Chapter 914 Please, Brandon—Don't Go
Silverlight City
In the Raymond Group headquarters, Jasmine finally met Selene, the young woman Liam had mentioned. She appeared quiet and elegant, with striking beauty—especially her eyes, which radiated clarity and innocence.
They encountered each other in the elevator. While others crowded in, Selene was perceptive enough to position herself protectively in front of Jasmine, preventing anyone from bumping into her.
Technically, Jasmine could have used the executive elevator, but she'd stepped into this one simply because it had arrived first.
Selene seemed to sense Jasmine's importance, showing remarkable intuition. No wonder Liam had insisted on keeping her, even at the cost of arguing with Ethan.
"Do you work here?" Jasmine asked with a friendly smile.
Selene nodded. "I'm still an intern," she replied, her smile infectious.
Jasmine found herself drawn to the young woman's warmth—there was something genuinely healing about her presence.
After exiting the elevator, Selene asked curiously, "Why were you using the staff elevator?"
"You recognize me?" Jasmine was surprised.
The company was massive, and only reception staff, HR, and the executive office employees should know she was Ethan's wife.
"I heard someone from the executive office address you as Mrs. Douglas the other day," Selene explained, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head. "I figured you must be Mr. Douglas's wife."
"By the way," she continued, "I noticed you were sneezing that day. The perfume in the company elevators can be overwhelming. You might be sensitive to it." She reached into her bag and pulled out a sealed disposable mask. "This might help when you're in the elevators."
Jasmine was taken aback—Selene had noticed her allergic rhinitis with remarkable perception.
"Thank you," Jasmine accepted it with a smile. Selene was truly thoughtful.
"Keep up the good work. I think you have real potential," Jasmine added, offering encouragement.
Selene nodded excitedly, perhaps already envisioning her path to permanent employment. After all, winning over the CEO's wife was a strategic first step.
With a bounce in her step, Selene hurried away while Jasmine entered Ethan's office, still smiling.
"What's got my wife looking so happy?" Ethan asked, surprised by her cheerful entrance. While Jasmine had certainly become more outgoing since their marriage, this level of joy was unusual.
Jasmine touched her face reflexively. "I just met Selene. She's like a little ray of sunshine—absolutely uplifting to be around."
Ethan looked puzzled for a moment. Who was Selene?
"The young woman Liam insisted on keeping, even though you two argued about it," Jasmine explained.
Ethan nodded in recognition. "Anyone who can make my wife walk in smiling like that must have something special."
Jasmine didn't elaborate further, instead moving behind Ethan to embrace him. "Darling, you've been working overtime for a week straight. When is Brandon coming back?"
"He's requested another three months of leave to honeymoon with his partner," Ethan replied, looking utterly defeated.
Jasmine was surprised. "He reconciled with his fiancée?"
Ethan shook his head. "Who knows? He won't tell me anything—just says the time isn't right and he'll introduce us when everything's settled."
Jasmine covered her mouth in shock. "It sounds like Brandon has moved on from Theodora and married someone else entirely."
Ethan nodded. "That's my guess too."
"I wonder who Brandon's spouse could be," Jasmine mused, still embracing Ethan.
By now, Ethan's curiosity was piqued as well. Who could possibly warrant such secrecy?
Suncrest City
The ocean breeze gently tousled the young man's hair as he stood barefoot on the beach, gazing at the distant waves.
Brandon rushed over anxiously, embracing Bradley from behind.
Lately, Brandon had been terrified whenever Bradley stood anywhere high and looked down, fearing he might jump. He'd avoided taking Bradley to elevated places entirely. Now, even Bradley's ocean-gazing triggered his anxiety.
"We agreed on three months of fun. I won't kill myself," Bradley said softly.
Since their marriage, Brandon had noticed positive changes in Bradley's demeanor—his melancholy had lifted, and he smiled more frequently.
Yet somehow, this transformation only intensified Brandon's fears.
"I heard there's an amazing dessert shop near the university. Shall we try it?" Bradley suggested, taking the initiative.
Brandon nodded. "Of course."
He would fulfill all of Bradley's requests—except those involving heights.
"Brandon..." Bradley said after walking along the shore for a while. "Do you regret it?"
Do you regret marrying me?
His insecurity was overwhelming—he constantly feared that Brandon would someday stop loving him.
"Bradley, I don't regret anything. I know exactly what I'm doing," Brandon assured him earnestly.
But Bradley seemed unable to believe him.
"Bradley, I care about you."
"Bradley, I've truly fallen in love with you..."
Brandon repeatedly professed his feelings, but his words seemed unable to penetrate Bradley's walls.
"Brandon, let's go to Solstice," Bradley suggested with a smile, seemingly deaf to Brandon's declarations.
Brandon stood still, watching Bradley—who seemed as if he might drift away with the wind at any moment—and nodded. "All right."
Wherever Bradley wanted to go, they would go.
Bradley meticulously planned their itinerary, arranging visas, flights, and accommodations. Throughout the process, he refused to let Brandon delegate any tasks to his assistant, insisting they handle everything personally.
Bradley said he wanted a spontaneous adventure.
"When I was eighteen, I dreamed of traveling the world, but lacked the funds. At twenty, I was sent abroad to study. At twenty-five, I returned to Silverlight City and met you."
For Bradley, Brandon was the only person who had made his heart flutter since his unrequited crush at eighteen.
"I'll accompany you anywhere in the world." This was Brandon's promise.
"I had a crush on a senior when I was eighteen," Bradley confided, resting his head on Brandon's shoulder during their flight.
A flight attendant, unaware of their relationship, commented with a smile, "Are you brothers? You seem very close."
Bradley instinctively started to straighten up, but Brandon held his hand firmly.
Brandon smiled politely at the attendant and clarified, "He's my partner."
Their fingers intertwined, wedding bands visible on both left hands.
Bradley had purchased those rings himself. Traditionally, Brandon should have bought them, but Bradley had insisted. In his mind, whoever bought the rings was the husband.
Brandon had simply smiled, happy to let Bradley decide such matters.
Bradley leaned against Brandon, his gaze momentarily frozen.
This dream was beautiful.
He just wondered when he would wake up.
"Brandon, I think I'm sick. Unrequited love at eighteen, and again at twenty-five—it's made me paranoid about losing what I have."
"Your unrequited love at eighteen prepared you to meet me at twenty-five. And the complications at twenty-five helped me realize how deeply I love you," Brandon said tenderly, kissing Bradley's hair.
Bradley had never known unrequited love; it was just that Brandon's love came too late—after Bradley was already broken.
"You'll grow tired of me," Bradley said with a sad smile.
"Never. Not ever." This was Brandon's promise.
But could he truly keep it?
They traveled for three months, visiting so many countries that Bradley lost count.
During this time, they were genuinely happy.
But as they landed in Emberlyn, the final blow Bradley had been dreading arrived.
Theodora's parents called Brandon, asking him to fly to Muskow. Theodora had attempted suicide.
Bradley, selfish and desperate, tried to stop Brandon from leaving. He'd only asked for three months—a complete honeymoon journey —and even one day short wouldn't feel complete.
Why couldn't he have this one perfect honeymoon?
"Don't go, please..." For the first time, Bradley despised himself.
Tears streaming down his face, he begged Brandon not to leave him. The terror of being abandoned again consumed him. If Brandon walked away, his whole world would shatter.
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