HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 840

And Brandon did not seem bothered by it in the slightest. On the contrary, he waited patiently for whatever answer Naomi would give.

“I understand,” he finally said as he slowly swirled the wine in his glass. “A relationship like that isn’t always easy to explain.”

His tone was light, almost like ordinary small talk. But before Naomi could begin to feel relieved, Brandon continued.

“If there’s really no relationship between you and Mr. Chris—”

He paused for a moment. His gaze settled directly on Naomi.

“May I pursue you?”

For a fraction of a second, Naomi genuinely thought she had misheard him.

And she was not the only one. Several people around them seemed to freeze as well.

Chris, who had looked relaxed until now, slowly lowered his glass. Meanwhile, Falcon immediately lifted his head. If he had not been standing in the middle of a crowded hall, he might have already marched over to Brandon and beaten him mercilessly.

Even Silas, standing not far from them, appeared tense.

Yet Brandon remained as calm as before.

“I also asked Mr. Cale for permission beforehand,” he continued casually. “It seems you respect him a great deal. Like an older brother you can rely on. So I thought asking his permission would be a proper sign of respect.”

This time, nearly all attention in the room shifted to Cale.

Naomi turned to look at him as well, and just as she had expected, the man had absolutely no intention of helping her. Cale simply stood there with the same calm expression that always managed to irritate Naomi. As though whatever came out of her mouth tonight was something she would have to deal with on her own.

Naomi’s gaze moved from Cale to Brandon. Then, without realizing it, swept across the other faces surrounding them: Silas, Falcon, the members of the Devereux family.

And finally returned to Cale.

No one was going to help her answer this question. For the first time since entering the hall, Naomi realized that everyone was waiting for her choice.

Not Cale’s choice or Chris’s.

Not the Devereux family’s either.

Her choice.

How strange.

But perhaps because of that, Naomi knew one thing.

At the very least, when Chris was by her side, she felt safe.

And that was more than enough.

“Even though we haven’t known each other for very long,” Naomi continued with a faint smile, “it seems we’re quite compatible.”

Beside her, Chris looked as though he were trying very hard to hold something back. Perhaps a smile. Perhaps laughter. Or perhaps the urge to say something that would undoubtedly make Naomi regret defending him.

Brandon observed the two of them for quite a while before slowly nodding. There was no disappointment on his face. Merely regret for having asked a question that had drawn so much attention. Or perhaps simply an effort to force himself to accept the situation.

“In that case,” he said, slightly raising the wine glass in his hand, “I respect the bond between the two of you.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “I also hope more people will agree with me.”

Then his gaze shifted toward Cale.

“What do you think, Mr. Cale?”