Chapter 9
The legal process was still dragging on.
I had left the city center behind for a new start in a bustling city,
My old colleagues kept me updated, telling me that Jenna was still fixated on Brandon, waiting for him outside the office every day after work.
After the video leak, Brandon’s reputation at the company took a serious nosedive.
My departure also created some headaches for the business; several long–term clients 1 had managed decided to end their contracts after mine expired.
As a result, Brandon was feeling overwhelmed.
Watching the company we built together crumble made my heart feel heavy.
The man sitting across from me noticed my distraction and said thoughtfully, “Do you want some help? Not for him, but for your old company.”
I politely shook my head. “No, thank you.”
Noah Taylor, sensing my refusal, didn’t press me further but asked if I wanted to go to a concert the next night.
As I looked at the front–row tickets he handed me, I remembered that my favorite singer was performing nearby tomorrow.
Back when Brandon and I had just graduated, my favorite artist had a concert in another city, and we were too broke to buy tickets, so we listened from outside the venue.
We had promised each other that one day when we had money, we would sit front row.
But as time went on and our financial situation improved, he never made good on that promise.
I agreed to Noah’s invitation to the concert.
After the show, I unexpectedly ran into a familiar face.
Brandon’s eyes lit up when he saw me. “Sylvia, you came!*
Noah instinctively stepped in front of me, shielding me from him.
I gently tugged at his sleeve. “It’s fine. He’s just a stranger. Let’s go.” Taking Noah’s hand, I walked away without looking back.
Six months after successfully getting my divorce decree, I received a call from a number in the city center.
An emergency room doctor told me that Brandon had been in a serious car accident while arguing with his girlfriend. He was badly injured and wanted to talk to me before going into
surgery.
Fearing rejection if he called me himself, he asked the doctor to reach out.
I told the doctor, “He’s got the wrong number. I don’t know that person.”
Later, mutual acquaintances informed me that Brandon had survived the accident but was
Love Ends, Freedom Awaits
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