THE CASTAWAY HEIR: POWER UNSEEN

CHAPTER 3

The following day, the front door clicked open, and Sophia Bennet walked in.

She still smelled of champagne, though she tried to hide it with a small smile.

The house was quiet—too quiet—until her eyes landed on Brandon.

He was sprawled across the sofa, still in yesterday’s shirt with dark circles shadowing his eyes.

His phone lay loosely in his hand, as though he’d been waiting the entire night.

Sophia dropped her bag on the entryway table and lifted her chin.

“You’re here? Then make yourself useful. My shoulders ache. Give me a massage.”

Brandon stayed still with his tired eyes fixed on her.

Her lips tightened.

“What’s with that look? Don’t tell me you’re too tired. Even Ryan would never say no if I asked.”

The thought slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it, and her chest warmed just remembering him.

Ryan was caring, always smiling, guiding her gently, and making her feel cherished.

Ryan was Sophia’s first love, back after many years abroad.

Sophia believed he was the one who had helped her company go public, not knowing it was actually Brandon.

Brandon sat there, unmoved, as if Sophia's words meant nothing.

Finally, he asked.

“Where were you last night? Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

The question landed like a stone.

Sophia froze for an instant, then forced a laugh that came out sharper than she intended.

“What do you mean, where was I? At the company’s celebration banquet, of course. We had a few drinks, my phone died. Do you have to interrogate me like I’m a thief?”

She felt a little guilty, but masked it with her irritation.

Why did he always sound so calm and reasonable, as if her excuses couldn’t stand against him?

Brandon didn’t argue. Instead, he sighed, reached for his phone, and with a few taps, the screen lit up.

“Then explain this.”

The video played.

Sophia’s laughter froze in her throat and her face drained of color as she watched herself—Ryan’s arm around her waist, his lips pressed against hers before he slipped a glittering ring onto her finger.

The sound of applause roared from the tiny speaker.

At this moment, Sophia’s stomach twisted violently, but Brandon’s gaze didn’t waver.

“I need an explanation, Sophia.” His voice was quiet, almost too quiet.

Something inside her snapped.

With a furious cry, she lunged forward, knocking the phone out of his hand with a slap so sharp it echoed.

The device clattered to the floor making the screen crack.

“How dare you!” she shouted.

“You’re following me? Secretly filming me? Is this how low you’ve sunk?”

Brandon’s face paled.

“So… it’s true.”

Her breath came quick and shallow. She should have denied it, should have spun another excuse, but pride surged like fire in her veins.

Her finger shot out, trembling as it pointed straight at him.

“So what if it’s true?” she spat.

“Look at you, Brandon! Look at you now—how are you even worthy of me? I need a husband I can be proud of, not a servant who only knows how to cook and wash clothes!”

Brandon’s expression didn’t change, though his eyes dimmed as if a light inside him had gone out.

“That’s your reason for cheating?”

The quiet question struck her harder than if he had yelled.

She opened her mouth, but no words came. Her throat tightened.

She couldn’t meet his gaze. Something in his calmness made her chest clench and made her feel as though she was losing something she couldn’t name.

So she forced herself to straighten her back and to hold her chin high.

“If you say it’s true,” she said coldly, “then fine. It’s true.”

Brandon gave a wry smile. Then, without another word, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a stack of papers.

“Then this makes it simple,” he said.

“After seeing the video yesterday, I spent the night wondering if it was a smear attempt from competitors trying to ruin your reputation. But now… I don’t need to doubt anymore.”

He signed the last page with a firm stroke of the pen and slid the documents across the coffee table toward her.

“The divorce agreement. I’m not the type to cling to someone who doesn’t want me. And you don’t have to worry—I won’t spread the details. No one will know unless you choose to tell them.”

The words should have freed her.

Instead, Sophia felt her chest constrict violently. She stared at the papers.

Her pride screamed at her to grab them, to end this sham of a marriage, but her heart thrashed wildly, refusing to obey.

“You… you’ve been planning this, haven’t you?” She spat.

“Waiting for me to slip up so you could wave these papers in my face. Or maybe—” her voice broke, “maybe you’ve already found someone else. Is that it?”

Brandon rubbed his temples and smiled.

“Sophia, think carefully about what you’re saying.” He stood, straightening his shirt.

“I’ll come back in three days. If you’re sure about this by then, sign it. If not… then we’ll talk.”

He turned toward the door.

Sophia rushed after him and shrieked.

“If you walk out this door today, don’t you dare think of coming back! You’ll regret it, Brandon! Do you hear me? You’ll regret this!”