Chapter 44


    Chap


    “Maybe, Sophia’s voice trailed off as she tilted her head away, “Just had a bit more time to brace


    myself, I guess.”


    Her calm words somehow managed to ignite a fierce glint in Brandon’s eyes.


    With a flick of his long fingers, he pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him.


    “You have been prepping for this for over half a year, huh?” he asked, his voice eerily calm yet


    frightening.


    He hadn’t forgotten the day she got the eptance call from Apex Engineering University When he


    asked how long she’d been preparing, she’d said six months.


    Sophia gave a small nod, silently agreeing.


    Brandon didn’t reply, just stared at her expressionlessly, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently with his


    emotions.


    He didn’t utter a word, just watched her with that same nk expression.


    Sophia had no clue why Brandon was suddenly raking up the past.


    It wasn’t like she had kept their divorce a secret from him, nor had she bolted. Right from the start,


    she’d been upfront. about wanting a divorce, and he’d agreed without probing for reasons or needing


    an exnation. Just a simple “okay” had ended their marriage, more decisively than she could have


    managed. Even when they bumped into each other in their neighborhoodter, and he found out she’d


    been considering divorce for six months, he’d been the one to coolly say take care before walking


    away, clean and swift, without dragging his feet. Even on the day she left at the airport, him upstairs,


    her downstairs, his gaze was calm and distant, with no signs of lingering attachment or care. Now,


    barely a monthter, she didn’t understand why Brandon was suddenly bringing up old times.


    Was it because of the baby?


    Her hand instinctively touched her still-t belly, and Sophia realized that all the changes seemed to


    start after he learned of her pregnancy


    Brandon noticed where her hand rested and nced at her.


    “It’s not about the kid, he said, his gaze pausing on her chin which he had been holding, before


    releasing her.


    “Sorry,” he said, returning to his usualposed self.


    “It’s okay, Sophia replied softly, her gaze lowered, not looking at him.


    “You should go back to your room and rest. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready,” Brandon said, smoothing


    her tousled hair.


    Sophia just nodded obediently, “Okay.”


    Brandon watched her go back to her room, only looking away after the door closed.


    The lingering light of the sunset poured through the window.


    Sophia stood there, gazing at the still unfamiliar street outside.


    Brandon’s breath from just a moment ago still clung to her lips.


    His slightlybored breathing and anger also seemed to echo in her ears.


    She found Brandon a bit hard to read, actually. He was usually soposed and steady that it was


    rare to see him show emotion like this. She didn’t quite understand his sudden mood swing.


    This wasn’t the Brandon she knew.


    But she wasn’t presumptuous enough to think that Brandon began to love her.


    They didn’t have that kind of emotional foundation


    Her hand drifted to her belly again.


    Sophia had a hunch that Brandon’s change of heart began with the knowledge of the child’s existence.


    He had always liked kids and naturally wouldn’t want his child to grow up in a broken home.


    At that moment, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp video call.


    It was Susan.


    Sophia hit the answer button


    “Still up?” Sophia asked, ncing at the time. It was well past midnight back home.


    Susan yawned, “Sleep? No time for that, I’ve been swamped. Just finished discussing a contract.”


    Sophia frowned, “What contract is keeping you up sote?”


    “It’s the deal with Brandon’s Starlight Hotel joining our business district.” Susan began to vent before


    catching herself, remembering she wasn’t supposed to bring Brandon up around Sophia. She mped


    her mouth shut and gave herself a yful p on the lips. She hadn’t forgotten what Sophia had told


    her about not wanting to hear about Brandon’s whereabouts


    Sophia chuckled at her friend’s frustration. It’s fine, keep going.”


    And then she inquired, “Haven’t you sealed that project deal yet?”


    Susan replied, “It’s not that easy. We’ve been haggling over the contract for days, going back and forth


    with amendments. Brandon is a tough cookie, no, it’s their legal department that’s the pain in the neck.”


    Afterining, she couldn’t help but pout at Sophia, “I was thinking of asking Brandon for a fast


    track, you know, to discuss and make changes directly, so it’s easier for everyone. But I have no idea


    where he’s disappeared to I’ve been to their office a bunch of times and can’t find him. Even that Kent


    guy won’t spill the beans, just says Brandon’s on a business trip with no return date. At this rate, your


    baby will be born by the time we finalize this contract.”


    Then she looked at Sophia with concern, Oh right, how’s your morning sickness been these past few


    days? I’ve been so busy I forgot to ask.


    “I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” Sophia reassured quickly. “It’s you I’m worried about, staying up so


    late. Take care of yourself.


    “I’m young, I’ll be fine, Susan yawned as she stood up, “Tomorrow I’ll try to get hold of that Kent again,


    see if I can catch Brandon at work. Their legal team is too domineering, and ours isn’t just for show. I


    feel like I’m being ground down in the middle here.


    Seeing Susan’s clearly worn-out face, Sophia felt uneasy, “Why don’t you send me the contract? I can


    show it to Brandon for you. He’s here in Wye City.”


    “What?” Susan stopped mid-yawn, shocked, “Did Brandon follow you to Wye City?”


    “No, he’s here on business, and we just ran into each other, Sophia rified softly.


    This is some crazy coincidence. The world’s so big and yet you bump into each other,” Susan shook


    her head, amused. Only then did she notice the unfamiliar background behind Sophia and paused,


    bewildered, “You’re not with Brandon right now, are you?”


    Sophia hesitated, then nodded, “I’m staying with him for now. He found out about my pregnancy.”


    “How did he figure it out so darn fast? He didn’t nt a tracker on you or something, did he?”


    Sophia chuckled, “As if he’s got that kind of time to kill. It was just a fluke, really. He’s pretty perceptive,


    you know, so it’s like, trying to keep something under wraps from him is just impossible.”


    Susan nodded in agreement. “True that. So what’s the game n now?” she asked, “Gonna keep the


    baby and raise it together, or are you thinking of getting back together? Or maybe not keeping it?”


    “I don’t know,” Sophia sighed, “I’m just ying it by ear. But getting back together is definitely off the


    table. We’re just not a good match.”


    Outside the door, Brandon’s hand paused mid-air, just about to knock.


    He had just finished making dinner and was about to call Sophia to eat, not expecting to overhear her


    phone call


    He nced at the closed door, his fingers twitched, but he didn’t knock.


    He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on their conversation, but he identally stumbled upon it.


    “We’re just not a good match.”


    Sophia’s unique, soft voice echoed in his mind. Brandon didn’t know what she meant by “not a good


    match” with him.


    But the anger that had finally settled within him was now being stirred up again by her words.


    He tumed his head slightly to calm the storm inside.


    The conversation in the room continued, Susan’s voice on speakerphone filtered through the door. “No


    worries, take your time to think it over. Whatever decision you make, I’ve got your back unconditionally.


    Like I said before, if you decide to have the baby, I’m here to help you raise her. And if you decide not


    to, I respect your choice. Don’t feel pressured


    “Alright, I’ll think about it. Don’t worry about me, Sophia’s voice followed, “Send me the contract, and I’ll


    have a look for


    you


    “Will do.”


    Brandon took a deep breath and after a moment of silence, he knocked on the door.


    Sophia had hung up the phone and was looking at the contract Susan had sent over. Hearing the


    knock, she turned her head towards the door, got up, and opened it.


    Brandon stood at the door.


    “Let’s eat,” he said.


    Sophia nodded. “Okay.”


    She turned off her phone and joined him.


    The dinner was already spread out on the table.


    Brandondled some soup for Sophia and passed it to her. She instinctively stood up to take it. “I’ve


    got it.”


    Brandon avoided her reaching hand.


    “I’ve got this.”


    He managed to ce the soup bowl in front of her without letting her touch it, then served her a bowl of


    rice.


    “Thanks, Sophia said politely.


    Brandon didn’t reply, just served himself some soup and sat down opposite her.


    Sophia could clearly sense the tense atmosphere that had started in the car that afternoon was still


    there. She opened her mouth to speak, but upon seeing Brandon’s overlyposed face, she fell


    silent again and started sipping her soup with a spoon.


    Brandon, too, was quiet, sipping his soup.


    Sophia wasn’t used to this kind of cold-war atmosphere.


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    After a while, she looked up at him. “Did anything bad happen today? Or did I do or say something


    wrong?”


    Brandon looked at her. “It’s not about you. It’s on me.”


    Sophia shook her head slightly, absentmindedly stirring her soup, then looked at him “Is it because I


    mentioned Ynda. It seems like all your mood changes started with her. If you don’t like it, I won’t


    bring her up ever again. But don’t shut me out like this. It makes me unsure how to interact with you.”


    Brandon’s grip on his spoon tightened slightly, then he looked at her calmly. “I really don’t like hearing


    about Ynda. Don’t mention her again.”


    Sophie nodded. “Okay.”


    But herpliance didn’t soothe Brandon’s irritation. The atmosphere remained tense.


    Sophia ganced at him, slightly puzzled. “Is there something else?”


    Brandon looked at her, and just when she thought he would default to his usual “it’s nothing,” he spoke


    slowly. “Where exactly do we not match up?”


    Sophia was overwhelmed for a moment.