Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Brandon didn’t respond. He lingered at the door for a moment, then strode away.

Sophia watched his retreating figure, sitting on the bed motionless, not even realizing when her fingers had hit the answer button on the phone until Susan’s voice, laced with concem, broke through, “Sophia? What’s up?”

Sophia snapped back to reality, peering at her phone screen through a blurry gaze, she saw Susan’s worried face.

“What’s wrong? Susan’s voice softened, tinged with caution.

Sophia shook her head slightly. “It’s nothing.”

Susan asked, “Did Brandon come over?”

Sophia nodded gently, “Yeah.”

“So, did you guys?” She hesitated, glancing at Sophia, wanting to ask if Brandon had managed to stop her, but seeing Sophia clad in the hospital gown with puffy eyes, the words got stuck in her throat. Instead, she shifted to a gentle reassurance, “It’s alright, there’s no hurdle we can’t get over”

Sophia managed a weak smile, “Yeah.”

Brandon bought some light and digestible porridge for Sophia at a restaurant near the hospital. He didn’t deliver it himself. He paid for the delivery service and got a waiter to take it up to her. He didn’t leave, just stood at the restaurant entrance, watching the hustle and bustle on the street, feeling a hollow ache inside.

The memory of seeing Sophia’s HCG report was still vivid in his mind, the words “Clinical Diagnosis. Early Pregnancy that moved him so much at the moment they caught his eye. He had imagined countless times what their child might look like, whether like him or Sophia, or a mix of both. He had fantasized about every step of raising her, thinking Sophia would keep her believing she couldn’t bear to let go, but.

The image of her in the hospital, lying weakly on the bed with tearful eyes as she was wheeled out by nurses, made Brandon turn away, his stomach churning with familiar spasms as his emotions rolled, filled with the scene of Sophia with tear–filled eyes begging him to let her go. The stomach cramps worsened, but then his thoughts drifted back to that summer years ago when she stood on the stage with her teacher and introduced herself in a calm and graceful manner, “Hi everyone, I’m Sophia,” her slightly naive face serene and peaceful

He remembered that year every time he tutored her, the obedient and tranquil look in her eyes, which were so clearly the eyes of a young Yolanda.

Brandon pulled out the DNA report from his pocket, crisply tore it in two with a swift exchange of hands.

He crumpled the two halves into a ball, ready to throw it away, but then his hands paused mid–air, frozen. After a long silence, he withdrew his hands, pocketing the crumpled DNA report once more, looked towards the hospital, and then turned to walk in its direction.

Brandon didn’t step into the patient’s room.

He just stood outside the ward, a short distance away, peering through the slightly ajar door at Sophia inside

The pomidge had been delivered and Sophia took a few bites before setting it aside, her appetite absent.

Brandon watched the mostly untouched porridge, didn’t approach, just silently observed the Sophia inside the room as she lay down and drifted into a shallow sleep. Only then did he finally enter the ward, bending down to gently tuck her in, not intending to wake Sophia

Their eyes met silently, then both looked away.

Brandon finished tucking her in, “Take a rest”

Sophia uttered a soft “Mhm, and closed her eyes.

Brandon stayed by the bed for a while, then his phone rang

He stepped out to take the call, and when he returned, the room was empty, the hospital gown and blanket neatly folded on the bed. Brandon chuckled and shook his head, not bothering to investigate where Sophia had gone, and went back to his hotel alone.

The second and third day, Brandon didn’t seek out Sophia, just busied himself with work at the hotel, unable to engage with the things he once loved.

On the fourth day, Brandon waited Sophia’s school, but didn’t find her

He stopped one of Sophia’s classmates to inquire about her

leave of absence the classmate informed humm.

Brandon paused, then said a soft thank

you, “Thanks”

He looked up at the building, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, Pulling out his phone, he called Susan, “Tell Sophia I won’t bother her anymore. She doesn’t need to sacrifice her future like this”

After hanging up, Brandon called Kent, “Book me a ticket back to West district, for today.”

“Huh?” Kent on the other end was taken aback, “Why the sudden retum? Is everything settled over there?”

“Send someone else” Brandon said, ending the call. He took one last look at the building and walked away.

Brandon flew back to West district that evening.