Novel1Sophia shot Brandon a puzzled look.
She could clearly see his eyes were slowly reddening, tears shimmering, lips quivering, and his Adam's apple bobbing like he was on an emotional rollercoaster, as if he'd just laid eyes on a long-lost love.
This emotional turmoil sent a wave of panic through her, for no apparent reason.
The panic she felt around Ivan was different-it was the fear that what he told her about being her boyfriend was actually true. But with Brandon, it was a panic that maybe she had otten something super important.
Driven by this anxiety, she instinctively tightened her grip on her own arm, which he had been squeezing so tightly. As she moved her arm, he suddenly yanked her closer with a strong pull, wrapping his arms around her with a fierce hug, as if he was scared she'd vanish into thin air.
"Where have you been all this time?" His voice, hoarse and choked with emotion, rang in her ears as he held her even tighter.
Sophia stood stiffly, letting him hold her, her phone still awkwardly pressed against her ear. She wanted to push him away but didn't dare to, wanted to speak but her throat felt blocked.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe look in Brandon's eyes, and his actions, full of joy at having regained what was lost, left her feeling out of her depth. Passersby stopped in their tracks, staring at the unexpected scene with confusion and curiosity.
On the other end of the phone, Harvey Ferber had gonepletely silent.
He had found her at the mall, witnessing her somewhat awkward embrace in Brandon's arms.
His expression was calm, without a ripple, as he simply glanced at Sophia, then at Brandon holding her tight, before slowly pulling the phone away from his ear and ending the call.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger.
Sophia, with a hesitant touch, lightly patted Brandon's arm, which was folded across her chest.
"Um... Hi?" Her voice was tentative and soft. "Could you letgo, please?" She felt his body tense up at her request.
Brandon's hands gently pressed on her shoulders and slightly pushed her away while he looked at her, his eyes a mix of shock, loss, and hurt.
This look intensified the panic and guilt swirling inside Sophia.
But the way she looked at him was with unfamiliarity, her expression alien.
It was as if he was aplete stranger to her.
For a split second, Brandon felt like he had plummeted from heaven to hell, a despair that he might have mistaken her identity once again, but it was only for an instant. Her features, her brows, the clear tenderness in her eyes... every detail was unmistakably Sophia.
Yet, her gaze had no emotion, no recognition.
It was as if he was just a stranger with no connection to her.
Even after their divorce two years ago, she had never looked at him with such distance.
"You... don't remember?" he asked hoarsely.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSophia shook her head hesitantly, her eyes clear and calm but filled with confusion, like she was seventeen again.
"Did we... know each other before?" she asked, her voice trailing off with uncertainty.
Her question shattered Brandon's fleeting joy.
She didn't remember him, just as she didn't remember her tas Yolanda Frost. Now, she had also lost her memories as Sophia. To her, he was just another stranger, no different from any random passerby.
The profound sadness in Brandon's eyes made Sophia feel an inexplicable sorrow and even more clueless, Instinctively, she looked towards Harvey Ferber in the crowd, the man who had saved her and might know about her past. S Following her gaze, Brandon looked up to see Harvey Ferber, and instinctively pulled Sophia in front of him, his handsface turning cold.
Harvey glanced at him, then at Sophia, and walked towards her.
"Mom's been looking for you," Harvey said warmly. "She made you soup, said you haven't been eating well because of your illness and wanted to make sure you're nourished." The intimate tone, as if they were family, made Brandon instinctively tighten his grip on Sophia's arm.
Sophia winced from the sudden pain and looked at Brandon.
His face was tense, holding her too tight, as if... scared of losing her to someone else.
She tried to touch his hand, hoping l he'd relax his grip since it was hurting her. But the moment her fingertips brushed against his, Brandon turned to look at her, Kis eyes filled with even deeper sadness and disbelief, tinged with a hint of accusation. Sophia quickly withdrew her hand.
"I... I didn't mean... your grip... I think my arm's about to break..." she stammered, at a loss for words.
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