جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 437

The room fell deathly silent. No one dared to speak. Even Isabella’s grip on Brandon’s arm loosened as she stared at him in disbelief. Did he just… Did he just call Hannah’s name? Hannah’s lips parted, but no sound came out. Tears blurred her vision as she stood frozen in place, afraid to move. Afraid that if she did… The moment would disappear. Brandon remained on his knees, one hand gripping the side of his head while the other pressed against the floor for support. His breathing had become ragged, almost painful. “Hannah…” he whispered again, this time a little louder. His voice trembled. Like someone calling for home after being lost for a very long time. Fresh tears rolled down Hannah’s cheeks. “I’m here,” she answered softly. “I’m right here.” Brandon slowly lifted his head. His eyes searched the room until they landed on her. For several long seconds… He simply stared. His brows knitted together. His eyes slowly reddened. He looked co

Brandon’s body trembled. His arms tightened instinctively around the children. He didn’t even realize he was holding them so tightly until one of the boys laughed. “Daddy… you’re squeezing us.” The words snapped him back for only a second. “I’m sorry…” he whispered automatically. Then another memory hit him. Not a flash. Not a blur. A complete moment. He was sitting on the floor of the playroom. Eight tiny toddlers were climbing all over him. One sat on his shoulders. Another was tugging at his tie. One little girl kept insisting she was a princess while another demanded he become the dragon. He remembered pretending to roar. He remembered Hannah standing at the doorway, laughing so hard she almost dropped the tray of snacks she was carrying. “You’ve created eight little troublemakers.” “They’re your children,” Hannah had teased. “You spoiled them.” “I did not.” “You absolutely did.” “I prefer the term… well-trained.” She had rolled her

“It’s a long story.” Hannah gently squeezes his hand. “I want to hear it.” Brandon brushes his thumb across her cheek. “You will.” He glances toward the house again. “But not now.” She looks at him in confusion. He smiles. “Let’s wait until tonight.” “Everyone deserves to know what happened.” ⸻ That evening… The Colby mansion, which had been filled with laughter only hours earlier, had grown quiet. After spending the entire afternoon playing in the garden with Brandon, the octuplets had completely exhausted themselves. They had refused to leave his side, clinging to him as though they were afraid he would disappear again the moment they looked away. By the time dinner ended, every one of them had fallen asleep. Alex and the maids carefully carried the sleeping children upstairs one after another, tucking them into bed. Only after the last bedroom door closed did silence settle over the mansion once again. Downstairs, the dining room remained brigh

Brandon slowly let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “When I woke up…” he continued quietly, “…I had no idea where I was.” “I couldn’t remember my own name.” “I couldn’t remember any of you.” “I couldn’t even remember why my body was covered in bruises.” He smiled bitterly. “I was just… a man with no past.” Hannah lowered her head, tears rolling silently down her cheeks. Brandon gently wiped them away before continuing. “A kind elderly couple found me lying near the river after the crash. They took me to a small clinic nearby.” “The doctor told them I had suffered a serious head injury.” “They asked me who I was.” “I couldn’t answer.” “They asked if I had any family.” “I couldn’t answer that either.” “I had forgotten everything.” Jessica wiped her own tears. “So… how did you finally come home?” Brandon smiled softly. “I later found out that after the crash, Alfred managed to escape with a few of his men.” “He was still trying t