Chapter 337
Summer’s POV
Something was definitely up with Brandon.
For the past few days, I’d noticed him acting strangely–taking calls i hushed tones, disappearing into his study for hours, and exchanging cryptic glances with Dr. Sean, who’d been visiting our Hamptons estate way more frequently than usual. The twe of them clearly had some secret they weren’t sharing, and it was starting to drive me crazy.
I was determined to get to the bottom of it, so I headed to Brandon study, where I knew the two of them were holed up. As I approached, I heard their myffled voices through the door, but they fell silent the moment I knocked.
When I pushed the door open, the scene before me was almost comical. Dr. Sean stood abruptly from his chair, looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Brandon sat behind his desk, bis expression carefully controlled.
“Oh! Hey there, sis!” Dr. Sean exclaimed, his voice unnaturally high. Just, uh, messing around with your husband! You know how we do!”
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“I was actually just leaving,” he said, gathering his things with suspicious speed. “Got a surgery scheduled in…” he checked his watch dramatically, “…an hour ago! Shit, gotta run!”
As he brushed past me, he clasped Brandon’s shoulder firmly. “Remember what I said, man. Tell her.”
And with that cryptic parting statement, he was gone, leaving me standing in the doorway, thoroughly confused.
“What was that about?” I asked, crossing my arms as I approached Brandon’s desk.
Brandon shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “He’s having a moment. You know how he gets.”
“Yeah, right,” I scoffed, not buying it for a second. “What were you two talking about?”
Brandon’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly, but I knew him well enough to notice. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“It’s nothing major,” he said finally. “There’s just… something I should probably mention to you.”
I perched on the edge of his desk, heart starting to pound. “What is it? Why all the mystery?”
Instead of answering, Brandon stood and took my hand. “Come with me.”
He led me out of the study and upstairs to our bedroom, closing the door behind us. The seriousness of his demeanor was making
me nervous.
“Brandon,” I said softly as he guided me to sit on the edge of the bed “What’s going on? Did something happen?”
He sat beside me, his eyes searching mine. “Before I tell you, I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything,” I responded automatically.
“No matter what anyone says to you in the coming days, trust me. Okay?”
My stomach dropped. Whatever this was, it wasn’t good. “Brandon, you’re scaring me. Just tell me what’s happening.”
“We’re married,” he said, his voice steady and assured. “You’re my wife. Nothing changes that”
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Chapter 337
“I know,” I replied, confused by the sudden declaration. ‘Brandon, please, just tell me what’s going on.”
He took a deep breath. “Tomorrow, you might meet someone.”
I waited, my anxiety building with each passing second.
“Her name is Lyanna York,” he continued finally. “She’s… an old acquaintance. The woman the Stark family once intended for me to
marry.”
The room seemed to tilt slightly. I felt my fingers tighten in his, my face draining of color as the implications hit me.
“She’s back?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “And let me guess–your family wants you to be with her instead of me? Is that why you couldn’t come with me to my father’s birthday party?”
Brandon nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to think rationally. “But you came to find me that night anyway, I said, remembering how he’d shown up at the Taylor mansion. “And regardless of what your family wants, you married me. Whether they approve or not, I’m your wife, and all I need is your acknowledgment of that, right?”
Brandon’s eyebrows rose slightly, surprise flickering across his features. He’d clearly expected a different reaction–tears, maybe, or
anger.
“You’re not upset?” he asked cautiously.
I laughed softly, though it came out a bit strained. “Oh, I’m upset. How could I not be? But I’m upset because I care. You chose to tell me about this instead of hiding it, and while I’m not thrilled, I do understand.”
I moved closer to him, resting my hand on his chest. “Look, at your age, it would be weird if you didn’t have a past. I have one too, and you know all about it. I’m a normal woman–of course I’m jealous and upset. But that was your past, right? You chose me now, which means you’ve moved on from whatever was between you two. You’re completely mine now, right?”
“Yes,” Brandon answered firmly.
I exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving my body. “See? Now I know, I’ve had my little moment of anger, and you don’t need to keep looking so grim.”
Suddenly, something he’d said earlier caught up with me. “Wait, you said I might meet her tomorrow. What does that mean exactly?”
When Brandon didn’t immediately respond, a terrible thought crossed my mind. “She’s not coming to the company, is she?”
His continued silence confirmed my suspicion. I stared at him in growing disbelief.
“Your grandfather arranged this, didn’t he?”
More silence.
“Please don’t tell me your grandfather managed to get her a position as your secretary or something!”
Brandon’s face remained expressionless, which told me everything I needed to know.
“Oh my God, he actually did?” I threw my hands up in exasperation. “Your grandfather is too much! Why does he dislike me so intensely? I barely know the man!”
I paced across the room, piecing it together. “I get it. He thinks if she works closely with you, she’ll have a chance to win you back. But what he doesn’t realize is…” I turned back to Brandon with a confident smile, “you are already mine.”
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Brandon’s lips twitched upwa at my metaphor.
“I’m seriously pissed off, you know,” I continued, returning to sit beside him. “But when I think about it–she may have been your fiancée once, but she never becne your wife. I’m your wife. My name is in the spouse column on your documents. So I guess I don’t really have anything to be angry about, unless you decide you don’t want me anymore. No one can take you from me!‘
I grabbed his hands, squeezing them tightly. “Say it. Say you’re mine
“I’m yours, Brandon replied without hesitation, his eyes never leaving mine.
“And if I couldn’t handle even this much, I wouldn’t deserve to stand beside you,” I added softly. “But that doesn’t mean I’m thrilled about having her hanging around you all day. You better behave yourself!”
“I’ve already instructed Monica to give her the more tedious, detailed work,” Brandon assured me. “And you know how many secretaries I have–Monica is the only one who can enter my office.”
I felt my shoulders relax a bit. “Well, that’s something at least.”
As Brandon pulled me closer, I couldn’t help the whisper of doubt that lingered in my mind. “Brandon,” I thought silently, “you know I’ve been betrayed once before. Please don’t let it happen a second time.”
Brandon’s eyes darkened as he leaned in. “The night is short, my love,” he murmured against my ear.
I closed my eyes and let him hold me, pushing away my fears for another day.
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