The days passed in a blur. For the first time in a long time, I could breathe. Sabrina’s trial had finally begun. The headlines were filled with her downfall–evidence of her crimes, her attempt to have me killed, her obsession with Elias, and the lengths she had gone to eliminate me from his life.
She was finished. And Elias?
He was furious. Not just about Sabrina. Not just about the trial. But because of Brandon. Because his company–his empire–was no longer his. Because no matter how many times he tried to contact me, no matter how many times he tried to see me-
I never answered. Not once. I had nothing to say to him. I was done looking back. Instead, I focused on something else-
Healing. I started therapy. I started rebuilding myself, piece by broken piece, forcing myself to become okay again.
I needed to be strong when I finally stepped into the public eye as Brandon Morrison’s future wife.
The idea had once seemed impossible. But now?
Now, I was realizing… It wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Especially with how much Jasmine loved teasing me about it.
I sat on the couch, rolling my eyes as Jasmine wiggled her eyebrows at me.
‘Come on,” she said, poking my shoulder. “You like him.”
I scoffed. “No, I don’t.”
‘Yes, you do.”
‘Jasmine.”
She smirked. “You used to like him. And now you’re going to marry him. Full circle.”
I huffed, crossing my arms. “It’s not real.”
Jasmine gasped dramatically. “Not real?! Oh, sweetheart, tell that to the way you look at him.”
I glared. She grinned.
And then–Before I could stop myself-
I sighed.
And muttered, “Fine.”
Jasmine’s eyes lit up.
“Fine, what?” she asked, leaning forward.
I groaned. “Fine. I like him. Happy now?”
Jasmine squealed, clapping her hands together. “I knew it!”
I shook my head, fighting a smile. Jasmine was about to say something else-
But then she froze. Her eyes darted to the doorway.
5:34 pm
I frowned. “What?”
Then I felt it. That presence. I turned and my stomach dropped.
Brandon. Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, smirk firmly in place.
Oh, hell no.
I immediately stood up. “How long have you been standing there?”
Brandon shrugged lazily. “Long enough.”
Jasmine grinned. “Perfect.”
I turned to glare at her. “You knew he was there, didn’t you?”
She just winked. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”
And then she ran.
I groaned. “Jasmine!”
But it was too late. She was gone. And I was alone with Brandon.
I refused to look at him. I grabbed my phone. Pretended to scroll. Pretended to breathe normally. But I could feel him watching me.
He was enjoying this way too much.
After a moment-
“You like me, huh?”
I clenched my jaw. “I’m ignoring you.”
Brandon chuckled. “Are you, though?”
I glared at the ceiling. “Go away.”
‘Nope.”
I sighed. “Brandon-”
‘Say it again.”
I looked at him. “Excuse me?”
He smirked. “Say it again. You like me.”
I stood up so fast my chair scraped against the floor. “You are impossible.”
Brandon followed, stepping closer. “And yet,” he murmured, “you like me anyway.”
I opened my mouth-
But I had nothing to say.
Because he was right.
I did.
I had always liked him.
And right now?
Right now, he was looking at me like he knew it.
Like he had always known. My heart pounded. His smirk faded slightly.
2/3
77.2%
The teasing turned into something else. Something charged.
Brandon took another step forward. We were too close now. I could feel his breath… see the way his chest rose and fell.
I should have stepped away. I should have stopped this.
But I didn’t.
Instead-
I grabbed his shirt.
And I kissed him.
Brandon froze. For a split second, neither of us moved.
Then-
He kissed me back. It was slow at first. Gentle. Almost like he was testing something.
But then his hands found my waist and the kiss deepened.
His grip tightened and I melted.
I pressed myself closer, my fingers tangling in his hair. Brandon groaned against my lips, hi hand sliding up my back, pulling me even closer.
This was dangerous. This was insane.
But I didn’t care. Not anymore.
For the first time in a long time- I wasn’t thinking about Elias.
Or revenge. Or pain.
was thinking about this.
About him.
And I didn’t want to stop.
Not now.
Not ever.
