Love's Redemption

Redmption 160

Brandon turned to look at me. His grip on my hand tightened noticeably.

It felt as if he was holding my heart captive. They said the fingers were connected to the heart, and in that instant, it was undeniably true.

“I will give Mae everything I have, love her with every fiber of my being, and protect her fiercely.” Brandon said. His gaze was locked on mine. His eyes were deep and shimmering like the ocean.

I finally understood the expression “love as deep as the sea.” Though we were just acting, I couldn’t help but feel that his confession was real.

This man was really cunning. He was playing a role, yet his emotions were genuine.

I could only go along with what he said. Initially, I raised my hand to hold his, but what he was doing now frustrated me. I had asked him to act, not blur the lines between reality and fiction.

So, instead of holding his hand, I reached up and pinched his cheek. I was sure that it would embarrass a straightforward man like him.

I wanted him to realize that he brought it on himself. However, not only was he not embarrassed, but he even nuzzled his face into my hand. He resembled Teddy the dog when it wanted hugs.

A shameless person was truly invincible. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect him to react the way he did.

After nuzzling against my hand, he naturally turned his attention back to Zack and Bree. “And I’ll love her for a lifetime, just like how you love Mrs. Gildon, sir.”

The first part was a heartfelt confession, while the second part was a clear rebuttal directed at Bree. I saw Bree’s face harden because she was rendered speechless by Brandon.

Zack, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke. “Maddie, Brandon can stay and chat with Bree for a while. How does that sound? You can come with me to the study.”

Zack nodded at Brandon before going up the stairs. I could guess what he wanted to discuss with me. Taking a deep breath, I followed him upstairs.

Once I entered the study, I thought Zack would question me, but he didn’t. Instead, he handed me the gift box I had given him. “Maddie, open it up and use the new brush and ink set to write a few words with me.”

It had been a long time since he had invited me to practice calligraphy with him. At least three years had passed since Bree said that once children became adults, they needed space from their parents. It was especially so for me since I wasn’t their biological daughter.

Ever since then, Zack stopped asking me to join him in his calligraphy sessions, and the study became off- limits. Even when he needed to speak with me, we had our conversations in the living room or the courtyard.

Today, he asked me to go to the study with me as he had when I was younger. It made me uneasy, but I didn’t ask any questions.

Following his instructions, I opened the brush and ink set, while he prepared the paper.

He studied the brush and ink I handed him. “This must have cost quite a lot of money,” he remarked.

“They’re invaluable,” I replied with a smile.

He smiled as well. “Indeed. Let’s take turns. I’ll write first, and you can grind the ink. Then we can switch

roles.”

That was how we used to do it in the past. I nodded and began grinding the ink.

Zack didn’t rush to write. First, he moistened the brush. Once I had ground some ink, he dipped his brush into it and wrote “When a leaf falls, one knows autumn is coming.

It was still summer, yet he chose this sentence. He was telling me that he knew what I was thinking. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“Your turn,” Zack said while handing the brush to r

1. me.

I hesitated before reaching out to take it. He offered a gentle smile, the same one he always wore. “Why the hesitation? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how to write?”

Even though his gaze was gentle, I felt an unprecedented amount of pressure. I nodded honestly. “It’s been a long time s