My Second Chance at Love

"I just want to be with you right now, Dad."

My father's voice immediately sharpened with alertness.

"Alright, alright. I'll contact the family lawyer right away and get your visa sorted."

My mother had passed away early, so I only ever had my father. However, all I had ever done was chase after Brandon.

The noise from the room next door went on from morning until afternoon. It was loud enough to echo through the entire villa.

I sat in the dining room, mechanically stuffing food into my mouth.

It was not until I was almost done eating that the two of them finally came downstairs.

Melissa's legs looked weak, but her face was flushed with a shy glow.

I set down my cutlery and was about to leave when I heard Brandon speak up.

"What, feeling guilty after doing something wrong? Trying to run?"

Brandon grabbed my arm.

From the bottom of his heart, he believed I was the one who had drugged him.

In his eyes, I was the despicable one capable of doing such things.

I forced a polite smile and replied, "No. I'm just done eating. I don't want to disturb you two."

His expression darkened instead.

"Do you have any idea how ridiculous you are, keeping up this act?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Melissa looking at me with the same disdain.

I clenched the tablecloth in my fist. He had never once hesitated to humiliate me in front of others.

He turned to the housekeeper, Mary Nelson, and instructed, "Mary, make an extra portion from now on. Melissa will be living here."

Mary looked at me awkwardly.

The house was mine. Brandon was only able to live here because of me, yet he wanted to bring someone else in as he pleased.

"From now on, Melissa will be the lady of this house. Think of her as the 'sister-in-law'."

Melissa lifted her chin smugly.

My throat tightened.

I refuted, "My parents only had me. I don't even have a brother. Where would this 'sister-in-law' of mine come from?"

Brandon's expression changed instantly.

In the past, to stake my claim, I had always told others he was my ‘brother'.

My phone rang.

I glanced at the screen and noticed it was the family lawyer.

I took the phone and headed upstairs.

Melissa whined, "Brandon… Does Cheryl look down on me? I'm sorry… I've dragged you into having to deal with her attitude too."

"It's not your fault. I've just spoiled her too much," Brandon replied reassuringly.

Before entering my room, I turned around just in time to meet Brandon's dark, brooding gaze.

The lawyer continued, "Ms. Swanson, the documents have been submitted. We're using the VIP channel, so your visa should be approved within the next two days."

"Thank you."

Two more days, and I would leave that place.

I looked around the room.

I had trapped myself there for ten years just to stay by Brandon's side.

Scenes of the past surfaced in my mind.

"Cheryl, I'll work hard. I won't let your father down. I'll join the company, protect you, and let you be my little princess for the rest of your life."

Back in university, Brandon dressed simply, but the light in his eyes back then was more dazzling than any scenery I had ever seen.

The door suddenly swung open, bringing me back to reality.

It was Brandon.

"Don't come in," I huffed.

"What kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Is it because of what happened between Melissa and I today?"

He walked in anyway.

"Your relationship has nothing to do with me."

I turned my back to him, packing my luggage.

"I knew it! You're just saying that out of anger. You wouldn't even acknowledge me as your 'brother' earlier. By the way, who called you earlier?"

He did not even like me, yet he still wanted to control me.

All those years, Brandon had never allowed me to have any contact with other men.

"That's none of your business. I have my own social freedom."

His expression grew uglier.

"Cheryl Swanson, don't think I don't know about those little thoughts you have about me. Melissa is the one I love. Even if you kept fawning over me for another ten years, there would never be anything between us.

"Good thing you had the sense to leave this morning. Otherwise, just thinking about having anything happen between us makes me sick! I wouldn't have felt a thing."