His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex Wife novel Chapter 379

Chapter 379 No Way Out

“I like you, Zoe.” Brandon mustered his courage and laid his feelings out there.

Zoe’s heart skipped a beat–his confession caught her completely off guard.

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He was handsome, tall, well–mannered. Warm, kind, mature, stable. A good job, a good family.

How many women could honestly say no to a guy like that?

But Brandon liking her… wasn’t a good thing.

Before she could gather her thoughts, he went on, “I’m not asking you to like me back. Just… maybe we could start as friends?”

Zoe’s chest tightened. She felt a pang so sharp her eyes stung. “You know my brother kidnapped your sister, right?”

“I know. But that’s got nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me.” Zoe clenched her fists, fighting back tears, her heart aching like it was being squeezed. She chose her words carefully, “He’s my blood brother. That’s never going to change. After what he did to Iris, I can’t even look her in the eye–let alone you or Cayden. I didn’t leave without saying goodbye. I left because I was too ashamed to stay under your roof.”

Brandon looked down. A quiet, heavy tension settled around him.

While his head was lowered, Zoe quickly brushed away a tear from the corner of her eye.

“If I got together with you–or worse, married you–what happens when my brother gets out?” Zoe asked, voice strained. “How would our families even be in the same room? Or would you expect me to cut him off and pretend he doesn’t exist?”

“Zoe, listen-”

She didn’t let him finish. “And then there’s my dad. He’s a gambling addict. Do you have any idea what that’s like? It’s a black hole. Your family’s well–off, respected. If someone like my dad became your in–law, losing money would be the least of it. But what if the Whitmore name got dragged through the mud because of me? Because of my dad, or my brother? Could you live with that?”

The more she spoke, the worse she felt. It wasn’t her fault she came from a messy background. She’d always tried to stay strong, to keep her head up.

She wanted what anyone wants–to find someone who loved her, build a good life.

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15:26 Thu, Jun 25

Chapter 379 No Way Out

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But it was one thing for her to be stuck in this mess. Brandon was a good man–really good— and she refused to drag him down with her.

“I’m sorry,” Zoe said sincerely, “Thank you for liking me. But I don’t feel the same way, and I think it’s better if we don’t stay in touch.”

Brandon looked at her, his earnest eyes turning red. “Some things can change if you try.”

“Some things can’t. I’m just… bad news.”

“You’re not.” His voice was firm.

Zoe’s frustration boiled over. “I am. Three years ago, if my brother hadn’t stolen my phone, Iris would never have been taken. Thank God she and Harper made it out okay–otherwise I could never have forgiven myself.”

Brandon pulled his hands from his pockets, placed them on his hips, and turned away. He stared up at the dark sky and let out a long, weary breath.

Zoe watched his back, saw the hurt in his posture, and her own heart broke. Tears streamed down quietly, her voice trembling when she spoke again.

“Dr. Whitmore, I’m not liking you… it’s not because you’re not enough. It’s me. I’m not enough for you. We’re from different worlds. We wouldn’t work—there’d be one problem after another. No matter how much you liked me, it’d wear you down bit by bit.”

She gave him a small, apologetic nod. “I’m sorry, Dr. Whitmore.”

With that, she turned to leave—and walked straight into Daniel, who was standing in her path.

Daniel looked solemn, a trace of guilt in his expression. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. I got worried when you were gone so long, so I came to check.”

Zoe shot him a tired glance. “It’s fine. Since you heard all that, now you know why I turned you down every time.”

She stepped past him and kept walking.

Brandon turned around just then, and his eyes met Daniel’s.

Their looks were calm on the surface, but underneath, something unspoken passed between them.

Neither said a word. After a few seconds, Daniel turned and followed Zoe.

She didn’t head back to the banquet. Instead, she made straight for the exit.

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15:26 Thu, Jun 25

Chapter 379 No Way Out

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