Chapter 111

The whole ride there, Brandon just kept his cool, driving in silence, not much chatter.

When they pulled up at the hotel entrance, Brandon hopped out and hauled Sophia’s suitcase down for her.

Sophia grabbed her suitcase, flashed a smile, and bid Brandon farewell.

“When you heading back?” Brandon asked.

“In a few days, I guess.” Sophia replied, still uncertain, since it all hinged on how Haley was bouncing back.

Brandon nodded, “If you need anything, give Kent a buzz.”

“Will do,” Sophia nodded back.

She gestured to the hotel lobby behind her, “Well, I’m gonna head back in.”

Brandon returned the nod, watched her enter the hotel, and didn’t move until she vanished around the elevator corner. Then he spun around and got back into his car.

Sitting in the car, he was wrapped in silence, not speeding off just yet.

The window was down, the night wind was whooshing, fluttering his hair..

Right across was the river.

River Song in the West district meandered from west to east, broad and silent. Every once in a while, you could spot a night cruise ship rumbling by.

Brandon watched the slowly receding ship, his mind at peace, the kind of calm that settled after reason had had its say.

He could totally relate to Kent’s words, longing for the old Brandon, the even-tempered one, unflappable by anything or anyone at any time.

him missed that

over anyone, not tormented

comfort of coming home to her, the fullness in his heart

to force things. Since Sophia chose to go solo, respecting her decision was the best way to honor what

was over, then

his stomach at the thought.

a hand to his abdomen, glanced up at the brightly lit hotel, fired up the

window, watching that familiar black sedan slowly drive away.

the second floor, not too high, giving her a clear view of

the curtains when she noticed Brandon’s

his pause in the car, his calm, indifferent profile, and his eventual departure. She couldn’t quite name the feeling in her heart a sour, tingling discomfort. After all, he was the man she’d secretly adored for so many years.

of things fade with time and distance. Out of sight,

when close, she couldn’t

just

keeping her distance, cutting off contact, or even avoiding meeting was the best exit strategy

life back

she hadn’t known about Haley’s situation before coming back, she hadn’t booked a return flight and was staying at

visited Haley at the hospital like clockwork during the day and rushed home at night to work on the resort design. Her daily routine was busy

ago and hadn’t warmed up to Sophia, who didn’t pay much mind

to it.

kid, Sophia had yearned for maternal love and

motherly affection was simply to be good, sensible, obedient, and academically successful

be a worry

a sign she wasn’t doing well enough, which

wasn’t her biological mother and blamed herself for not being good enough, which

for a long

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