Chapter 75

Vivian lowered her head again, her voice trembling as she forced out a cry. "Brandon, I'm okay now. I really don't want to see a doctor."

Brandon frowned. "Your health isn't great. Seeing a doctor might help ease things a little."

The doctor beside them gave a small nod.

He'd heard about Vivian's illness-who hadn't? The media had been all over it, and he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Vivian managed a weak smile. "It's fine. I'll just take some painkillers."

Then she added in a low voice, laced with dry humor,"What's one more day or one less? It doesn't change much anymore."

She looked over at Brandon again.

He didn't meet her gaze. Instead, he waved the doctor off and helped her up from the couch, walking her toward the bedroom.

This has nothing to do with you. he said flatly I'm just exhausted from handling my grandparents today Im really not in the mood You need to rast So get some proper sleep

He called the caregiver who had stepped out when the doctor arrived back in

"Take care of her. Brandon instructed.

The caregiver didn't reply right away and instead looked to Vivian. uncertain.

Vivian held on to Brandon with her eyes.

He reached out and patted her gently on the head.

"I can't let my grandparents know i'm here. I'll come by when i can," Brandon said.

Vivian knew better than to keep pretending now. She couldn't risk him calling the doctor back.

So she turned her face to the side and kept up the image of being hurt

Brandon gave one last reminder to the caregiver and turned to leave

But just as he reached the door. Vivian's voice drifted after him, soft and bitter "I don't know what she said to you tonight... but Brandon. I just want to know you really feel. Is the issue with the child really sottled?Who's that child? She's using your grandparents-and the child-to reel you back in. Are you really going to let her?"

Brandon paused for a heartbeat. But he didn't turn around. He kept walking. The door closed quietly behind him.

Vivian clenched her jaw as she looked at the caregiver, who was quietly tidying up nearby. She flung whatever she could grab in frustration.

How humiliating!

She had practically thrown herself at him-standing completely naked in front of him-yet he still wouldn't touch her.

It was totally unacceptable.

She couldn't let the Watson family keep pulling Brandon back to Millie.

Her thoughts spun quickly, and within seconds, she picked up her phone and made a call.

Brandon left the apartment building, walked out into the night, and slid into the driver's seat of his Bentley.But he didn't drive off right away.

He lit a cigarette, rolled down the window,and stared into the drifting smoke as it curled into the air.

That event a year ago... he still didn't feel like thinking about it.

The incident had changed so many things.

Vivian's parting words kept repeating in his mind.

His head began to ache, and he pressed his fingers into his temples.

Brandon knew Vivian sometimes went too far. He wasn't blind to it.

But she only had six months left.

After that... after she was gone, things would go back to how they used to be.

The cigarette burned down to the filter.

Brandon flicked it out, picked up his phone, and called Darden. Then he started the engine.

At Blue Lounge, the music throbbed through the floor and spilled into the streets.

Inside one of the dark, private rooms, Brandon sat quietly, separated from the crowd below, watching them dance to the rhythm. The door opened, and Darden walked in.

"Drinking alone now?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Brandon gestured to the table beside him,where a glass, a bucket of ice, and a few unopened bottles waited.

Darden took the seat next to him, and Brandon quietly poured him a drink.

Neither of them sat on the cushy leather couch. They both leaned against the low-lit bar counter.

"What happened?" Darden asked after a sip. "I heard your grandpa called you back to Moonlit Estate with Millie?"

"Yeah." Brandon stared down at the ice in his glass before looking out over the dancing crowd.

"That what's got you all worked up?" Darden pressed,tilting his glass.

Brandon didn't answer right away.

His head was a mess-Millie's tears, Vivian's breakdown... All of it tangled and heavy in his thoughts.

Almost without meaning to, Brandon asked, "That woman you talked about last time-what's going on with you guys that now?"

Darden, who had been waiting for Brandon to open up,was disappointed.

"Oh,so we're talking about me now? Trying to feel better by laughing at my drama?"

Brandon didn't say anything. He hadn't meant it that way. It had just slipped out.

Seeing Brandon distracted, Darden let it go and downed another sip before continuing, "It's still a mess. She's still freezing me out. I mean, I might not run something as big as Watson Group, but I'm still the heir to my family's company. She can't keep treating me like I'm nothing. I've tried everything. Flowers,designer bags, apology notes, her favorite food..nothing gets through. Booked a table at her favorite place-Michelin-starred, mind you-she didn't even show up. Whenever I call, she's busy. Whenever | text,no reply. She's making sure I feel it."

Then he sighed, sounding more tired than angry now.

Rubbing his head, Darden finally said, "I get it. It's about that McCoy girl. I was dumb. I shouldn't have gone shopping with her. Now Alyssa's making sure l learn my lesson."

Brandon listened,watching the dancers.Darden's situation wasn't that different from his point of view.

Vivian's voice echoed in his mind again. "Have you sorted out the issue with the child? Is the issue with the child really settled? Who's that child? She's using your grandparents-and the child-to reel you back in.Are you really going to let her?"

He had told Millie nothing would change, and she would still be his wife six months later. She could've just waited quietly for these six months to pass. She could've even left the country for a while. Instead,she chose to behave this way.

Maybe she was trying to raise her value in the long run.Make sure that when they got married again, it would be under her terms.

And the child-whether it was his or not-was the biggest lever. His grandparents would insist on seeing the child,and Millie knew that.

She knew the reason behind their rushed marriage.She also knew what the loss of their baby had done to him.

Brandon's eyes darkened.

She was clever. Calculated.

He had almost fallen for it.

The next morning came quickly.

Millie went through the clothes she had stored away here and found a simple, elegant dress.

After freshening up, she made her way toward Derek and Norma's villa.

But just as she reached the path leading to the door,Brandon's car pulled up.

Not wanting another scene, she picked up her pace.

"Millie!" She had barely moved when Brandon pulled in,stepped out, and came to stand quietly at her side.

She didn't answer and kept walking towards the house.

In the next second, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her off the path, into the woods. He pressed her back against a tree. And then, without a word, he kissed her -hard.

"Brandon, what are you doing..." she started,but the rest of her words disappeared beneath his lips.