Vrie sighed. "Fine. I''ll think of something..."


    "Good. I have to be up early tomorrow, so I''ll talk to youter. Goodnight," N said.


    After hanging up, Vrie stared at her phone for a while before opening her chat with Brandon. She started typing but couldn''t bring herself to send anything.


    Forget it. He was still mad. She''d deal with it tomorrow.


    Setting her phone down, she got up to take a shower.


    ...


    When Vrie woke up the next morning, the first thing she did was check her phone.


    Nothing. Not a single message.


    Brandon would always text her "good morning" first thing every day.


    But today? Silence.


    He was probably still mad.


    Pushing aside her disappointment, she got up, showered, dressed, and headed to work.


    She had meant to apologizest night, but for some reason, it felt even harder today.


    The entire day, she found herself distracted. Every time her phone buzzed, she snatched it up, hoping it was Brandon-only to feel disappointed when it wasn''t.


    By the end of the workday, she finally mustered the courage to send a message.


    Vrie: [What are you up to?]


    She waited over an hour. No reply.


    Her frown deepened, irritation bubbling up inside her. She had already reached out, yet he was still ignoring her.


    But remembering that she was in the wrong, she forced herself to calm down. Instead of waiting, she decided to go to the Sumners in person.


    An hourter, she pulled up outside Brandon''s house and sat in her car, debating whether to ring the doorbell.


    Before she could decide, a maid spotted her and hurried over. "Ms. Weir, are you here to see Mr. Sumner?"


    Vrie smiled and got out of the car. "Yes. Is he home?"


    "He is. Let me take you inside," the maid replied.


    "Thank you," she said.


    The maid led her to Brandon''s study. After knocking on the door, she announced, "Mr. Sumner, Ms. Weir is here."


    Footsteps sounded from inside. A momentter, the door swung open.


    Brandon''s expression was unreadable. "Come in."


    Vrie stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "I came to apologize."


    Brandon didn''t respond. He simply turned to the bookshelf, picked up a book, and flipped through it as if he hadn''t heard her.


    Vrie bit her lip and continued, "! was wrong to meet Stefan without telling you. I didn''t consider your feelings. I''ve thought about it and it won''t happen again. I hope you can forgive me."


    Brandon turned to face her. "Vrie, do you really think you were wrong?"


    Her expression hardened. "If I didn''t, I wouldn''t have texted you ore here to apologize. What do you want me to do, Brandon?"


    She had lowered herself. She didn''t understand why he was still questioning her.


    "I see. So just because you said sorry, I''m supposed to forget everything? Like my feelings don''t matter?" Brandon retorted.


    "I never said that. Don''t twist my words," Vrie shot back.


    Brandon held her gaze. "Vrie,


    you''ve never treated me as an equal. You think just because I chased


    after you for five years before you agreed to be with me, I should s tolerate everything you do, no matter how it makes me feel?"