Brandon sat slumped in a shadowy corner of the bar, three empty whiskey bottles standing like silent
witnesses before him.
“One more,” he rasped, tapping the counter with a trembling hand.
The bartender hesitated. “Sir, you’ve had…”
“One more!” Brandon barked, his voice harsh and broken, drawing glances from nearby patrons.
With a sigh, the bartender poured him half a glass. “Last one.‘
Brandon didn’t respond. He downed it in one gulp, the liquor searing down his throat like fire. His stomach churned violently, but he just sat there, hollow–eyed and numb.
“…Evelyn.” Her name left his lips like a dying man’s prayer.
Suddenly, a sharp pain twisted through his gut. He doubled over, cold sweat soaking through his shirt. “Sir? Sir!” The bartender’s voice was panicked. “Are you okay?”
Brandon waved him off and tried to stand, but his legs buckled beneath him.
He collapsed to the floor and vomited–red.
Blood and alcohol splattered across the tiles. People screamed.
“Call an ambulance! Hurry!”
As someone helped him up, his blurry vision caught a familiar silhouette by the door–Evelyn, frowning,
arms crossed.
“Evelyn…” He reached for her, but his hand closed on empty air.
Just another illusion.
He laughed at himself bitterly and let the EMTs lift him onto the gurney.
Three days later, Brandon was discharged from the hospital.
The doctor warned him–one more drink could kill him.
But he said nothing, pulled on his coat, and headed straight to the most luxurious bridal boutique in the city
center.
“Show me your finest gowns,” he said, tossing a black card onto the counter. “Have the models try them
all.”
The manager, startled, scrambled to accommodate him.
Chapter 23
“King or Clown Move asidet i show you my own!
Brandon sat in the VIP lounge, expression unreadable, as model after model walked out draped in exquisite silk, lace, and beads.
His frown only deepened.
“Next.”
“No, not that one.”
“Wrong silhouette.”
“This isn’t her style!”
At last, he shot to his feet and flipped the table in front of him.
“None of them are her!” he shouted. “Not one damn dress like hers!”
The room froze.
The manager stepped forward, wary. “Sir… may I ask… who exactly are you referring to?”
“Evelyn Parker!” Brandon’s voice cracked, eyes bloodshot. “The gowns she designs have a soul. These—
these are trash!”
He stormed toward the door, but the moment he pushed it open, he stopped dead.
Across the street, Evelyn was walking side by side with Ryan Hays, coffee cups in hand, laughing at
something Ryan’d said.
Brandon felt like the world stopped turning.
“Evelyn!”
He ran across the street, heedless of the traffic.
Evelyn heard his voice and turned, her smile vanishing instantly. “Brandon?”
He came to a breathless stop in front of her. “I–I saw your design. It’s… it’s beautiful.”
She didn’t look at him. “Thanks. Now get out of the way.”
Brandon stepped in front of her. “That wedding, it wasn’t what I wanted! It was all Vanessa and my mother -I never wanted to marry her!”
“That’s not my problem,” Evelyn said flatly, tugging Ryan forward.
Brandon caught her wrist. “Just look at me look what I’ve become.”
His voice trembled. He was unshaven, disheveled, a ghost of the man he used to be.
Chapter 23
88.46%
“King or Clown: Move aside! I’ll show you my crown!
Evelyn yanked her hand free, disgust in her eyes, voice like steel. “You became this because you chose to.”
The words hit Brandon like a knife to the chest.
He stood frozen as she walked away with Ryan.
The crosswalk light turned red.
Evelyn and Ryan stepped off the curb.
Brandon watched her retreating figure and let out a broken laugh. “Yeah… I deserve this.”
Then–Screech.
A sports car barreled through the intersection–straight at Evelyn.
“EVELYN!!”
Brandon didn’t think.
He lunged forward, shoving her out of the way.
CRASH!
Tires screeched. His body flew through the air and landed hard on the pavement.
Evelyn tumbled to the sidewalk, stunned, watching in horror as Brandon lay crumpled in a pool of blood.
He lifted his head with effort, lips twitching into a faint smile.
“You’re okay… That’s all that matters.”
Then darkness closed in.
Evelyn sat outside the OR, her hands still stained with Brandon’s blood. They wouldn’t stop shaking.
Ryan handed her a cup of hot water. “The doctors are doing everything they can.‘
She didn’t take it. She just stared at the doors to the OR, her voice raw.
“Why… why did he do that?”
Ryan didn’t answer. He gently rested a hand on her shoulder.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
She hated him–for the lies, the betrayals, the cowardice.
Chapter 23
89.46%
“King or Clown: Move aside! I’ll show you my crown!
But when he threw himself in front of that car, then broken and bleeding, something inside her clenched
hard and refused to let go.
The surgery light finally clicked off.
A doctor emerged.
“He’s stable… for now. We’ll need close observation.”
Evelyn nodded, her eyes drifting toward the recovery room… where Brandon lay, unconscious and pale against the sheets.
So still.
