Chapter 134

Brandon understood exactly what Vivian meant. But right now, he simply wasn't in the mood.

He had just gone through a divorce. Romance,let alone sex, was the last thing on his mind.

At the moment, all he wanted was some peace and quiet. He didn't want to think about anything else.

As that thought settled, he found himself relieved that he had agreed to meet Darden at the Blue Lounge, which now gave him the perfect excuse.

"I promised Darden I'd stop by," he said finally."You're not feeling well anyway. You should head up and rest."

Vivian looked at him, lips pressed into a thin line."Brandon, are you really not just making excuses? Or is it that... you still have feelings for Millie?"

Her voice wavered as her eyes began to well with tears. "If you don't want me, just say so. Go back to her, then. I think she'd still take you."

Brandon exhaled slowly, running a hand gently through her hair. "Vivian, I'm already divorced. That was my decision. I didn't hesitate."

She looked away, her expression wounded. Brandon reached for his phone and showed her the earlier message from Darden.

"See? I'm not making excuses. Just give me some time, alright?" he said quietly. "I need space to clear my head."

Vivian glanced at the message and then down at her hands, visibly guilty.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I thought..."

"It's okay. Just go get some rest." Brandon gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Vivian hesitated, but then gave a small nod.

She opened the door and stepped out of the car.Turning back, she looked at him, her eyes red. "P'll wait for you," she said sincerely. "Until I can't anymore."

Brandon didn't reply right away. He just nodded and said, "Good night."

Vivian turned and walked into the building.

Brandon waited until she disappeared inside, and then shifted the car into reverse and pulled away from the curb.

Two seconds later, the entrance door swung open again.Vivian reappeared.

Gone was the fragile, teary-eyed expression from before. She stared after Brandon's taillights, her gaze sharp with resentment.

She had seen the hesitation in his eyes.

He still wasn't over Millie.

She bit her lip, seething. She had to find a way to truly become Brandon's woman and bear his child.Otherwise, everything would start to unravel.

Meanwhile, at the Blue Lounge, Millie and Charles were still on the dance floor while Darden waited upstairs in a private room, bored out of his mind.

He pulled out his phone and opened Alyssa's chat.

Ever since she called himn a "useless bastard who only knew how to sleep around" and broke up with him, she'd thrown herself into her new career-appraising secondhand luxury goods.

Darden had stopped by her shop a few times, only to learn she'd already quit. Now she was working sales in a different boutique.

He found the change strange. Had she failed to meet her quotas? WVas that why she quit?

He had once bankrolled her entire lifestyle,convinced she'd come crawling back once reality hit.But she hadn't. Surprisingly, she was still holding out.

Lately, he had to admit-he missed her a bit. That fiery temper of hers was oddly endearing.

Thinking of her, he sent a message. "What have you been up to lately? Need any help with business?Want me to throw some clients your way?"

It didn't take long for her to reply. "Fuck off,you jerk!"

She also sent a fierce emoji.

Darden snorted, amused.

"Still got that bite," he muttered to himself.

But he loved it.

He needed to make time to see her.

He tucked the phone away, leaned on the armrest,and took another sip of his drink while watching the dance floor below.

Just as he was sipping his drink, his eyes widened in disbelief.

He blinked, and then squinted to confirm.

Was that...Millie?

His expression darkened. If Brandon saw this...

He quickly put down his glass and rushed out.

But just as he stepped into the hallway, the door to the neighboring private room opened.

Alexia stepped out, smiling. "Seville, while Giffard's in the bathroom, I'm heading downstairs to join Millie.

Want to come-"

She stopped mid-sentence.

"You?" she and Darden said in unison.

Without a word, Darden strode past her and peeked into the room she just came out from.

Inside, the male escorts were dancing awkwardly alongside a rotund man in flashy clothing.

Darden's expression turned stormy.

So this was what Millie and Alexia were up to.

Drinking,partying, and surrounding themselves with escorts?

If Brandon found out...

"What do you think you're doing?" Alexia snapped,trying to shut the door.

Darden blocked it. "Did you bring Millie here? You're having too much fun,missy!"

Alexia shot back, "What's wrong with it? If you're allowed to be here, why can't we be?"

She and Darden had known each other since childhood. They weren't close, but they'd crossed paths enough over the years.

Alexia had heard enough about Brandon and Darden's regular nights out to resent them both.

And Brandon often mentioned how Alexia and Millie were always scheming together.

So this meeting was like a spark to dry tinder. It was like enemies reuniting.

"We come here to drink and blow off steam. You think this is the same?" Darden growled.

"It's exactly the same!" Alexia fired back. "We're free women. What's wrong with dancing and a little eye candy?"

"You want to come, fine. But don't drag Mille into it,"he snapped, trying to push past her.

"Don't you dare!" she said, grabbing his arm. "Leave Millie alone!"

"Alexia!" Darden barked. The two of them were now fully arguing in the hallway.

···

Meanwhile, Brandon had parked in the lounge's underground garage.

He sat for a moment, staring at the street through the windshield.

The day had drained him more than he expected.

When he checked his phone, it was already past Just three more hours, and the day would finally be over.

He got out of the car and made his way inside the club.

The heavy music hit him instantly.

The crowd danced without inhibition as lights flashed rhythmically.

He moved past the dance floor toward the stairs. But just as his eyes swept over the crowd, something stopped him cold.

A woman in the middle of the dance floor. She was laughing,her hair bouncing as she danced.

Brandon froze.Millie?

What was she doing here?

And on the dance floor...smiling like that?