined to fill in and complete the traditions Sophia

Christmas arrived, even though Theresa was too young to understand,

holiday

her a taste of the festive

that Sophia was gone, she worried

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