Chapter 663


    Brandon took out his phone and called J at once.


    On the other end, J was rather surprised that he would take the initiative to call her.


    “Where are you?” he snapped as soon as she answered.


    He soon realized how harsh he sounded, though. He cleared his throat and added in a much softer


    tone, “Why aren’t you home?”


    J was currently having breakfast. She leisurely took a sip of her milk before replying. “I was just


    about to tell you. I’vee back to Barnes.”


    “What are you doing in Barnes?” Brandon asked, obviously unhappy.


    It made J burst intoughter. “I work here, so it shouldn’t be that surprising. I’ve been working


    remotely in thest few days, but it’s far from convenient. If I continued to stay in Seacisco, my career


    would suffer eventually.”


    Brandon opened his mouth to express his grievance, but found that he didn’t know the right words to


    say.


    After floundering for a couple of seconds, he decided not to say anything altogether. Even so, a


    menacing scowl appeared on his face, and his fingers tightened around his phone.


    “Fine,” he breathed before hanging up and brooding by the window.


    Since that day, Brandon devoted most of his time to work again.


    He told himself repeatedly that it was a good thing that J was gone. He could finally focus on his


    business, just how it should have always been. Even so, every time he came home at night and found


    that there was no one to wee him, a wave of loneliness would wash over him. He often went to


    bed feeling empty and upset.


    It was a cold and rainy day in Seacisco. Autumn wasing to an end. The electric firece crackled


    in the living room, obscuring half of Brandon’s face as he sat at the dining table.


    He felt as though he was slowly drowning in the destion that filled his heart, much like the storm that


    was raging outside.


    He stared at the flower sitting on the mantel, thece cloth covering the table, and the photos hanging


    on the wall. These were tiny, inconspicuous details that were easy to ignore, but they particrly stood


    out to Brandon.


    J had only lived here for several days, but she had left traces of her everywhere. Now that she was


    gone, he slept alone and ate alone. Brandon found that he was rather unustomed to it now.


    He heaved a mournful sigh. Even the breakfast spread before him was tasteless and unappetizing.


    Having enough of the strange and indescribable emotions that were tormenting him, Brandon decided


    to move back to the hotel near thepany.


    He only returned to the vi once a week. And each time, he would be looking forward to seeing J


    cooking at home, waiting for him. She would greet him with that bright smile of hers, and then urge him


    to wash his hands before telling him that dinner was ready.


    It was nothing special, really, but his expectations never came true. To say that he was disappointed


    would be a gross understatement, but the hope would rekindle again the following week.


    Deep down, Brandon knew that he had changed. He could barely concentrate on work. He missed


    J terribly, though he wasn’t fully aware of the extent just yet, and how much it affected every other


    aspect of his life. He had even begun paying attention to the goings-on in the fashion industry. Despite


    this, he never made contact with her again.


    One day, Garrett called to inform him that there was something wrong with the project being handled by


    one of their branch offices in Barnes. He was suggesting that Brandon deal with it himself.


    “I heard from Garrett that it isn’t that big of a deal. The project manager merely asked for a leave of


    absence in the middle of the operations. I think sending an experienced project manager to take over it


    should be enough to settle the matter. Besides, Garrett is already in Barnes. You don’t have to go there


    yourself. It’s a rather long and tedious trip, too. It would be a hassle to go back and forth between


    Seacisco and Barnes. Just let them handle this.” Charis was determined to stop him, of course. She


    remained calm throughout their conversation, but she made sure toy down every point she had at


    her disposal.


    “Our projects in Seacisco have beening along swimmingly, so there’s nothing to worry about. I


    haven’t been to our branchpany in Barnes in so long, anyway, so this would be a good opportunity


    for me to inspect their work.” It was clear that Brandon had already made up his mind.


    He told himself that it wasn’t as if he had any personal agenda; he was only going to Barnes for work.


    That was all. He certainly wouldn’t be going there to see J.


    *******


    The Larson Group’s private jetnded at Barneste in the evening.


    As soon as he got off the ne, Brandon headed straight to his vi.


    To his dismay, he arrived to find that J wasn’t there, either.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    He immediately called Sean. “Is my wife not residing in our vi in Barnes?”


    Sean was speechless for a moment. “Mr. Larson, I’m afraid I have no idea. Perhaps Mrs. Larson is


    living with her parents.”


    Brandon hung up without another word and called J.


    She sounded like she was just about to sleep. “What’s up?” she asked with a loud yawn.


    “Where are you staying?”


    “With my parents, of course.”


    Brandon huffed in dissatisfaction. “Didn’t you say it yourself that we are a couple and that we should be


    living together? You muste to my vi and stay with me.”