Chapter 80


    Even back when they lost their first child, as she emerged from the operating room, he had just held


    her hand tightly, reassuring her in a hushed voice that it was okay, the baby was just taking a little


    break, and woulde back once she was back in good health. He never showed his vulnerability in


    front of her like he was doing now.


    But there he was, the usually stoic and eerily calm Brandon, with red-rimmed eyes, telling her he was


    hurting. Sophia felt a pang in her heart, and it was like she was hit by a wave of difort.


    She turned her head away again, her eyes stinging, her throat feeling like it was being choked by


    something.


    Brandon still watched her intently, his eyes slightly red. “Logically, I know I should take full me for


    this, and you have every right to decide about the baby.”


    He couldn’t finish his sentence and turned away, his Adam’s apple visibly bobbing with the effort to hold


    back.


    Sophia didn’t say a word, just pursed her lips tightly, struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to


    be a muffled sob. Brandon nced at her, stepped forward, and leaned in to hug her.


    He didn’t speak, just held her close, his palm gently tapping her back in silent constion.


    Sophia, crying, pushed him away slightly, her gaze downturned, not looking at him.


    Brandon let her push, his arms still loosely around her, not looking at her either.


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    Sophia sniffled, getting her emotions somewhat under control, and said softly, “Brandon, I really do


    want to start over, can you just stop popping up? It’s too painful to be part of your world. You, and


    everyone around you, you all make me feel awful. Can’t you all just stop bothering me? I really hate


    this life.”


    Brandon looked at her, his eyes still slightly red, his gaze fixed on her.


    Sophia’s eyes were already red. “I have sses. I can’t run away, but can’t you all just disappear? I’ve


    already fled this far from you guys.” She couldn’t go on, just unconsciously clutching his sleeve,


    pleading with him.


    Brandon’s gaze remained fixed on her, not nodding, not speaking, just standing there motionless, but


    his grip on her arm tightened uncontrobly, then rxed again as he noticed Sophia’s slightly


    furrowed brows.


    “Brandon?” Sophia’s voice was soft, almost pleading.


    Brandon red at her fiercely. She had never begged him like this before, but now she was forcing him


    into the cruelest position with the gentlest of stances.


    “I can promise that none of them will bother you again,” he eventually said in a hoarse voice, choosing


    a partialpromise.


    But hispromise didn’t satisfy Sophia.


    “I don’t want that,” she said in a hoarse voice, her slender fingers still unconsciously clenching his


    sleeve, silently pressuring him.


    Brandon didn’t respond, just let his eyes re fiercely at her.


    Sophia, almost stubbornly, held his gaze.


    The sudden chime of a WhatsApp video call notification broke the tense atmosphere in the room.


    Both of them looked toward the source of the sound. It was Sophia’s phone, a video call from Susan.


    Brandon picked up the phone and handed it to her.


    “I’ll take the call. I’ll go grab something for you to eat,” he said, his voice back to normal. As he reached


    the door, he paused, not turning around, not moving forward.


    Sophia looked at his back in confusion.


    Without turning to her, Brandon softly said, Sophia, if I leave now, does that mean I’ll never see you


    again when Ie back?”


    Sophia stared at his back, silent.


    “Don’t leave,” Brandon said softly, still not turning around, “You shouldn’t be moving around much with


    your condition. Rest in bed for now. I’ll have someone send stuff over.”


    *


    10-113