?Chapter 1128:


    With that tender smile still ying on his lips, Dn pressed the voice message button but then hesitated. Something made him release it before speaking. After a moment’s consideration, he switched to typing instead. “I miss you, Chrissie.”


    His fingers hovered over the send button as he read the words. Too simple? Not enough? He deleted the message and started over, only to type the exact same thing.


    This happened three more times before he finally sent it, a content smile warming his features.


    Once the message disappeared into the digital ether, anxiety crept in. Dn found himself staring at his phone, waiting for those three little dots that would signal her reply. Every second felt like an eternity. He checked the time and then checked it again thirty secondster. Time seemed to crawl when his heart was on the line.


    Finally, his phone buzzed with her response. “I miss you too. But you should focus on work.”


    Dn’s cheeks actually flushed as he read her response. His fingers flew across the keyboard. “I’ll cook something amazing for you when I get home.”


    “Then I’ll get all the ingredients ready and wait for you.”


    “Perfect. I’ll finish everything here as fast as possible so I cane home early.”


    After exchanging a few more sweet messages, Dn threw himself into his work with renewed energy. He’d move mountains to make sure she wasn’t left waiting and hungry.


    Meanwhile, across town at the Dawson family mansion, Brendon had barely stepped through the front door when Katie appeared like a hawk swooping down on prey.


    “Brendon, tell me the truth. Did you go find Christina again?” Katie’s eyes were sharp as razors, studying every micro-expression on her brother’s face.


    “No,” Brendon lied smoothly, though his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. If Katie knew the truth, she’d run straight to Ynda with the information. Thest thing he needed was moreplications in his already tangled life.


    “Brendon, you’re married to Ynda now. She’s family.” Katie’s voice softened with genuine concern. “Don’t do anything stupid. She’s been nothing but good to us, to this family.”


    “I know that.” The words came out heavier than he intended. But knowing something and feeling it were two different things entirely.


    He’d dreamed of marrying Ynda for years and had wanted nothing more than to make her his wife. So why wasn’t he happy now that she was his wife? Why did he feel this hollow ache instead of the joy he’d imagined? When they signed the papers that legally bound them together, he’d felt something that terrified him—regret. Sharp and unexpected, like a knife between his ribs.


    This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Could it be that he had genuinely fallen for someone else? Christina’s face shed in his mind, and frustration wed at his chest. How could he possibly be attracted to such an ungrateful, maniptive woman?