Brandon drove straight to Martin's place.
Louis Frost and the rest of the Frost family were there, each looking listless and drained of spirit. They lacked not only the joy they felt when they mistakenly thought Marian was their family member but also the calm demeanor they usually maintained.
This was Brandon's first drop-in since he had busted Marian's scheme.
As Brandon walked in, a trace of brightness appeared on Louis's previously lifeless face, and he immediately stood up anxiously: "Brandon, you're here. Do you have any news about Yoli?"
Brandon gave him a glance, then looked upstairs: "I'm here to see Martin."
The hope on Louis's face immediately faded, and he weakly pointed upstairs. "He's up there, in the study."
As he drew his arm back, he couldn't help but give Brandon a look of desperation: "You sure you don't have no news at all?"
Gerald Frost and Rachel Frost, who had been listlessly scrolling on their phones, perked up with anticipation at Brandon's arrival.
Brandon didn't want to answer that question.
"I'll go see Martin first."
No sooner had he spoken than Martin emerged from the study.
Brandon gave him a glance and took the stairs two at a time: "I want to see the full surveillance footage."
Martin nodded slightly and turned back into the study. Brandon followed him.
Martin's computer was playing all the surveillance videos and eavesdropping recordingsânot just the conversation between Marian and Augus in the car today, but all the stuff from the past few days.
He had transferred all the video footages to his computer.
"I want to see the highlights."
Brandon said, leaning in towards the computer, his hand gripping the mouse, and dragging the progress bar.
Most of the footage showed Marian driving solo, her usual commute, her alone timeâall seemed normal. The only anomaly was today when Augus approached her car.
"There are no anomalies found in the wiretaps so far either," Martin explained from the side.
The wiretap was on Marian's house; these past days, aside from Marian being less energetic than before, everything seemed normal on all fronts.
Brandon ignored him, dragging the timeline straight to the part where Augus jumped into Marian's car, put on the earphones while clicking on fast-forward, his sharp eyes glued to Marian and Augus on the screen.
One had to admit that Marian was adept at acting and disguising herself.
No matter how Augus tried to provoke her, her reactions were so measured that no flaw could be discerned.
Every expression and every word of hers was impeccably controlled, with no hint of hesitation or giveaway.
Even Brandon, who had a knack for spotting micro-expressions, found it difficult to detect any signs of lying in Marian's tone, demeanor, or speech.
This Marian, either had a pathological tendency towards deceit that she honed from a young age, or she was being unjustly accused.
If Brandon not witnessed her
plagiarizing Sophia's design work and then brazenly recanting her apology, he would have almost. believed Marian's calm denial was because she was innocent and confident.
Augus's confidence crumbled in the face of Marian's formidable composure, making his assertive claim of "I know where Sophia is" into what seemed a desperate, last-ditch effort.
Brandon scrutinized Augus's eyes and micro-expressions when he said those words.
Augus's gaze was one of absolute certainty.
Maybe it was the sliver of hope that
he really did have news about
Sophia, Brandon couldn't decisively conclude that Augus was outright deceiving Marian due to the
determination and C
IMS
gaze.
in his
After reviewing the confrontation between Augus and Marian in slow motion one final time, Brandon slammed the laptop shut and turned to Kent beside him: "I need to see Augus, now."
"Right on it. I'll make the arrangements." Kent responded and then turned to leave the room.
Brandon also turned to leave, and Martin followed suit: "I'm coming too."
"You don't need to show your face," Brandon said coolly, without halting his steps, "Marian's dear brother."
Martin was taken aback by Brandon's sarcastic comment. Although it made him uncomfortable, he knew that Brandon was speaking the truth.
He had to keep Marian on a tight leash. If Augus and Marian were in cahoots, showing his face to Augus would only make Marian wary of him.
Even if he didn't believe Marian was entirely off guard around him.
If she weren't cautious, she wouldn't have responded so flawlessly.
Clearly, she was concerned about surveillance or eavesdropping. And it wasn't
just about preventing Augus from secretly recording her.
Brandon didn't engage further and continued downstairs without pause.
Yolanda's grandma, Renata Frost, must have heard his voice earlier
she was already shuffling out of her room waiting at the top of the stairs, eyes brimming with hope fo
Brandon.
As Brandon came down, Renata stepped forward with a beaming smile:
"Brandon, dear, you're here. Is Sophia with you?"
A pang shot through Brandon's heart as he looked at Renata.