Chapter 24: Are you still rejecting me after seven years apart?

"Hana!" Brandon snapped.

Hana finally raised her head and looked at Brandon. Her tears spilled freely, running down her face.

"Brandon!" Hana hurriedly threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Brandon’s body stiffened for a moment before he returned the embrace.

"Are you really Hana?" Brandon asked again.

"I’m Hana," Hana replied in a choked voice.

Brandon pulled back slightly, staring intently at Hana’s face. Not much had changed compared to seven years ago, except that she looked more mature now.

"How could you... how could you be here?" Brandon asked, still struggling to accept reality.

"Can you take me somewhere else first? There are too many cameras..." Hana said.

Brandon turned and gave a signal to his subordinates. In an instant, the cameras were shut down and his men formed a barricade, shielding them from everyone’s view.

"I’ll take you to my place."

Brandon lifted Hana into his arms without giving her a chance to refuse.

Brandon’s residence was completely different from where Hana lived. The house was spacious and located in a rather secluded area, far from the crowds, with many subordinates guarding almost every corner. No one could enter or leave without their knowledge.

Brandon brought Hana into his room, then gently sat her down on the sofa.

"Drink this," he said as he handed her a cup of warm water.

Hana accepted it, taking a slow sip before looking at Brandon, who was now sitting beside her. She gripped the cup tightly, not knowing what to say.

"Are you—"

"Are you—"

They spoke at the same time. They looked at each other.

"You go first," they said simultaneously again.

Brandon smiled faintly when he saw Hana biting her lip and lowering her head nervously—a habit from the past that had never changed.

"Hana..." he called softly.

Hana looked up, meeting Brandon’s eyes that she had never dared to hope she would see again, before lowering her head once more.

Brandon took the cup from Hana’s hands and placed it on the table. "Look at me," he ordered softly but firmly. "What happened all this time? Why are you here? And do you know... I’ve been looking for you for seven years?"

"I-I..." Panic flashed in Hana’s eyes. Her lips moved, but no words were able to come out.

She didn’t know what to say to Brandon. Should she tell him that she had suddenly become pregnant and then given birth to three children? Even thinking about saying such a thing felt completely absurd.

Brandon frowned, then pulled her into his arms. "If you don’t want to say anything, that’s fine. I won’t force you." Brandon stared at Hana for a moment before continuing in a calmer voice. "But can you explain to me why you tried to avoid me again earlier?"

"Brandon, we..." Hana gently pushed him away. Although her heart was still pounding for this man, she wasn’t sure about this.

"What is it? Are you still rejecting me after seven years apart?"

"I-I... Brandon, we broke up. We can’t be like we were before."

Brandon scoffed softly. "Hana... do you seriously consider what I said back then to have been a real breakup? If I truly wanted to separate from you, do you think I would have spent these seven years looking for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me what happened seven years ago. Why did you suddenly disappear after your parents died?"

Brandon looked at Hana seriously. Then his voice lowered as he continued, "Hana... I truly didn’t know about their deaths."

"Brandon..." Hana interrupted. She clenched her jacket tightly. "I don’t know what really happened either. I can’t remember anything before I left Melvin City. All I remember is... waking up here in Karua City after crying because you broke up with me."

Brandon’s eyes darkened slightly. He shifted his position, then looked at Hana again with a doubtful expression. "You don’t remember anything at all? Are you sure? Hana, don’t lie to me."

Hana shook her head. "I don’t even remember how my parents died. What I remember... is you cruelly breaking up with me," she said as tears fell again.

Brandon was stunned. He shifted closer to Hana and wiped away her tears. "Don’t cry. If you don’t remember, there’s no need to force yourself. Besides... perhaps it’s better that way."

"What do you mean?"

Brandon stared deeply at her, then moved closer until Hana was pushed into the corner of the sofa. "Hana... forget the past. Let me take care of you from now on. I’ll treat you well. I promise. I won’t let you get hurt again. And don’t ever run away from me again."

Hana stared at him, suddenly so close. Her hand unconsciously pressed against his chest, which now felt broader than it had before.

"Brandon, I’ve heard about you all these years. Our worlds are different now. Maybe back then I could stand beside you with confidence, but now..." Hana shook her head.

"Hana?"

"Brandon... you’re going to marry a girl from one of the prominent families in Melvin City, aren’t you? I’ve seen the news. Don’t do this to me."

Brandon lightly flicked Hana’s forehead—a habit from the past whenever he saw the girl acting foolishly. "Hana, no matter what happens, you’ll still stay by my side. Be quiet and stop rejecting me. As for that engagement... you don’t need to worry about it. I’ll take care of it."

Brandon moved closer again, making Hana completely panic.

Brandon’s body stiffened when he felt something different against the upper part of Hana’s body. He looked at the girl’s face, which had now turned bright red.

"Since when... did yours get this big?" he asked softly but clearly.

Hana gritted her teeth and pushed him away forcefully. "Y-you! Brandon, we’re really over! Please watch what you say!" She hurriedly tried to leave the room.

Brandon grabbed her hand, stopping her and pulling her back into his arms. "Stay in my room tonight. There are probably many guests panicking and waiting for you in your room, demanding an explanation."

Brandon let out a long sigh, then gently patted Hana’s back. "If they’ve grown, then that’s a good thing. It means you’re a woman. As for the breakup... forget that word. I never agreed to break up with you."

"Brandon! You—!"

"I’m not going to do anything to you. Sleep here. I’ll sleep in another room," Brandon said calmly.

He pointed toward the wardrobe. "There are clothes in there. Change out of those wet clothes."

"Be a good girl. I promise, this time I’ll truly take care of you. As for the other problems... you don’t need to think about them."

Without giving Hana a chance to respond, Brandon left and closed the door.

On the terrace, he lit the cigarette handed to him by one of his subordinates, then sat down and stared at the lake in the distance. The only sounds were his breathing and the smoke slowly fading into the air. When the cigarette was finished, Brandon smiled faintly, but there was determination in his eyes.

"Investigate everything about Hana over the past seven years. Don’t miss a single detail. And assign several guards to watch her at all times."

"Yes, Sir," replied the subordinate who had been standing beside him all this time. "But, Sir... what about Miss Laila? What if she finds out that you’ve found Miss Hana?"