Chapter 257
Noelle’s mind was ringing–loud and chaotic like someone had set off a bomb in her head
She stared at Brandon in shock, stumbling backward, completely overwhelmed.
He kissed her. On the lips,
How could he kiss her?
She was Nicolas’s fiancée. Even Nicolas hadn’t kissed her on the lips yet–and now Brandon had just done it without asking.
Noelle didn’t fully understand the intricacies of romance or social rules, not yet. She’d seen people kiss on the mouth as a casual greeting back when she was abroad, even between people who weren’t lovers. But this felt different. She knew it was different.
If Nicolas found out, he’d be furious.
“Noelle, what’s wrong?” Brandon stepped forward and took her hand, stopping her from retreating further.
Her eyes turned red instantly. She bit her lip, voice trembling like a child who’d just been scolded. “Brandon… why did you kiss me? You
er lip. can’t You’re not supposed to kiss me.”
“Not supposed to?” Brandon raised an eyebrow, his tone still smooth–but there was a new edge to it now.
He stepped in close, tilted her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to look at him. His smile lingered, charming on the surface, but cold and commanding beneath
“What exactly is it that I can’t do to you, Noelle?” he asked, his tone soft yet unmistakably threatening.
1..she faltered.
But Brandon didn’t let her speak. He pressed on, his grip firm. “Aren’t you mine! I own you. Every part of you belongs to me–your body, your mind, your loyalty. If that’s true, shouldn’t you accept everything I do to you… gladly?”
His emerald–green eyes bore into hers, unblinking.
Noelle opened her mouth to speak, to protest… but no sound came.
She had been raised in a lab. Conditioned from the start to obey. Obedience was law. Orders were everything.
Brandon had said before that he held full rights over her–that she belonged to him.
And if she belonged to him, then he could do whatever he wanted with her.
Even if every fiber of her heart wanted to resist… her training refused to let her.
Her face turned ghostly pale. She stood frozen for a moment before finally lowering her head and whispering, “You’re right.. but… but…
This person in front of her–this “friend” she once adored–now felt like a complete stranger. Even terrifying.
Brandon smiled again. “Say it, Noelle. Tell me you belong to me. Say you submit to me.
Noelle a chest was tight. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. Every part of her wanted to scream no, but the years of psychological conditioning pushed back, crushing her resistance.
In the end, ber defenses collapsed. Her voice was hollow when she said, “For life?”
“For life”
“Say it again”
“I submit to Brandon. For life
Brandon grinned, satisfied
He wrapped his ma around her, pulling her
Leaning
he cradled her in his arms, chin resting gently stops
“You’re such a good girl, he murmured, eyes glinting with something unreadable. ‘Im very pleased”
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Chapter 257
Noelle stood in his arms, utterly silent,
Mission Mission. Mission, her mind repeated over and over. Everything is for the mission. The mission comes first, no matter what.
Even if that meant breaking her promise to Nicolas.
Even if that meant betraying her own heart.
Her chest ached. Like something inside had been cracked wide open.
She felt like she was suffocating.
Still numb, Noelle followed Brandon back to the front gate of the Anderson estate.
The family driver was already waiting.
As soon as she appeared, he stepped forward to open the door. “Miss Noelle, your car is ready.”
Noelle nodded dully. Then she glanced at Brandon and murmured, “Brandon, I’m going to see Nicolas now.”
“Mm, go ahead” Brandon released her hand.
Noticing the faint red around her eyes, he brushed a thumb gently across the corner. “You look a bit pitiful. If Nicolas sees you like this, won’t he be worried? What will you tell him?”
Noelle flinched.
If she kept looking like this, Nicolas would definitely notice. And when he asked what happened, what was she supposed to say?
She couldn’t lie to Nicolas. But she couldn’t let him know Brandon had kissed her, either.
Get it together, she told herself. It was just a kiss. People kiss all the time overseas And I’ve had worse–like a bullet through my shoulder. A kiss is nothing.
‘Right. Don’t be dramatic. At worst, just pretend I got bitten by a dog she thought.
After psyching herself up, her mood started to lift. She took a deep breath and managed a smile.
“Brandon, Ill head off now.”
Brandon watched her quietly. Just moments ago, she’d been crushed- now she was cheerful again. The only difference? He’d mentioned Nicolas,
He’d mentioned Nicolas
So that man has such power over her. Brandon narrowed his eyes slightly, but his smile remained. “Be careful, then?
“I will” Noelle took her suitcase from him, quickly stashed it in the trunk, and climbed into the backseat:
As the driver shut the door, she leaned over to wave goodbye. “Bye, Brandon!”
“Bye Noelle, he replied, waving gently as he watched the car pull away.
the vehicle diuppeared down the mad, the smile on Brandon’s face slowly faded.
spression darkened. I really ought to get rid of that man soon, he thought coldly. But doing it too fast would be far too boring
sudden
Just as he turned to leave, a nadien prickling sensation crawled up his back
Someone was watching him–waterhing with intensity and intent
narrowed his eyes, scanning the hormon
Far in the distance, across the sprawling grounds, stood the main Anderson estate. From this distance, most people wouldn’t be able to ser clearly
But Brandon wasn’t most people.
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Chapter 257
His eyesight was eight times sharper than normal. Even at this range, he could make out exactly who it was.
He locked eyes with the watcher–but didn’t react. Instead, he let out a low chuckle and turned away, the corner of his mouth curled in derision
Back in the house. Adriel was walking down the hallway when he spotted Elsie standing completely still by a window.
“Elsie? What are you looking at?” he asked.
She turned back at the sound of his voice.
All the tension vanished from her body in an instant–no more sharp gaze, no more killing intent.
Just innocent, sweet–eyed Elsie. She blinked and replied sofily. “Nothing. I wasn’t looking at anything”
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