diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiCallbackReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiCallbackReference.cs
index 81985cb12..236aa23f6 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiCallbackReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiCallbackReference.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 // Licensed under the MIT license. 
 
 using System;
@@ -70,11 +70,13 @@ internal OpenApiCallbackReference(OpenApiCallback target, string referenceId)
             };
         }
 
+        private Dictionary<RuntimeExpression, OpenApiPathItem> _pathItems;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override Dictionary<RuntimeExpression, OpenApiPathItem> PathItems { get => Target.PathItems; set => Target.PathItems = value; }
+        public override Dictionary<RuntimeExpression, OpenApiPathItem> PathItems { get => _pathItems is not null ? _pathItems : Target?.PathItems; set => _pathItems = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => Target.Extensions; set => Target.Extensions = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override void SerializeAsV3(IOpenApiWriter writer)
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReference.cs
index c36c43d9a..68624bf56 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReference.cs
@@ -30,10 +30,9 @@ public OpenApiExample Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiExample>(_reference);
-                OpenApiExample resolved = new OpenApiExample(_target);                
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) resolved.Description = _description;
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary)) resolved.Summary = _summary;
-                return resolved;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary)) _target.Summary = _summary;
+                return _target;
             }
         }
 
@@ -76,25 +75,28 @@ internal OpenApiExampleReference(OpenApiExample target, string referenceId)
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Description
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target.Description : _description;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target?.Description : _description;
             set => _description = value;
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Summary
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary) ? Target.Summary : _summary;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary) ? Target?.Summary : _summary;
             set => _summary = value;
         }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => Target.Extensions; set => Target.Extensions = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
 
+        private string _externalValue;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override string ExternalValue { get => Target.ExternalValue; set => Target.ExternalValue = value; }
+        public override string ExternalValue { get => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_externalValue) ? _externalValue : Target?.ExternalValue; set => _externalValue = value; }
 
+        private JsonNode _value;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override JsonNode Value { get => Target.Value; set => Target.Value = value; }
+        public override JsonNode Value { get => _value is not null ? _value : Target?.Value; set => _value = value; }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override void SerializeAsV3(IOpenApiWriter writer)
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiHeaderReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiHeaderReference.cs
index e8275c23c..328ecdbd5 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiHeaderReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiHeaderReference.cs
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ public OpenApiHeader Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiHeader>(_reference);
-                OpenApiHeader resolved = new OpenApiHeader(_target);
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) resolved.Description = _description;
-                return resolved;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
+                return _target;
             }
         }
 
@@ -74,42 +73,53 @@ internal OpenApiHeaderReference(OpenApiHeader target, string referenceId)
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Description
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target.Description : _description;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target?.Description : _description;
             set => _description = value;
         }
 
+        private bool? _required;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool Required { get => Target.Required; set => Target.Required = value; }
+        public override bool Required { get => _required is not null ? _required.Value : Target?.Required ?? false; set => _required = value; }
 
+        private bool? _deprecated;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool Deprecated { get => Target.Deprecated; set => Target.Deprecated = value; }
+        public override bool Deprecated { get => _deprecated is not null ? _deprecated.Value : Target?.Deprecated ?? false; set => _deprecated = value; }
 
+        private bool? _allowEmptyValue;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool AllowEmptyValue { get => Target.AllowEmptyValue; set => Target.AllowEmptyValue = value; }
+        public override bool AllowEmptyValue { get => _allowEmptyValue is not null ? _allowEmptyValue.Value : Target?.AllowEmptyValue ?? false; set => _allowEmptyValue = value; }
 
+        private OpenApiSchema _schema;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override OpenApiSchema Schema { get => Target.Schema; set => Target.Schema = value; }
+        public override OpenApiSchema Schema { get => _schema is not null ? _schema : Target?.Schema; set => _schema = value; }
 
+        private ParameterStyle? _style;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override ParameterStyle? Style { get => Target.Style; set => Target.Style = value; }
+        public override ParameterStyle? Style { get => _style is not null ? _style : Target?.Style; set => _style = value; }
 
+        private bool? _explode;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool Explode { get => Target.Explode; set => Target.Explode = value; }
+        public override bool Explode { get => _explode is not null ? _explode.Value : Target?.Explode ?? false; set => _explode = value; }
 
+        private bool? _allowReserved;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool AllowReserved { get => Target.AllowReserved; set => Target.AllowReserved = value; }
+        public override bool AllowReserved { get => _allowReserved is not null ? _allowReserved.Value : Target?.AllowReserved ?? false ; set => _allowReserved = value; }
 
+        private JsonNode _example;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override JsonNode Example { get => Target.Example; set => Target.Example = value; }
+        public override JsonNode Example { get => _example is not null ? _example : Target?.Example; set => _example = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, OpenApiExample> _examples;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiExample> Examples { get => Target.Examples; set => Target.Examples = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiExample> Examples { get => _examples is not null ? _examples : Target?.Examples; set => _examples = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> _content;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> Content { get => Target.Content; set => Target.Content = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> Content { get => _content is not null ? _content : Target?.Content; set => _content = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => base.Extensions; set => base.Extensions = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
         
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override void SerializeAsV31(IOpenApiWriter writer)
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiLinkReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiLinkReference.cs
index 05817ddc9..d0e76cbc0 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiLinkReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiLinkReference.cs
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ public OpenApiLink Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiLink>(_reference);
-                OpenApiLink resolved = new OpenApiLink(_target);
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) resolved.Description = _description;
-                return resolved;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
+                return _target;
             }
         }
 
@@ -70,14 +69,17 @@ internal OpenApiLinkReference(OpenApiLink target, string referenceId)
             };
         }
 
+        private string _operationRef;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override string OperationRef { get => Target.OperationRef; set => Target.OperationRef = value; }
+        public override string OperationRef { get => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_operationRef) ? _operationRef : Target?.OperationRef; set => _operationRef = value; }
 
+        private string _operationId;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override string OperationId { get => Target.OperationId; set => Target.OperationId = value; }
+        public override string OperationId { get => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_operationId) ? _operationId : Target?.OperationId; set => _operationId = value; }
 
+        private OpenApiServer _server;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override OpenApiServer Server { get => Target.Server; set => Target.Server = value; }
+        public override OpenApiServer Server { get => _server is not null ? _server : Target?.Server; set => _server = value; }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Description
@@ -86,14 +88,17 @@ public override string Description
             set => _description = value;
         }
 
+        private Dictionary<string, RuntimeExpressionAnyWrapper> _parameters;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override Dictionary<string, RuntimeExpressionAnyWrapper> Parameters { get => Target.Parameters; set => Target.Parameters = value; }
+        public override Dictionary<string, RuntimeExpressionAnyWrapper> Parameters { get => _parameters is not null ? _parameters : Target?.Parameters; set => _parameters = value; }
 
+        private RuntimeExpressionAnyWrapper _requestBody;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override RuntimeExpressionAnyWrapper RequestBody { get => Target.RequestBody; set => Target.RequestBody = value; }
+        public override RuntimeExpressionAnyWrapper RequestBody { get => _requestBody is not null ? _requestBody : Target?.RequestBody; set => _requestBody = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => base.Extensions; set => base.Extensions = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override void SerializeAsV3(IOpenApiWriter writer)
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiParameterReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiParameterReference.cs
index 9df1e7be2..7efafa960 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiParameterReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiParameterReference.cs
@@ -31,9 +31,8 @@ public OpenApiParameter Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiParameter>(_reference);
-                OpenApiParameter resolved = new OpenApiParameter(_target);
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) resolved.Description = _description;
-                return resolved;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
+                return _target;
             }
         }
 
@@ -73,39 +72,48 @@ internal OpenApiParameterReference(OpenApiParameter target, string referenceId)
             };
         }
 
+        private string _name;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override string Name { get => Target.Name; set => Target.Name = value; }
+        public override string Name { get => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_name) ? _name : Target?.Name; set => _name = value; }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Description
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target.Description : _description;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target?.Description : _description;
             set => _description = value;
         }
 
+        private bool? _required;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool Required { get => Target.Required; set => Target.Required = value; }
+        public override bool Required { get => _required is not null ? _required.Value : Target?.Required ?? false; set => _required = value; }
 
+        private bool? _deprecated;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool Deprecated { get => Target.Deprecated; set => Target.Deprecated = value; }
+        public override bool Deprecated { get => _deprecated is not null ? _deprecated.Value : Target?.Deprecated ?? false; set => _deprecated = value; }
 
+        private bool? _allowEmptyValue;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool AllowEmptyValue { get => Target.AllowEmptyValue; set => Target.AllowEmptyValue = value; }
+        public override bool AllowEmptyValue { get => _allowEmptyValue is not null ? _allowEmptyValue.Value : Target?.AllowEmptyValue ?? false; set => _allowEmptyValue = value; }
 
+        private bool? _allowReserved;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool AllowReserved { get => Target.AllowReserved; set => Target.AllowReserved = value; }
+        public override bool AllowReserved { get => _allowReserved is not null ? _allowReserved.Value : Target?.AllowReserved ?? false; set => _allowReserved = value; }
 
+        private OpenApiSchema _schema;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override OpenApiSchema Schema { get => Target.Schema; set => Target.Schema = value; }
+        public override OpenApiSchema Schema { get => _schema is not null ? _schema : Target?.Schema; set => _schema = value; }
 
+        private JsonNode _example;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiExample> Examples { get => Target.Examples; set => Target.Examples = value; }
+        public override JsonNode Example { get => _example is not null ? _example : Target?.Example; set => _example = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, OpenApiExample> _examples;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override JsonNode Example { get => Target.Example; set => Target.Example = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiExample> Examples { get => _examples is not null ? _examples : Target?.Examples; set => _examples = value; }
 
+        private ParameterLocation? _in;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override ParameterLocation? In { get => Target.In; set => Target.In = value; }
+        public override ParameterLocation? In { get => _in is not null ? _in : Target?.In; set => _in = value; }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override ParameterStyle? Style 
@@ -121,12 +129,14 @@ public override bool Explode
             set => _explode = value;
         }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> _content;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> Content { get => Target.Content; set => Target.Content = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> Content { get => _content is not null ? _content : Target?.Content; set => _content = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => Target.Extensions; set => Target.Extensions = value; }
-        
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
+
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override void SerializeAsV3(IOpenApiWriter writer)
         {
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiPathItemReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiPathItemReference.cs
index fad8922ae..5620bc993 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiPathItemReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiPathItemReference.cs
@@ -29,10 +29,9 @@ public OpenApiPathItem Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiPathItem>(_reference);
-                OpenApiPathItem resolved = new OpenApiPathItem(_target);
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) resolved.Description = _description;
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary)) resolved.Summary = _summary;
-                return resolved;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary)) _target.Summary = _summary;
+                return _target;
             }
         }
 
@@ -75,29 +74,33 @@ internal OpenApiPathItemReference(OpenApiPathItem target, string referenceId)
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Summary
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary) ? Target.Summary : _summary;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_summary) ? Target?.Summary : _summary;
             set => _summary = value;
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Description
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target.Description : _description;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target?.Description : _description;
             set => _description = value;
         }
 
+        private IDictionary<OperationType, OpenApiOperation> _operations;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<OperationType, OpenApiOperation> Operations { get => Target.Operations; set => Target.Operations = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<OperationType, OpenApiOperation> Operations { get => _operations is not null ? _operations : Target?.Operations; set => _operations = value; }
 
+        private IList<OpenApiServer> _servers;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IList<OpenApiServer> Servers { get => Target.Servers; set => Target.Servers = value; }
+        public override IList<OpenApiServer> Servers { get => _servers is not null ? _servers : Target?.Servers; set => _servers = value; }
 
+        private IList<OpenApiParameter> _parameters;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IList<OpenApiParameter> Parameters { get => Target.Parameters; set => Target.Parameters = value; }
+        public override IList<OpenApiParameter> Parameters { get => _parameters is not null ? _parameters : Target?.Parameters; set => _parameters = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => Target.Extensions; set => Target.Extensions = value; }
-               
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
+
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override void SerializeAsV31(IOpenApiWriter writer)
         {
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiRequestBodyReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiRequestBodyReference.cs
index 59fb27724..ca8eb2f6c 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiRequestBodyReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiRequestBodyReference.cs
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ public OpenApiRequestBody Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiRequestBody>(_reference);
-                OpenApiRequestBody resolved = new OpenApiRequestBody(_target);
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) resolved.Description = _description;
-                return resolved;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
+                return _target;
             }
         }
 
@@ -73,18 +72,21 @@ internal OpenApiRequestBodyReference(OpenApiRequestBody target, string reference
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Description
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target.Description : _description;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target?.Description : _description;
             set => _description = value;
         }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> _content;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> Content { get => Target.Content; set => Target.Content = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, OpenApiMediaType> Content { get => _content is not null ? _content : Target?.Content; set => _content = value; }
 
+        private bool? _required;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override bool Required { get => Target.Required; set => Target.Required = value; }
+        public override bool Required { get => _required is not null ? _required.Value : Target?.Required ?? false; set => _required = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => Target.Extensions; set => Target.Extensions = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override void SerializeAsV3(IOpenApiWriter writer)
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiResponseReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiResponseReference.cs
index 2ac8aee27..a9836265b 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiResponseReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiResponseReference.cs
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ private void SerializeInternal(IOpenApiWriter writer,
             Action<IOpenApiWriter, IOpenApiReferenceable> action)
         {
             Utils.CheckArgumentNull(writer);
-            action(writer, this);
+            action(writer, Target);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSchemaReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSchemaReference.cs
index da2f9b745..f5d60ced4 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSchemaReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSchemaReference.cs
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ public OpenApiSchema? Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument?.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiSchema>(_reference);
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
                 return _target;
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSecuritySchemeReference.cs b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSecuritySchemeReference.cs
index dcd5009b1..57c162f78 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSecuritySchemeReference.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi/Models/References/OpenApiSecuritySchemeReference.cs
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ public OpenApiSecurityScheme Target
             get
             {
                 _target ??= Reference.HostDocument.ResolveReferenceTo<OpenApiSecurityScheme>(_reference);
-                OpenApiSecurityScheme resolved = new OpenApiSecurityScheme(_target);
-                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) resolved.Description = _description;
-                return resolved;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description)) _target.Description = _description;
+                return _target;
             }
         }
 
@@ -69,30 +68,38 @@ internal OpenApiSecuritySchemeReference(string referenceId, OpenApiSecuritySchem
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override string Description
         {
-            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target.Description : _description;
+            get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_description) ? Target?.Description : _description;
             set => _description = value;
         }
 
+        private string _name;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override string Name { get => Target.Name; set => Target.Name = value; }
+        public override string Name { get => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_name) ? _name : Target?.Name; set => _name = value; }
 
+        private ParameterLocation? _in;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override ParameterLocation? In { get => Target.In; set => Target.In = value; }
+        public override ParameterLocation? In { get => _in is not null ? _in : Target?.In; set => _in = value; }
 
+        private string _scheme;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override string Scheme { get => Target.Scheme; set => Target.Scheme = value; }
+        public override string Scheme { get => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_scheme) ? _scheme : Target?.Scheme; set => _scheme = value; }
 
+        private string _bearerFormat;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override string BearerFormat { get => Target.BearerFormat; set => Target.BearerFormat = value; }
+        public override string BearerFormat { get => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_bearerFormat) ? _bearerFormat : Target?.BearerFormat; set => _bearerFormat = value; }
 
+        private OpenApiOAuthFlows _flows;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override OpenApiOAuthFlows Flows { get => Target.Flows; set => Target.Flows = value; }
+        public override OpenApiOAuthFlows Flows { get => _flows is not null ? _flows : Target?.Flows; set => _flows = value; }
 
+        private Uri _openIdConnectUrl;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override Uri OpenIdConnectUrl { get => Target.OpenIdConnectUrl; set => Target.OpenIdConnectUrl = value; }
+        public override Uri OpenIdConnectUrl { get => _openIdConnectUrl is not null ? _openIdConnectUrl : Target?.OpenIdConnectUrl; set => _openIdConnectUrl = value; }
 
+        private IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> _extensions;
         /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => Target.Extensions; set => Target.Extensions = value; }
+        public override IDictionary<string, IOpenApiExtension> Extensions { get => _extensions is not null ? _extensions : Target?.Extensions; set => _extensions = value; }
+
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public override SecuritySchemeType? Type { get => Target.Type; set => Target.Type = value; }
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.OpenApi.Tests/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReferenceTests.cs b/test/Microsoft.OpenApi.Tests/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReferenceTests.cs
index 2cb0ff189..346b31701 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.OpenApi.Tests/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReferenceTests.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.OpenApi.Tests/Models/References/OpenApiExampleReferenceTests.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 // Licensed under the MIT license. 
 
 using System.Globalization;