?Chapter 1513:


    If Brendon were to die, the entire Dawson Group would be hers outright.


    His heart needed to remain firmly tethered to her. If not, she would have to end him.


    Pushing the dark thoughts aside, Ynda forced a sweet, innocent smile. “It’s sote. Where are you off to?”


    “Just a quick business dinner,” Brendon lied smoothly.


    “What kind of dinner? I’lle along,” Ynda offered, her smile bright.


    “It’s a men’s thing—lots of smoke and drinking. You should stay home,” Brendon replied, his tone gently caring. “Secondhand smoke isn’t good for you, darling. Be a good girl and wait for me here.”


    Ynda knew he was lying. She bit the inside of her cheek, a hot resentment burning in her chest.


    He used to share everything with her. Now, he kept more and more secrets.


    Whenever the chilling thought that Brendon no longer loved her surfaced, she would desperately cling to the memory of him climbing that entire mountain on his knees for her, using it to smother her doubts.


    How could a man who had gone to such extremes suddenly fall out of love? She refused to believe it.


    Maybe… Maybe Brendon was just momentarily distracted by Christina—she told herself. Soon, he’lle to his senses and be wholly devoted to me again.


    “Alright, then. Try not to drink too much. I’ll be waiting,” Ynda said, smiling sweetly up at him.


    She rose on her toes to kiss him but saw the faintest flinch—a subtle, instinctive withdrawal.


    He must have realized she noticed, because he leaned back in and kissed her instead.


    The moment left a bitter taste in Ynda’s heart, sharp as needles.


    She remembered how fiercely he had adored her when his heart was fully hers. That memory made his present coldness all the more ring and painful.


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    It really seemed Brendon didn’t love her anymore.


    A dark luxury car was parked outside the Dawson family estate, and inside sat Brendon.


    He hade specifically to see Christina, only to be told she wasn’t home.


    He waited outside the Dawson house for what felt like an eternity, but she never appeared.


    All of his old numbers were blocked on her phone, he had no new one to use, and when he tried his grandmother’s phone, she refused him outright.


    In the end, his grandmother practically shooed him away, iming she needed to sleep.


    The longer Brendon waited, the more restless and anxious he became.


    His mind swarmed with dark thoughts. Was she in trouble? Was she stranded somewhere? Had Dn’s people finally made a move on her?


    He had drunk quite a bit. Feeling increasingly agitated, he got out of the car and yanked at his necktie to loosen it.


    He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and leaned against the car, taking slow, deep drags.


    With each puff, he felt like he was inhaling pure loneliness, utterly solitary in the dark.


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