ome, his phone kep

and saw the caller ID, he fe

cked up on th

said, trying t

on, Brandon's grandmother, barked from the other end of th

his temple. "Vivian is sick. Sh

ed and still hangs around you, playing the victim and acting like some noble mistress. I've never s

ace crossed his mind, and something

anything?" he asked,

Millie is your wife. You watched someone shove her to the ground while you stood there with an

ie's face, the way she looked at him

shed the tho

hospital to make a scene. She did

Watson, Brandon's grandfath

ought Millie home. You said you wanted to marry her.

.." Brand

t," Derek said, cutting him

for a reply bef

his fingers tapping the steeri

and scrolled until he

lied to the messages

he hit the c

ile before she f

y?" Brandon

calling?" Mil

did you go to the hospital today? Was

simply. "I went

e snapped. The irritation in

was only a quiet laugh-sho

der Brand

s words echoed in his h

my grandparents tonig

replied, her voic

dpa's order,"

't answer;

ained was th

the screen, look

in, but she d

oking at t

de, turned the key in the

ide had star

ked the car and walked

n he stepped inside. His

his voice low and firm.

ize that the entire h

Every time he came home, there was

fa, a book slipping from her hand, the TV low in

lights and looked

was e

trated by his grandfather's insistence that Millie show up fo

y light in the hou

n, bathroom. But there

he wasn't answerin

earth w

t-throwing a fit over a divorce

he

temporary. Millie was his wi

with him to the Watson family mansion,

o the storage room and picked

ment, and then make a d

familiar scent of Ch

ought it

ulders loosen

hanges of clothe

eld both their clothes-only his. Or that the m

t colder than

.

on, Millie and Alexia were

fe products, and Alexia shook her

said. "But here you are, choosing

y not? It's still

studied her own nails, plea

oked down

ing him, she'd been cooking for him daily, s

next is your hair, and then your wardrobe. I still remember when we were kids, sneak

"Too bad I'm a doctor now. Can't g

e lau

lly was-bright, express

or Brandon, having fal

e: to be with the man she loved, cook for him,

all seemed

t too late to ch

art again-this time