Chapter 982 Do You Want to Wait for Sam to Introduce a Girlfriend to You?
Penelope, usually the one fretting the most, found herself tongue-tied and unsure how to handle the situation.
"Congrats... seriously, congrats," she finally blurted out after a pause. "I've always said life's long and full of chances. You'll find the right person for sure!"
Brandon just gave a small smile.
He glanced at Kelvin, hesitating to speak.
With Kelvin around, some things were better left unsaid.
But Kelvin wasn't going anywhere.
He wasn't about to let Brandon and Penelope have a moment alone.
Just as the tension in the room started to build, a phone rang.
Kelvin checked his phone; it was his call.
"I gotta take this," he said, messing up Penelope's hair before stepping aside.
He didn't go far.
He could still know what was happening.
This way, Brandon and Penelope had a bit of space to talk, but Kelvin could still watch their every move and expression.
"What's on your mind? Spill it," Penelope said, noticing his hesitation. "With Kelvin here, it might've been tough."
"Honestly, it doesn't matter if he hears. It's just that with him around, some things are hard to say."
Penelope looked at him. "I'm not the right match for you. Isabella wasn't cut out to be a society wife, but you found Thessaly. Brandon, she's really amazing—smart, beautiful, capable, and with a clean slate. About that issue... I think you know deep down."
Since Brandon had confessed, it meant he didn't care about Thessaly's past.
Love could heal everything.
"Yeah, her past doesn't bother me. What matters is our future together. Plus, she got caught up in it; she's a victim too."
Penelope asked, "Do you hate Paul?"
Brandon sighed.
"Penelope, a lot of things in this world aren't just about love or hate. There's no clear right or wrong. Paul's a jerk; he could've stopped all this, but he chose to be the villain."
"But... what's done is done. Even if Paul were to die to make up for it, it wouldn't change anything."
"Instead, the movie would stop filming, and my investment would be wasted. Not just mine, but everyone's hard work in the crew would go down the drain."
"Besides," Brandon added, "Thessaly chose to keep filming. I think she sees it the same way I do."
Penelope nodded. "Right. Brandon, I'll only ask you this once. From now on, I won't bring it up again. I hope you and Thessaly can put it behind you. I really wish you and Thessaly... a happy marriage soon."
"Let's not mention it; it's all in the past."
Brandon replied openly and naturally.
His laid-back attitude made Penelope feel a bit petty.
After a moment, she said, "About us, I want to tell you that we were both out cold that night, and nothing happened between us."
She spoke with certainty, without a hint of doubt or questioning.
She shouldn't have told Brandon, but waiting for the truth and evidence to come out would be too late.
Penelope figured that since Brandon was with Thessaly now, it was best to clear the air.
To save Brandon from any unnecessary guilt.
What Penelope didn't catch was the brief flicker of surprise on Brandon's face.
Just for a second! Then he was back to his usual self.
"We... nothing happened? Penelope, are you sure?" Brandon asked, a bit taken aback.
"I'm sure, and Kelvin is too."
"Did you find any proof?" Brandon inquired. "I've been occupied with work and the film. Did I miss something big?"
Penelope shook her head. "No solid proof yet, just some leads, and we managed to restore a surveillance camera. But looking at the timeline and the fact we were drugged, the chance of anything happening is... really slim, almost zero."
Almost zero meant nothing happened!
If anything did, it was just lying there without clothes!
Brandon pressed his lips together, staying quiet.
"I'll let you know when we have concrete evidence," Penelope sighed. "I hope you and Thessaly can be happy together. Brandon, it's time for you to settle down. Or do you want Sam to play matchmaker?"
She joked to lighten the mood.
Brandon chuckled. "Yeah, I haven't seen Sam and Lucy in a while."
"School, homework, he's always getting into trouble. But he cares about you, always asking how you're doing," Penelope said. "If I tell him you have a girlfriend, I wonder what his reaction will be."
"He won't have to worry about my love life anymore."
"Exactly."
Brandon's hand clenched tightly at his side, then relaxed.
But the emotions bubbling up inside him were hard to push down.
He shoved his hand into his pants pocket, hiding the clenched fist.
"Penelope, there's one more thing I wanted to apologize for," Brandon began. "But since you said you found some evidence proving we're just friends, I guess I don't need to."
"Apologize?"
"Yeah, I told you I'd leave LA, go far away, and not mess with your life, taking away the hurt and the memory of that awful night. But now... I don't have to leave."
So that's what Brandon wanted to say.
Penelope replied earnestly, "I never really wanted you to leave."
Leaving everything behind in this city took guts and determination.
Brandon shouldn't just walk away.
"I can't leave," Brandon said. "I could hand over the company, pause my career, but... this city has someone I care deeply about. I'm not alone anymore; I have ties, someone who needs me."
This was Brandon's legitimate "reason."
He played the "leaving LA" card to gain Penelope's guilt and forgiveness.
But once the card is played, it can't be ignored.
Otherwise, Penelope might think he never intended to leave, and his image in her mind would suffer.
So... what to do?
Thessaly was a perfect piece for Brandon.
He couldn't just use her once; he had to maximize her value!
Now, Brandon and Thessaly were lovers.
Together, he could stay under the guise of love and receive Penelope's blessing!
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