I thought my rejection that day was clear enough, but one day, as I left the lab after finishing an experiment, I saw a group of people I had no desire to see standing outside my apartment building.
It was Mom, Dad, Adrian, and Brandon. The moment they saw me, they all looked somewhat emotional.
“Sadie, you’re finally back!”
Adrian was about to step forward when Brandon shoved past him and stood right in front of me.
“Sadie, it’s been a while.”
He looked haggard, and his eyes were red. It looked like he hadn’t rested in a long while.
If this had happened in the past, I might have pitied him. But now, I was just annoyed. “We broke up. Why are you here?”
Brandon’s eyes reddened even more. “I never agreed to break up! We just fought.”
“I don’t need your permission to break up,” I said calmly.
I then turned to my family, who were standing to the side helplessly.
“I heard what you said that day.”
Mom, Dad, and Adrian instantly paled, and Brandon’s eyes widened as if he realized something.
I continued, voicing the truth I had pieced together, “Nina is the one Brandon likes, but because he comes from an average
background, you don’t think he’s good enough for your precious daughter.
“So, you introduced him to me instead. That way, there would still be someone who would dote on Nina in the family. Isn’t that right?”
“N–No, it’s not like that…” Mom tried to deny it, but she couldn’t argue. Dad and Adrian lowered their heads in shame.
As for Brandon, he desperately tried to pour his heart out to me.
“I did like Nina at first. B–But that was only in the beginning… We were about to get married. How could I not have feelings for you?”
I nodded, indicating I understood. Just as a glimmer of hope lit up in Brandon’s eyes, I mercilessly delivered the final blow.
“But you didn’t show up to our wedding. So, we won’t ever get married again.”
“No, that’s not true. We can still have another wedding. I’ve already ordered your wedding dress from your favorite designer.
“I’ve also contacted the wedding planner. As long as you say the word, we can hold a new ceremony right away. I promise it’ll be even better than the last one.”
Brandon placed his hands on my shoulders, his voice pleading. “Sadie, I’m serious. Listen to me–I was just used to taking care of
Nina. That’s all. You’re the person I truly love! I never thought you would actually leave. I’m the bastard. I hurt you. I’m the one
who let you down!”
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