Chapter 174

Millie didn't dwell on much-she focused on her food,occasionally chatting with Giffard about memories from their childhood or Ari's upcoming surgery.

Meanwhile, Brandon sat in his office with his eyes closed, trying to ignore the dull ache in his stomach.

Not far from him, Eugene finished his second meal and let out a loud, satisfied burp.

The day passed quickly.

By the time the markets closed, Watson Group hadn't been hit with any major drama. That alone made the day feel calm.

Even though their stock was still dipping, most people felt things would bounce back in no time.

Everyone agreed on one thing-Watson Group had strong,reliable tech. That was their real backbone.

As long as there weren't any new disasters, the market would regain confidence.

Plus, a new product line was on the way. Watson Group never released anything unimpressive, and the anticipation alone would be enough to nudge the stock upwards again.

Later on, Eugene helped Vivian double-check that she hadn't bought any Watson Group shares, which gave Brandon a small moment of peace.

Still, even after the official announcement denying that Vivian's livestream was tied to the company,no one really bought it. Too many rumors had linked her to Brandon.

As a result, the company's public image had taken a serious hit.

People in the industry whispered and mocked behind closed doors.

Those jabs weren't online or broadcasted-they were private, quiet, and brutal. Enough to leave a permanent dent in Brandon's pride.

And Millie-her face kept flashing through his mind.His head felt like it might explode.

That was before Derek and Norma barged in. Derek didn't even bother with words at first-he raised his cane and landed a few sharp whacks on Brandon.

"Look at the nonsense that Vivian's stirred up!" Derek shouted. "Millie was with this company for seven years.Seven! And she never caused a scene-she cleaned up after others! But this Vivian-she's not even part of the company and has already dragged its name through the dirt. My friends are calling to ask if I've lost my mind.Some even told me to get checked for brain damage. You've shamed the Watson name,Brandon! Open your eyes and see that girl for who she is!" Derek unleashed his anger without restraint,scolding Brandon right there in front of everyone like it was nothing.

He swung his cane over and over like Brandon's image meaning nothing to him.

And it wasn't just Derek. The major shareholders were clearly fed up, and the foreign partners didn't bother hiding their disdain either-Egbert, especially, was ruthless in his criticism. "I came yesterday to scare you a little," he said, "but Brandon, your handling of all this is embarrassing. Thank God Millie left when she did-at least she doesn't have to share this disgrace.Oh,right. Maybe it's because she left that we're seeing the real you now. It all makes sense-Millie must've been the one covering for you. She's the reason you've made it this far. Now that she's out of the picture,you've crumbled like paper."

Even Darden chimed in, sending Brandon a sarcastic meme.He didn't say much, but the message was clear.

It was blow after blow. Brandon hadn't been hit this hard even when Millie slapped him in public or when Egbert's unexpected visit caught him off guard

This was worse. It burned deeper.

So, that day,he left the office early.

And when they drove past the mall, he suddenly asked the driver to pull over.

He remembered the puppy plushie Ari really adored and always carried with her.

With that in mind, Brandon stepped out of the car and walked into the mall.

He wondered if she liked anything else from that cartoon series-maybe something with sparkles. Little girls always liked sparkling things, didn't they?

As he browsed through rows of plush toys, one caught his eye. It was a huge, soft-looking puppy plushie-way bigger than the one Ari had.

Just as he reached for it, another hand got there first.

Brandon looked up. Myron. He was smiling as he picked up the plush toy like he'd just won a prize.

When he noticed Brandon, Myron gave a nod."Brandon, you're here too."

Brandon gave a nod back. He remembered what Darden had mentioned recently-some gossip about Myron dating a mystery woman.

It had made headlines the same day Brandon's name hit the top of the scumbag list.

Myron didn't say much. He just glanced around and spotted something behind Brandon. "Excuse me,could you move?" he asked.

Brandon stepped aside without saying a word and watched him pick up a hat with cute puppy ears.

"| heard you're chasing a woman," Brandon said,without really thinking

Myron adjusted the things in his hands and smiled."Yeah. She has a daughter who loves these. Cute little girl."

Brandon stared at him.it worth it?"

Myron didn't go looking for anything else. He just smiled.

They both knew what Brandon meant.

With Myron's status, he could easily choose someone younger, someone from a respected family. Not a woman with a child. Not someone carrying another man's name in her past.

"I really like her," Myron said after a few seconds. "I want her so badly, it messes with my sleep at night.She used to be married, and her heart was full of another man. But that's okay. I waited. I've been waiting for a long time, like a shadow just out of sight,watching quietly. Now, I finally have my chance. Her ex didn't treasure her, and really, I should thank him.He gave me this chance. She's divorced now, so I can finally chase her as openly as I want."

Brandon frowned slightly. Myron still had that calm,gentlemanly smile on his face.

"I don't get it," Brandon said.

"I know," Myron replied. His voice stayed even, but there was something intense in his eyes.

"Because you've never known what it means to ache for someone you can't have, never carried the sharp weight of wanting, never been swallowed by that slow,burning madness called jealousy. Everything came easy to you. So of course, you wouldn't understand."

Myron raised the items slightly. "I've thought everything through, step by step. And finally, she's warming up to me. She hasn't accepted me or my

feelings yet, but her daughter likes me. She even likes my cat. That's a good start and enough to keep me going."

Brandon's eyes dropped to the plushie in Myron's hand.

He had come here to buy that exact toy-for Ari.

The little girl Myron mentioned also liked that same cartoon character?

Brandon shot Myron a curious look, but Myron was already looking down, tapping at his phone.

Then he held the screen up for Brandon to see.

On it was the latest trending entertainment headline -#MillieVivianBetAgreement

The leaked document showed the agreement Derek had handed them.

Millie's section had been blurred. But Vivian's part was clear-it said if she outperformed Millie, she'd officially become Brandon's wife.

The Internet was already in chaos.