NovelBarShe couldn't even bear to look at him.
One moment they were all over each other, hot and heavy, and the next they were sitting across a negotiation table. It felt weirdly
complicated.
Hooking up wasn't something she'd seen coming.
Sure, she was into Brandon's bod, but she hadn't planned on going there with him again.
But when he leaned in for that kiss, she definitely didn't put up much of a fight against temptation.
All it took was a little sweet talk or a touch of tenderness from Brandon, and she was putty in his hands.
Even though she knew this was the case, when it was confirmed once more, Sophia felt a whirlwind of emotions—frustrated,
defeated, and a tad bit of self-loathing.
Brandon caught the hint of resignation in her expression.
"Do you regret it?" he asked, his voice totally even.
Sophia shook her head slightly. "Nope."
"Just feels a bit awkward, that's all," she murmured.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhat's done is done. Regret wasn't the word. She had enjoyed herself and didn't feel shortchanged. It was more about kicking
herself for not keeping it together.
"It was mutual, nothing to be embarrassed about," Brandon pointed out. "And it's not like it's our first rodeo."
Sophia, hand to her forehead, silently turned her head away. "Can we not talk about this anymore?"
She really didn't want to hash this out in a setting that felt like a business meeting, even though the subject matter was anything
but business-like.
"Okay."
Brandon nodded, his hands slowly intertwined on the table as he watched her.
He saw her looking down, too ashamed to face him, and the words he'd been about to say got stuck in his throat.
Ever since she'd wished him luck on his blind date after work, saying she hoped he'd find someone right for him, he'd been fuming
internally. That simmering anger had grown from her indifference in the elevator to her nonchalance at the park gate and had
ballooned when she witnessed him with another woman at dinner, still unfazed. Her casual goodbye had finally snapped his last
shred of reason.
Without regard for her wishes, the surprised looks from passersby, he'd dragged her back, his rationale burned to ashes, hell-bent
on tearing through her cool indifference. Yet, this near-insane urge turned into an indescribable ache at the sight of her tears, a
turmoil of emotions that he tried to suppress with each tear she shed.
"Sophia," he finally broke the silence, "do you really not care at all?"
Sophia blinked, then realized what he was getting at.
She pursed her lips slightly, then looked at him. "I thought it would be for the best."
"We get married to others, start new lives, have our own families, and cut ties. To you, is that the best outcome?"
He looked at her, questioning, his calmness almost chilling.
"No strings attached, no entanglements," said Sophia softly, looking up at him. "Isn't that what you wanted too?"
"l can't deny I've had those thoughts," Brandon admitted, his gaze steady. "For a long time, I've been trying to shake off your hold
on me. The last thing | need is emotional baggage, so I've been clamping down on my feelings with logic. | don't force anyone's
hand. You wanted a divorce, | obliged. Going back to being single isn't a big deal, just a matter of getting used to it. If you didn't
want to get tangled up with me, I'd let go. It's not like | haven't done that before."
Sophia listened quietly as he candidly shared the reasons behind each the decisively turned away. Even though she knew them
already, hearing them out loud still made her heart twinge as if something had snagged it.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmKnowing your own mess is one thing, but seeing it through someone else's eyes is a whole different ball game.
She didn't want to keep listening, didn't want to face the raw truth of their two-year marriage's downfall.
"I get it," she interrupted calmly, a faint smile on her lips. There was no anger or sadness, just serene acceptance.
She glanced at the balcony outside. "It's getting late. | should head back."
After a brief nod of apology, she pushed back her chair to stand.
But then her hand resting on the table was suddenly pinned down.
Brandon's palm stretched across the table, pressing firmly on the back of her hand.
He didn't stand, just looked at her with calm and steady eyes. "No, you don't know."
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