Chapter 43


    Sophia wasn’t quite used to being under such intense scrutiny. She rose from the couch and pointed


    towards the back


    room.


    “I’m gonna hit the sack for a bit,” she whispered, then nced over at the kitchen behind her. “If you’ve


    got stuff to do, go ahead and dive into it. It’s cool to grab some takeout.”


    Brandon just watched her without moving. “It’s all good, I’m not tied up.”


    Sophia gave a polite smile. “Appreciate it.”


    Brandon forced a smile too, but didn’t respond


    Sophia gave a half-hearted smile as if to say hi, then tried to walk past him.


    All of a sudden, Brandon reached out and snagged her forearm.


    Sophia looked back at him, puzzled.


    She saw that his eyes were deep, hidden within an abyss of calm.


    His gaze reminded her of the one he shot her on the way back home when she mentioned Ynda-


    cold and turning his head to look at her suddenly.


    Despite the difference in looks and temperature, they both gave her a simr sense of unease.


    She hesitated, about to speak, but then he yanked on her arm, pulling her into his embrace. As she


    started to look up in panic, he tightened his grip around her waist, his other handnding on her chin,


    gently forcing it up. Her face was tilted back involuntarily, and Brandon’s kissnded fiercely and


    urately, filled with hidden rage.


    Sophia was stunned, not fully processing what was happening. As she instinctively tried to pull away,


    the more she struggled, the harsher the kiss became, and the tighter she was held.


    In the tussle, she found herself pushed up against the wall by Brandon.


    He pinned her hands above her head against the wall with one hand, while the other supported the


    back of her head, forcing her to tilt her face up. His lips plundered hers with force and aggression.


    Sophia frantically tried to push him away, but the more she pushed, the more she seemed to provoke


    Brandon.


    She couldn’t figure out what was up with him today. Ever since he picked her up from school, he’d been


    off. Thest time she saw him this reckless and fierce was the night she mentioned divorce. After they


    hade to an agreement, she got up to freshen up, and he suddenly erupted like this, pinning her


    down with a wild disregard that eventually calmed down after her pleading.


    “Brandon, stop it.”


    Just likest time, she clutched his wrists tightly, pleading in a low voice while trying to break free.


    There was a momentary pause in his movements. He nced at her, with no desire in his eyes, just a


    sharp coldness.


    He didn’t slowly let go of her after that look, likest time. He just kept staring at her, motionless and


    cold.


    Sophia couldn’tprehend the icy usation in his eyes, nor did she know what she had said or


    done wrong to offend him.


    She had never seen Brandon like this before.


    He was always so incredibly calm and controlled.


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    She noticed his eyes slightly widened due to the panic.


    It seemed like he was savoring her bewildered and flustered state, silently towering over her, not


    making a move.


    In the end, it was Sophia who couldn’t stand the pressure of his gaze any longer.


    She lowered her head slightly and turned it away, her chest heaving with breaths, her whole being still


    in a daze, tangled with trepidation and rm


    Brandon also turned his head to the other side.


    Silence spread through the decent-sized space.


    After a while, Brandon finally looked at her. “Sophia, how do you manage to pull away so smoothly and


    cleanly?”


    Sophia was taken aback by the question and instinctively looked up at him.


    Brandon was still there, unmoving, his eyes still unfamiliarly intense and sharp.