Chapter 913 Brandon and Bradley
Bradley stared at Brandon for a long time, his fingers numb with tension.
How laughable.
This confession came far too late.
Bradley lowered his head, his laughter dissolving into tears. "You betray your own heart."
He struggled to his feet, supporting himself on his uninjured leg. "You say you like me now, but when I stood before you before, you called me disgusting."
Brandon took a deep breath, wishing he could go back in time and punch his former self. His mouth had always been his worst enemy.
Bradley painfully unbuttoned his shirt, revealing countless bruises—evidence of that night's assault.
"Looking at this, do you still like me?" Bradley asked.
Brandon froze, trembling with rage, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles whitened.
He wanted to kill those bastards.
"These are all marks others left on me," Bradley said with a hollow smile. "I went willingly. When I saw the news of your engagement, I voluntarily went to a gay bar. I just wanted to hook up with someone—things just got out of hand."
"Later, when I got scared and called you, your fiancée answered." Bradley looked directly at Brandon.
What right did Brandon have to claim feelings for him now?
"Stop, Bradley. Please stop. Let me kill them for you," Brandon shook violently, pulling Bradley into his arms. In that moment, his heart felt like it would shatter.
He'd always cared deeply for Bradley, but only now realized that feeling had been love all along.
"Why kill them? I went willingly," Bradley repeated, emphasizing his consent.
He laughed bitterly. "Brandon, you should go back to your fiancée. Get married, have children, live your life—and never come looking for me again. Okay?"
His voice broke as he lowered his head.
He stood before Brandon, once again laying down all his dignity.
He remembered when he first met Brandon—how Brandon had tormented him after learning he was gay, pretending to be interested and suggesting they sleep together.
Bradley had believed him. Despite the humiliation, he'd decided to prove his loyalty, to show he meant no harm to Ethan.
So he'd followed Brandon to the hotel, to his room.
That had been the bravest moment of his life.
He'd secretly loved his senior for years but never dared enter his room.
But for Brandon, he'd sacrificed every shred of dignity he possessed.
The result? Being trampled on, again and again.
Ethan said you have a virginity complex—that you refuse to be with women who've been with others. That's why you've never had a serious relationship or married, right?" Bradley asked, his voice trembling.
Brandon stared at the purple bruises covering Bradley's body, each mark like a knife stabbing into his heart.
He wrapped Bradley in his arms. "Yes."
Bradley smiled, hot tears streaming down his face. "Then you can leave, Brandon. Not just one man slept with me that night. It was three."
"Stop talking. Please, Bradley, stop." Brandon held Bradley tightly, experiencing for the first time what it felt like to have his heart torn to pieces.
He slapped himself hard across the face.
Why had he let Bradley go? Why had he only realized his feelings now?
"Why shouldn't I say it? Brandon, go home. I'm dirty." Bradley tried to push Brandon away, but Brandon held him firmly.
Bradley stared vacantly out the window.
Thank God they were on the ground floor.
If they'd been on the tenth floor, he would have pushed Brandon away without hesitation and jumped.
He wasn't being dramatic.
He didn't care that he'd slept with those men—never cared, not even a little. He was already different, already a freak, already mad. It didn't matter how many people had touched his body; numbness had long taken the place of shame.
Ever since his mother died, he felt as if no one in the world truly loved him anymore. His body was broken, his mind shattered, his soul in ruins. And now, his heart was broken too.
There was nothing left in him that was whole. He just wanted it all to end.
"Go, Brandon. Please." Bradley choked, begging Brandon to leave.
"Don't make me go. Please." Brandon cupped Bradley's face and kissed him.
Bradley's body tensed in shock as he stared at Brandon.
He never expected this kiss.
His tears burned with regret and heartache.
"You're not dirty, Bradley. Let's get married." Brandon carefully kissed his neck, moving downward.
He was proposing.
"I don't want to marry you," Bradley said with bitter laughter.
Brandon knelt before Bradley, looking up at him. "Then I'll marry you."
Bradley laughed, turning away, though tears betrayed him.
He'd never dared dream that one day Brandon would kneel before him, proposing.
Was this a dream?
Or was it heaven's pity for his miserable existence?
"Bradley, you're the exception to all my rules. Your very existence is the exception. I realized it too late—give me one chance, please?" Brandon pleaded.
Bradley looked down at Brandon, silent for a long time before speaking. "It's too late."
Bradley didn't trust Brandon anymore.
Yet selfishly, he didn't want to let him go either.
If he'd been born into a normal family, if he'd been a girl when he met Brandon, it would have been his good fortune.
He would have been whole, without these fractures in his personality.
He would have been a lively, cheerful, healthy woman.
He could have married Brandon, could have been his one and only.
But there are no "what ifs" in life.
That night, Brandon stayed by his side.
Bradley developed a fever and didn't wake until the following afternoon.
Lying in bed, he smiled at Brandon, who leaned against the doorframe wearing an apron.
Brandon tilted his chin. "Get up and eat. I made your favorite vegetable pasta."
In that moment, with sunlight streaming over them both, everything felt beautiful, like a dream.
Bradley got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror.
He realized he didn't resent Brandon at all—in fact, he desperately wanted to be with him.
Now that he had what he'd always wanted, shouldn't he be happy?
"Brandon, let's go to Suncrest City and get married," Bradley said as he emerged from the room.
Brandon looked at him with nervous excitement. "Okay."
Bradley smiled too, though his eyes stung with pain.
Selfishly, he thought that if he had to die, at least he'd die as Brandon's partner.
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