"Did he really mention Brandon's name just now?" Jake's expression changed as he wondered within himself.The investor excused himself and walked straight toward Brandon.Lyra's attention followed him, and for the first time that evening, she really looked at Brandon instead of simply seeing him as her former husband.He was wearing an expensive, perfectly tailored suit with polished shoes that matched his appearance, and under the bright lights of the hall, he looked almost like a movie star. His hair was neatly styled, his posture was confident, and the way he carried himself among the investors made him appear completely different from the man she remembered.During their marriage, she had rarely seen him dressed like this.Most of the time, he had been in an apron while taking care of the household, moving between the kitchen, laundry room and other chores she had never thought twice about. Whenever they went outside, he usually wore simple, ordinary clothes, and Lyra remembered f

“Yes, I'm in my twenties. Any problem?”Victoria grinned at Brandon as she stood beside him, clearly amused by the stunned expression on his face.Brandon stared at her for another second. He had expected many things from her over the past few days, but he had never expected to discover that the woman he had agreed to pretend to date was barely in her twenties.He was already in his late thirties.The realization made him briefly question every decision that had brought him to this moment.“Are you serious? You're joking, aren't you?" Victoria's grin widened. “Why would I joke about my age? Do you want me to show you my ID or something?”“No, thanks.” Brandon lowered his voice, still looking slightly stunned. “I just thought you were older.”“I noticed.” She narrowed her eyes at him.Brandon sighed and quickly added, “Stop it Victoria, I didn't mean it like that." “You definitely meant it like that.”Brandon rubbed his forehead, unsure whether he should laugh or apologize. “It's you

Brandon gave her a brief glance, and Victoria immediately noticed the surprise in his expression. “What?” she wondered aloud, raising an eyebrow.“Nothing,” Brandon replied, though the faint amusement on his face made it obvious that something had caught him off guard.“You're surprised?”“A little,” he admitted. It was the first time someone had openly defended him like this. Jake had always used Brandon's silence to his advantage, twisting every situation until Brandon became the one at fault. Lyra had believed Jake's version of events and convinced herself that Brandon was the one making things difficult for him. No matter how many times Brandon tried to explain himself or defend his actions, she always chose Jake's side.Victoria was different. She barely knew everything he had been through, yet she had still chosen to stand beside him without hesitation. For once, someone was willing to believe in him instead of looking for a reason to blame him.Victoria smiled as she rested h

“It means you spent years with Brandon as your husband, yet you never truly took the time to understand him.” Victoria met her gaze calmly and replied. “Maybe you always saw him as a servant who looked after the house or a nanny who took care of your daughter, but you never really saw him as your husband.” Looking at Lyra's silence, Victoria sighed. “Just a few words about him from Jake, I immediately became angry, yet when Jake called him useless, dishonest, lazy and every other name he could think of, you never defended him. So tell me, what right do you have to stand here and call him your husband now?”Lyra's expression hardened as she immediately defended herself. “Jake wasn't lying. Everything he said about Brandon was true. Brandon was lazy, he had no ambition, and he spent years depending on me while I was the one working to build my career. Don't pretend you know more about my marriage than I do.”Victoria's eyes narrowed, her voice remaining calm but firm. “If Brandon were

“Where are you taking me, Jake?”Lyra pulled her arm free the moment they reached the entrance of her house. She was still angry from everything that had happened at the event, and Jake's attempt to drag her away had only made her more irritated.“We should leave before you make things worse,” Jake replied, keeping his voice calm. “You were already upset, and confronting Ms. Ashford and Brandon in front of everyone would only have given people something else to talk about.”Lyra stared at him in frustration. “I don't care what those people think. Did you see him tonight? He stood there as if he had suddenly become someone important, and that woman was beside him as if she had every right to be there. What exactly didn't I give him? I gave him status as my husband, supported him financially, and tolerated all the people who mocked him for being useless. I put up with everything, and now, because of one mistake on my part, he's acting as if I ruined his life and pushed him into another