?Chapter 11:
Ynda’s red-rimmed eyes and trembling voice tightened Brendon’s heart. To him, she embodied everything virtuous—selfless, nurturing, and impossibly kind—qualities Christina had never shown him.
Brendon’s thumb traced slow circles across the back of Ynda’s hand, cherishing the delicate warmth of her skin. “You’ll know by then,” he murmured, pulling her into a firm embrace. “Ynda, nothing will ever happen to you as long as I’m here.”
Touched by his words, Ynda buried her face in his chest, her whisper unsteady, as if she truly regretted leaving abruptly back then. “Brendon, I’ll never leave your side or break your heart again. I’m sorry for leaving you three years ago. It was my grandfather… He threatened me with his life. I had no choice but to leave the country back then, Brendon. I didn’t know what else to do…”
Tears glimmered in her eyes, a calcted act of innocence, as she added, “But tell me the truth… Have you truly forgiven me? Or is this just about hurting Christina?”
Brendon froze at the question, the image of Christina’s cold, dismissive face shing in his mind, the humiliation still clinging to him. His expression darkened. “She isn’t worth that kind of effort,” he said, voice sharp with disdain. “I know you were trapped, Ynda. I’ve never med you—not for a second. From now on, nothing wille between us again.”
Ynda’s heart swelled at the vehemence in his voice. His loathing for Christina felt like a gift. So, Christina truly had no charm at all. Despite her years of effort to win Brendon’s affection, she could not earn even a sliver of his heart.
Ynda smirked, drawing pleasure from the conclusion that Christina held less charm than her. Despite the time and distance, all she had to do was return, let a single tear fall, brush her hand against Brendon’s—and he was hers again,pletely.
Katie sneered, her tone dripping with disdain, “Ynda, someone like Christina doesn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as you.”
Putting on an air of gentle modesty, Ynda gave Katie a slight frown. “Katie, let’s not speak ill of her. While I was away, she did stay by Brendon’s side to care for him. For that, I’m thankful.”
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Frustration flickered across Katie’s face as she retorted, “Ynda! You’re way too kind, too forgiving. Keep acting like this, and one day someone might snatch Brendon right out from under you!”
“That’s never going to happen,” Brendon interjected, his brows furrowing. “I belong to Ynda. That won’t change.”
“Brendon, you’re really telling me you never felt anything for Christina? Not even a little?” Katie asked, raising an eyebrow. Her intuition told her there was something subtly different in the way he looked at Christina.
“Nothing at all,” Brendon said, his tone sharp and certain. “Christina means nothing to me and never will.”
Turning his gaze to Ynda, his eyes softened with affection. “There’s only one woman I’ve ever loved—and she’s right here in front of me.”
A wave of emotion overcame Ynda, and she clung to him tightly, tears spilling as she whispered, “Brendon…”
Katie, watching the tender moment unfold, exhaled slowly, a sense of reassurance washing over her. Maybe she’d misread things. Their connection was unshakable—no outsider could evere between them. She had always viewed Brendon and Ynda’s love as something rare, like it belonged in storybooks. Christina could plot all she wanted, but it would never change a thing. Brendon’s heart would never belong to her, and there wasn’t a chance she could ever steal him from Ynda.
Breaking the brief silence, Katie asked brightly, “Should we head to the Morfort Restaurant now?”
Brendon didn’t miss a beat. He remembered Christina had been there, and with no sign of hesitation, he said, “Let’s go.”
Soon, the three of them reached Morfort Restaurant. But by the time they got there, they’d already missed the better seating, and Brendon’s ranking in thepetition wasn’t quite enough to secure a prime spot. So, they ended up at a table farther off, while Christina sat up front at the first table.
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