Vrie froze, staring in disbelief. "You think I don''t see us as equals? If that were true, I wouldn''t havee here to apologize. I''d be waiting for you to apologize to me instead!"


    She had rushed over right after work to make things right, only to be met with suspicion. The injustice of it stung.


    "If you really understood you were wrong, you''d ept that my feelings don''t just vanish the moment you say ''sorry.'' I''m human, not a machine. Your apology doesn''t erase everything," Brandon retorted.


    "When I met Michelle before-without you knowing, but with others around you wanted to break up. Now you''ve secretly met Stefan and even went to see him after knowing he kidnapped you. What do you take me for? How important is he to you?"


    Vrie stepped back at the anger in his voice. "So what now? You won''t ept my apology, and you want to break up?"


    Brandon took a deep breath, his gaze lowering. "Let''s take a few days to cool off. No contact for now."


    Vrie nodded. "Fine. Whatever you want. We''ll talk when you''re ready."


    With that, she turned and left.


    The door mmed shut, leaving the study in silence.


    Brandon sat back at his desk and picked up a document. Unfortunately, he couldn''t focus on a single word.


    Just then, his phone rang. It was his assistant, Charlie.


    "What is it?" he asked.


    "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Snowden and Mr. Gilmour are at the office. They want to see you," Charlie reported.


    A cold glint shed in Brandon''s eyes. "Tell them I''m unavable. Have them leave."


    "They''re refusing to go. They said they''ll wait at the Sumner Group until you show up," Charlie replied.


    Impatience flickered across Brandon''s face. "Are thepany''s security guards just for decoration? Do I need to teach you how to handle this?"


    Charlie had been waiting for that order. "Understood, Mr. Sumner. I''ll take care of it."


    After hanging up, he immediately called security. "Send a few guards to the CEO''s office. There are two men here refusing to leave."


    Ten minutester, Brad and Jayden were escorted out of Sumner Group.


    Brad was livid "Brandon is getting too arrogant. Sure, the Sumner Group has grown in recent years but if it werent for Prospectus Technology backing him, his


    Jayden turned to him. "Mr. Snowden, we need his help right now. We can''t afford to lose our tempers. If he won''t meet us at the office, we''ll go to his house and wait outside. He has to leave at some point."


    Brad sighed but nodded. "Alright. Jayden... appreciate you standing by us. When you''re down and out, that''s when you see who''s truly loyal. My daughter''s lucky to have a friend like you."


    The two drove to Brandon''s house and waited by the gate.


    Hours passed. Night fell. Still, there was no sign of Brandon.


    Brad grew restless. "Jayden... what if he left through another exit? What if he''s not even home?"


    Jayden shook his head. "He''s in there. We just have to wait. We don''t have any other choice."


    "Alright..." Brad relented.


    The butler stood before Brandon in the study. "Mr. Sumner, they''ve been outside all day. This can''t go on. You''ll have to face them eventually-especially when you leave for work tomorrow."