"I''ve got it. You can let go. I promise I won''t drop it," Stefan''s roommate reassured him.


    Stefan''s fingers tightened briefly before he slowly released his grip. "Yeah."


    His roommate carried the cake over to the others, calling them to share. He kept a piece for Stefan.


    That piece remained untouched until Stefan went to bed.


    ...


    Over the next few days, Brandon appeared at the Weir Group every day.


    Sometimes, he brought food; other times, flowers.


    Vrie was beyond annoyed. She''d told him repeatedly to stop pestering her, but he refused to listen. Eventually, she ignored him altogether.


    On Friday evening, Vrie spotted Brandon''s car parked by the curb as soon as she stepped out of the office.


    By then, she was used to seeing him there. She walked directly to her car, pretending he didn''t exist.


    Just as she reached it, Brandon called out from behind, "Vrie."


    Vrie pressed her lips together and turned to face him. "What do you want?"


    "Vrie, are you free tonight?" he asked.


    "No, I have ns," Vrie replied.


    Brandon''s face darkened. "With Stefan?"


    Vrie frowned. "What does that have to do with you? I don''t owe you an exnation."


    Before Brandon could respond, his phone rang.


    Seeing it was his secretary, he hesitated but eventually answered. "What is it?"


    Whatever was said on the other end changed his expression. He immediately replied, "Got it. I''ll be there right away."


    He hung up and looked at Vrie. "I have something urgent to handle. When will you be free?"


    "Take care of your business first. I''ll let you know when I am," Vrie answered.


    Brandon frowned, sensing she was brushing him off, but the situation at work was pressing.


    "Alright then. Be careful driving," he said before leaving.


    Afterward, Vrie drove straight to N''s ce.


    Vrie sighed. "N, how do I get him to stop pestering me?"


    The past few days had drained her. She wasn''t sure whether to reject Brandon outright or give him another chance.


    N raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t you say you''d reconsider only after he''d gone a whole month without seeing Michelle?"


    "Yeah, but I don''t want to deal with him for a whole month before that," Vrieined.


    N suggested, "Then just ignore him Orwork from home for a while:


    He can''t exactly barge into your house, can he?"


    Vrie nodded. "Why didn''t I think of that? I''m working from home starting tomorrow!"


    After hanging out a bit longer, Vrie noticed N looked tired, so she got up to leave.


    Not long after, N, feeling exhausted,y down on the couch and soon fell asleep.


    When Damon stepped out of his


    study,


    he


    saw her asleep.et


    Soooped her


    her upstairs.


    Since N had gotten pregnant, she''d been constantly sleepy—even yawning at the dinner table.


    After tucking her in, Damon left the room.


    Downstairs, Mason ran up to him, holding


    up a freshly drawn picture.


    relook! My teacher aske


    us to


    draw our family. How did do?"