Chapter 23


    The hotel was d in steel-gray ss, a skyscraper with over fifty floors that exuded grandeur and


    high-ss sophistication, matching its brand positioning to a tee.


    Outside the hotel cars came and went Through the revolving ss doors, stylishly dressed folks were


    constantlying in and out, with the clientele primarily consisting of young men and women


    Sophia and Brandon had been married for quite some time now, but they had never stayed at the


    Starlight Hotel.


    She hadn’t even set foot inside


    All she knew was that the Starlight Hotel brand was Brandon’s efforts back in his university days.


    While everyone else was still patting themselves on the back for making it through the exams and


    kicking back, while they were busy gaming, dating or joining clubs, Brandon was already diving


    headfirst into the family biz on top of his studies. He built the Starlight Hotel brand from the ground up,


    and in just a few years, he turned it into a world-ss luxury hotel chain it was his golden ticket to


    taking the helm as the big boss of Starlight Group.


    Back home. Sophia hadn’t seen much of Starlight Hotel-not because there were few of them, but


    because she hadn’t been out much in the past couple of years. And now, in this foreignnd, stumbling


    upon a Starlight Hotel felt like a warm hug


    Seeing familiar words on a street sign amidst a sea of foreignnguages can give her that fuzzy


    feeling, all the more so when the brand had a special ce in her life.


    Sophia couldn’t help but crack a smile, her wandering heart finding a touch of sce in this familiarity,


    and she found herself drawn towards the hotel


    The valets and the front desk staff at the entrance were Zenithans As Sophia approached, the security


    guard greeted her, Wee.”


    “Thank you,” Sophia responded with a smile, findingfort here.


    She didn’t go in, just peeked inside, and the sight of familiar Zenithan faces deepened the sense of


    nostalgia, as if she were back home, settling her restless heart even more.


    The parking valet, noticing she didn’t seem to be heading in, asked with a grin, “Miss, looking for


    someone?”


    Sophia shook her head and smiled, “Nope, just passing by and thought I’d take a gander.”


    The valet smiled back. Feel free toe in and look around. Our hotel offers a free rest area and


    afternoon tea.”


    “Thanks, but I’ll pass, Sophia smiled, declined politely, and bid farewell to the valet. As she turned to


    leave, a ck Cayenne slowly drove past her. As it brushed by, Sophia instinctively nced inside the


    car, and her gaze froze


    Brandon, who was in the driver’s seat, happened to turn his head at the same time. Their eyes locked


    in mid-air.


    There was no npple in Brandon’s deep gaze. After looking at her, he slowly shifted his gaze back to the


    road ahead, his chiseled profile cool and detached.


    Sophia calmly withdrew her gaze as well and continued walking.


    Brandon nced at her in the rearview mirror. In the condensed reflection, Sophia had reached the


    corner and was hailing a taxi.


    Brandon tumed his face away, his hand on the steering wheel drawing back before nimbly turning it,


    and the car headed towards Sophia.


    Sophia watched as taxi after taxi passed by without any intentions of stopping.


    Her ce wasn’t far from here, if it were the old days, she’d just walk back


    But she was in the early stages of pregnancy and didn’t dare to walk too much. After failing to g


    down a couple of texts, she hesitated and couldn’t help but check her watch, then looked towards


    home, contemting whether to just hoot it. The unexpected sighting of Brandon had left her a bit


    shaken, despite her calm exterior, and she didn’t want to


    nger, though Brandon might have already entered the hote!


    Still undecided, Sophia turned to leave when the familiar ck Cayenne suddenly screeched to a halt


    beside her, its window rolling down to reveal Brandon’s cool and indifferent handsome face.


    “Where to?” he asked, his voice as deep and mellow as Sophia remembered, steady as ever


    Sophia was caught off guard, gesturing vaguely towards home, “Oh, I’m heading home.”


    “I’ll give you a lift, Brandon said, with a click the car door unlocked, “Get in”


    Sophia instinctively declined, “No need, it’s just around the corner”


    But Brandon repeated firmly, “Get in


    His tone was still even and calm, but themanding presence in his voice softened Sophia’s resolve.


    “Really, it’s not necessary. Sophia’s voice softened involuntarily. “I’m just around the corner”


    Instead of replying, Brandon leaned over, opened the passenger door, and then looked at her, “Get in.”


    Sophia hesitated, looking at him.


    Brandon didn’t rush her, just patiently waited, giving off the vibe that he wouldn’t leave until she got in


    the car


    Sophia, being soft-hearted and mild-tempered, had never had a row with Brandon, not even when they


    divorced-it was all very amicable. She couldn’t muster the energy to throw a tantrum, and under


    Brandon’s calm and deep gaze, she eventually caved in, opened the door, and got into the car


    Brandon turned to her, “Where are you staying?”


    Sophia pointed ahead and gave him the address.


    It was close by, and in no time at all, Brandon pulled up in front of her apartment building.


    Brandon surveyed the surroundings, then looked up at the apartmentplex, noting that it seemed


    nice, especially the security, which looked pretty safe.


    Sophia unbuckled her seatbelt, turned to him, and thanked him, “I’m here, thanks for the ride.


    “You’re wee, Brandon replied, also unbuckling his seatbelt.


    Sophia didn’t understand why he was unbuckling, and said instinctively, “It’s fine, you can go on with


    your day”


    After that, she opened the door and stepped out.


    But Brandon didn’t drive away as she had suggested; instead, he got out of the car too, looked up at


    the apartment building, and then at her.


    “Living solo?” he asked


    Sophia nodded, “Yep, riding solo for now.”


    Guess if she decided to keep the kid around, she would have to upgrade to a two-bed or a three-bed


    and hire a nanny


    Brandon’s brows furrowed, and he shot her a look, kinda on purpose.


    Sophia felt a bit thrown off by his gaze.


    “What’s up?” she asked.


    “Nothing. Brandon said, looking at her. “Mind if I take a peek upstairs?”


    Sophia forced a smile. “It’s not really convenient, you know?”


    “Why not?”


    Sophia found herself at a loss for words, just feeling like she didn’t want to get too tangled up with him.


    Brandon was still expectant waiting for her to spill the beans.


    it’s just, you know, a guy and a gal alone together doesn’t seem quite right, Sophia blurted out, and


    immediately felt her excuse was a bit off, considering they had been husband and wife for two years


    and had seen every inch of each other


    Brandon looked at her. “You got hitched?”


    Sophia shook her head in confusion: “Nope.” She didn’t get why he was asking.


    “Got a boyfriend?”


    Sophia just shook her head nkly again: “Nada.”


    “So what’s the big deal? You know I’m not that kind of quy.”


    Sophia waspletely speechless once more


    Brandon was already reaching out to her “Gimme the keys”


    His words were like a spell, and before Sophia knew it, she had obediently handed over her keys.


    “How’d you end up here?” she asked, trying to break the awkward silence in the elevator.


    Brandon replied simply. “Business trip.”


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    “Ah


    Then theypsed back into a long silence.


    Sophia was used to this kind of quiet, hands casually stuffed in her coat pockets, standing ramrod


    straight, eyes calmly fixed ahead totally able to ignore Brandon. But then, out of the blue, he nced at


    her: “Settling in okay over here?”


    Sophia was taken aback, then nodded: “Yeah, pretty settled.


    Brandon nodded back and said no more.


    The elevator stopped on Sophia’s fifteenth floor. Brandon held back the elevator doors, letting her out


    first before following


    This was something Brandon always did when they were together, like how he’d instinctively stand on


    the traffic side when crossing the street, or how he’d open the car door for her before heading to the


    driver’s seat Sophia didn’t know if these gentlemanly gestures were just his habit with everyone or just


    with her, she never had the chance topare.


    Out of the elevator, Brandon unlocked the door and stepped into the ce first, with Sophia trailing


    behind. She watched as he flicked on the light and scanned the not-so-spacious room.


    Sophia stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt, as she leaned against the wall and changed her shoes by


    the door.


    Brandon turned around just in time to see her slip off her ts, his gaze pausing before looking at her.


    “Why the ts? I remember you weren’t into them.”