Love's Redemption

Redmption 313



We stood

silently by the lake, listening to the sound of the wind rippling across the water. After a while, I started to feel a bit tired, and my body couldn't stay still "What's wrong?" Brandon asked,

"I need to sit down. My legs are getting sore," I admitted.

Brandon glanced around, and before I knew it, I felt myself being lifted as he scooped me up by the waist and carried me toward a large rock nearby. Even though I'm used to him picking me up whenever he feels like it, I still playfully protested, "I can walk on my own."

"But didn't you say your legs were sore? How are you going to walk?"

I stuck my tongue out at him and fell silent.

Brandon gently set me down, then sat beside me. Just as I was about to snuggle up to him, he extended his arm, pulling me onto his lap.

What was this move?

The question had barely crossed my mind when he leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"The rock's cold."

Could there be a boyfriend more thoughtful than Brandon?

Maybe. However, I believed there was no one better than him.

"Thank you, my dear boyfriend," I said, tilting my head up to plant a kiss on him as a gesture of appreciation.

As soon as my lips touched his, something felt off. A faint taste of tobacco lingered in the air, making me freeze mid-kiss.

Brandon had been smoking!

So that was why he came out to the riverside alone-to smoke.

Sensing my hesitation, Brandon quietly said, "I won't smoke again. Today was the last time."

I shook my head. "It's okay."

He looked at me, his dark eyes even deeper than the night around us.

I gently

brow. "I don't mind if you smoke.df you

334shed my hand over his

sto, go ahead. Just don't

too much. It's bad for your

.""

As I said that, I felt a sudden pang of sadness, thinking about my parents' car accident. "Brandon, you're the closest person I have now, so you have to take care of yourself Stay healthy and be with me until

we're old."

A lifetime feels long, but I found myself looking forward to it.

He swallowed hard.

Thinking about my parents

reminded me of the accident report. I never finished reading it. I only got through the first half. I never looked at the final assessments or O conclusions.

"Brandon, did you read the report from my parents' car accident?" I asked, lying in his arms.

Brandon's grip on me tightened, and after a moment, he spoke softly, "It's in the past. Let's not talk about it anymore."

I thought he was worried I'd react like I did last time. "I'm not as scared as I was."

Even though I said that, I had no desire to look at those photos again, so I asked Brandon, "Just tell me."

"Tell you what?" he asked in a low voice.

"What was the reason behind my parents' car accident?"

Brandon fell silent, and my heart skipped a beat with unease. I looked up at him. “Why aren't you saying anything? Is there something wrong?"Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He looked down at me, his gaze flickering.

I held my breath. "Brandon."

"There was an issue with the car itself."

I frowned slightly at his answer. "What kind of issue?"

Brandon opened his mouth but didn't say anything. Remembering what Bree had mentioned, I asked

. directly, "Was it the brakes?"