110

ALAYNA

“Mom? I’m home,” I call as we enter the house, and my mother instantly gets up from the couch in utter surprise to see Brandon.

I know she’s livid at the sight of him, but she’s got the wrong impression. I fed that to her. I loathed him in front of her because I assumed that he wouldn’t be back. That was stupid of me; I just thought it could be one of the ways to move on and forget.

“Mr. Lucien.” Her brows crease in surprise, but her voice is guarded.

“Good evening, Mrs. Hart. I’m sorry for barging in, in the dead of night,” Brandon says, but my mother doesn’t move.

“Mom?” I wave a hand in front of her face, and she snaps back to reality, then shoots me a glare.

“What is going on? Why are you bringing this married man into our house, Alayna?” she asks angrily. Of course, she’d assume that too.

“Mom, it’s not what you think, and this man is right here listening to you. Besides, he’s not married.” I sigh and glance at Brandon, who looks slightly uncomfortable.

“All I know is that