Damon''s tone turned icy as he heard the confidence in Brandon''s voice. "You''d better be fully prepared for this."


    "Uncle Damon, don''t worry about me. I know what I''m doing," Brandon reassured him.


    Thepany wasn''t his biggest concern right now. There was something far more important.


    During this month off, he was determined to win Vrie back.


    As long as he stayed by her side, she wouldn''t have time to spend with Stefan.


    Once they were back together, after a month, he''d return to work.


    It was the perfect n.


    "If that''s the case, I have nothing more to say," Damon replied, clearly displeased, before hanging up.


    Brandon set down his phone and immediately drove to the Weir Group.


    After parking outside, he called Vrie. "Vrie, are you free tonight? Let''s have dinner together."


    "I''m really busy today. I''ll probably be workingte," Vrie answered.


    "That''s fine. I can wait. We could grab ate-night snack instead," Brandon suggested.


    There was a brief silence on the other end. A few secondster, Vrie''s calm but firm voice returned. "I mean... no."


    "I see... Well, I''m downstairs at your office. I brought you your favorite matcha cake.


    If you''re too busy, I''ll leave it at the front desk. You can pick it up whenever you have time," Brandon said.


    Vrie frowned slightly, about to respond, but he had already hung up.


    Sighing, she set her phone down. She wasn''t ready to see Brandon yet—not until she figured out what she really wanted.


    Soon after, the receptionist called her. "Ms. Weir, Mr. Sumner left a dessert for you. Would you like me to bring it up?"


    "No, you can have it," Vrie replied.


    After hanging up, she tried to refocus on her work, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t concentrate.


    Eventually, she gave up and decided to take a break.


    As Vrie walked out of the office that evening, she spotted Brandon''s car parked by the curb. Her steps faltered for a moment.


    After a brief hesitation, she walked over and tapped on the window.


    The window rolled down, revealing Brandon''s face. "Vrie, you''re off work?"


    Vrie opened the door and got in. "Brandon, we need to talk."


    "Alright," Brandon said.


    "I need you to stoping to see me. I need this month to figure out whether I even want to continue this rtionship," Vrie announced.


    The smile on Brandon''s face slowly faded. "Vrie, didn''t you say that if I avoided Michelle for a month, you''d forgive me? Wasn''t that the agreement to get back together?"


    "I need time to think. Lately, I''ve realized there''s more to my life than just love," Vrie said.


    Love could be a part of her life, but it couldn''t consume her. She didn''t want to spend so much time and, energy maintaining a rtionship, especially one that had already made her lose faith in him.


    "I understand," Brandon said softly


    "I''ll give you time. We can take things slow. resigned from the Sumner


    Group today. For the next month my only focus is winning you back


    Vrie frowned, her tone carrying a trace of helplessness. "Brandon, you don''t need


    to do this. You''re just making things harder for me."


    The car fell silent. So quiet, they could hear each other''s breathing.


    After a long pause, Brandon spoke again. "Vrie, I know I''ve


    disappointed you before. But can you give me onest chance?


    one. I let you down again,


    Just


    promise I''ll leave you alone forever. Okay?"


    Vrie turned her gaze to the window, watching the people pass by outside.


    After a long moment, she said quietly, "I''ll think about it. I''ll give you an answer in a


    few days."