Chapter 85


    Kent shot Brandon a puzzled look.


    Brandon had gone poker–faced, icy to the core, even his gaze was frosty. For a split second, Kent


    caught a glimpse of pure resolve and a touch of ruthlessness in those eyes, a sort of all–or–nothing.


    ???


    damn the consequences determination. His hand swiftly moved to sign the contract, but then Brandon


    suddenly mmed the pen down on the table with a loud “snap.”


    “Sorry, the house ain’t for sale.” Dropping the words coldly, Brandon spun on his heel and left, leaving


    behind a confused real estate agent and the would–be new tenant.


    Kent hurried over to try and smooth things over. “My bad. There’s a bit of a snag with that ce, and I


    thought better of screwing you guys over.


    “What’s the deal?” the prospective tenant blew up on the spot. If there’s an issue, why the heck are you


    trying to pawn it off on us?”


    “Really sorry about this,” Kent said with a string of apologetic grins, shooting the agent a knowing look.


    He slipped him some hush money to soothe the customer before finding an excuse to duck out early.


    Back at the office, Kent found Brandon staring into space at his desk, a nk look on his face,


    absentmindedly twirling a fountain pen in his hand.


    Feeling Kent’s eyes on him, Brandon nced his way. “Kent.”


    Kent quickly approached. “Mr. Crawley, something the matter?”


    “Buy me that house Sophia had.”


    Kent was speechless.


    He hesitated, not daring to ask more and simply nodded. “Alright.”


    Sophia’s ce had been sold before she left the country, but luckily the buyer wasn’t in a rush to move


    in, so it was still untouched.


    Kent bought the house back at a price well above market value.


    When he handed the keys over to Brandon, Kent saw him zone out while staring at them for so long


    that he wondered if Brandon had forgotten he was there. Eventually, Brandon pocketed the keys and


    looked at him


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    “Kent, thanks.”


    Kent was shook, never before had Brandon thanked him so earnestly and calmly.


    He tugged at his lips awkwardly. “Mr. Crawley, are you alright?”


    Brandon shook his head, silent, his gaze drifting past Kent to the trash can, where he paused,


    Kent felt something was seriously off with Brandon and couldn’t help but tentatively suggest. “Mr.


    Crawley, if you can’t let go, maybe you should go after her.”


    “There’s nothing to let go of or not let go of, Brandon replied nonchntly, his voice faint. The


    burnished keys twirled once or twice in his palm, and with a flick, they arced beautifully through the air


    andnded with a “thunk‘ in the trash can behind Kent.


    Kent hesitated, ncing back at the trash can, then at Brandon, whose eyelids were half–drawn and


    expression almost unreadable.


    Kent moved to retrieve the keys, but Brandon’s gaze stopped him. “Leave them.”


    Kent’s hand, reaching for the trash can, fraze.


    Its over between her and me, Brandon said, pushing away the keyboard with force, standing up, and


    walking away without a backward nce:


    Watching his retreating figure, Kent felt an unexined twinge of sadness.


    He had seen the way Brandon and Sophia looked at each other. He had always believed that was love,


    the kind that didn’t need many words, where a single look conveyed it all.


    Kent sighed softly to himself, withdrawing his gaze to the keys lying quietly in the trash can, and bent


    down to