Days passed, and staying in the secluded summer house with Brandon felt suffocating.
He was always there. Watching. Waiting. Not that he talked much–Brandon was a man of fev words. But I felt his stare every time I moved. His presence lingered like a shadow, silent and steady, impossible to ignore.
And when he did speak? It was never anything useful.
A smirk here. A smug remark there. Subtle little jabs, carefully placed just to get under my skin. ike when I was making coffee one morning, trying to focus on the news, and he leaned agains he counter beside me, way too close.
You always make two cups,” he observed. “Force of habit?”
tensed. I had made two cups. Out of routine. Out of years of marriage. I cursed myself for the nistake, grabbing the second mug and dumping it down the sink.
Brandon just chuckled. “Touchy subject?”
shot him a glare. “Go away.”
But he didn’t.
Or when I was reading a book by the window, finally enjoying some silence, and he casually
lopped down beside me, stretching his long legs out.
You always get that serious little crease between your eyebrows when you read,” he mused.
snapped the book shut. “Brandon-”
Cute,” he smirked. “But intense.”
huffed, standing up. He just laughed.
mug bastard.
ignored him. I had bigger things to worry about.
lias, Sabrina, Patty, I had been monitoring the news closely. The headlines were exactly what
vanted to see.
Rock values plummet for Elias Raines‘ company amid scandal
Public losing trust in CEO after failure to recover kidnapped daughter
Laines Corporation on the brink of bankruptcy
i slow, satisfied smile curled at my lips. This was what I had been waiting for. Elias’s entire impire was crumbling And it had been weeks now since Patty’s disappearance.
By next week, I would instruct my men to return her. I never intended to keep her forever. She was ust a pawn–a way to make Elias and Sabrina suffer the way I had suffered
And soon, it would all come to an end I was still watching the news, my fingers tapping against my knee, when my phone rang
Jasmine.
picked up immediately. “What is it?”
Jasmine’s voice was urgent. “Elias’s been outside my house for days”
5:29 pm
I sat up straighter. “What?”
“He’s waiting for you.” She sounded both irritated and concerned. “He’s convinced I’m hiding you Even after I told him to get lost.”
My stomach twisted, but I forced my voice to stay neutral. “So tell him to leave.”
“I did.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Then why are you calling me?”
“Because he’s not leaving.” Jasmine snapped. “Veronica, he’s been standing in the rain for hour now. He looks-” She hesitated. “He looks miserable.”
scoffed. “Oh, poor Elias.”
Veronica, I’m serious.”
Jasmine sent me a video.
clicked on it, and for a moment, my breath hitched.
Elias stood outside her house, soaked to the bone, rain dripping from his hair, his suit completel
uined.
But it was his expression that made my chest tighten.
He looked… broken.
Dark circles framed his tired eyes, his shoulders were slumped, and there was no trace of the cold, arrogant man I had once known.
He was just waiting.
Waiting for me.
swallowed the lump in my throat, shoving down the sudden wave of emotions.
But the rain-
The way it poured down around him, the way he stood there, refusing to move-
t brought back a memory.
A night, years ago. We had been caught in a thunderstorm on our way home. I had shrieked when the rain started falling, trying to run for cover, but Elias had grabbed my wrist, laughing. “Why are you running?” he had asked, eyes glinting with mischief.
had gaped at him. “Because we’re going to get soaked, you idiot!”
He had only grinned, spinning me into his arms. “So?”
had barely had time to protest before he started dancing.
Right there, in the middle of the empty street, under the rain.
I had laughed, swatting at his chest. “Elias, you’re insane-
But then he had lifted my hand, twirling me around, his voice warm and teasing. “Dance with me, Veronica.”
And I had. Because in that moment, drenched and breathless, I had never loved anyone more.
The memory hit me like a punch to the gut. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself back to the present. That man–the one who had danced with me in the rain–was gone. And I would never let myself
Chantera
5:29 pm
forget that.
I tightened my grip on my phone, my voice cold.
“Tell him to go home,” I said firmly.
Jasmine sighed. “That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
She let out a frustrated groan. “Fine. But I don’t think he’s leaving anytime soon.”
I ended the call before she could say anything else.
I shouldn’t care. I didn’t care.
Elias could stand in the rain until his company completely collapsed for all I cared. He deserved it. Every second of pain, every ounce of desperation–he deserved all of it.
And yet… I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away.
When I turned, I nearly jumped. Brandon was leaning against the kitchen counter, watching me.
His arms were crossed over his broad chest, his sharp blue eyes locked onto mine.
“How long have you been standing there?” I demanded.
Brandon shrugged. “Long enough.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Eavesdropping isn’t polite, you know.”
He smirked. “Neither is kidnapping a child.”
My jaw clenched. “I didn’t kidnap her.”
He raised a brow. “Really?”
I crossed my arms. “She was never in danger.”
Brandon didn’t argue. He just studied me, his expression unreadable.
Then-
Out of nowhere, he said, “What do you say about marrying me?”
My heart stopped.
I blinked. “What?”
Brandon didn’t look away. His smirk had faded, replaced by something more serious.
“Marry me.”
5:30 pm
I laughed. Loud. Unapologetic.
