CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Liam and Sophia walked to a nearby cafe because Sophia was not entirely happy with the way Liam reacted.

"I am sorry about earlier" He leaned forward and said, his fingers interlocked and on the table.

"It's fine, I think I can understand your perspective…. It's also my fault for not telling you about that incident and I am sorry Liam, I really am" Sophia said with remorse.

"How did this happen? Who is responsible for this?" worry weighed on his face as he asked.

Sophia looked away for a second and looked back at Liam.

"Is there something else I don't know?" Liam asked, his eyes glistened with curiosity mixed with concern.

"The person responsible was arrested, but then he died a few hours after he was arrested," Sophia said.

"What? Died while in the holding cell?" Liam asked, his brows a bit higher than usual.

"That is what we were told by the cops, I didn't want to tell you 'cause I didn't want you to worry," Sophia said in a low voice.

"I will always be worried when it has to do with you Sophia, this perpetrator being dead without any solid reason is suspicious enough," he said actively.

"I feel so too, Bran feels the same way," Sophia said.

"I think you will need some sort of protection," Liam said and brought out his phone from his pocket, he was about to make a call when Sophia called back his attention.

"Uhh Liam, what are you trying to do?" Sophia curiously asked.

"Getting you a good bodyguard," Liam said, still busy on his phone.

"Uhh, I don't think there would be a need for that," Sophia said and looked at him.

Liam looked at Sophia and as he traced her eyes, he saw that she looked at the two security details seated at the next table, their eyes fixated on them.

"Are they here for you?" Liam asked.

"Yeah, Bran hired them today I guess," Sophia said and sipped her Americano.

Liam looked at them one more time and huffed.

"At least he did something right," Liam said and returned his phone to his breast pocket.

"Are you really going to end things with Bran after the contract marriage ends?" Liam asked, his eyes searched Sophia for her reaction.

This question caught Sophia off-guard as she suddenly choked on the coffee she was drinking, causing her to cough.

She quickly placed the cup on the table and wiped her mouth with the napkin on the table.

"I am sorry, I wasn't expecting that question," Sophia said as she cleared her throat afterwards.

"I guess you are not thinking of ending things with him, do you still love him?….. Enough to let yourself be hurt again? Because I was there Sophia, I was there when you were at your lowest and battled with depression!" Liam argued.

Sophia could not say a word as she looked away, her mouth covered with her hand as her eyes brimmed with tears that refused to drop.

All that Liam said was true, he was there with her when she was at her lowest and battled with depression six years ago.

"I can't—-can't bear to see you in that state again Sophia," Liam said and held her hands for a short while.

He let go of her hand after a while, stood and left the cafe with no other words as Sophia watched him leave.

She turned away and stared into oblivion for a while, then sniffled and wiped the tears with her handkerchief.

*BRAN'S POV*

There I sat, on the stool in front of the bar with a cup of whiskey, filled halfway.

I raised the cup of whiskey to have a sip but my hand stopped halfway to my mouth. I looked up and saw that it was Ken who stopped my hand.

He retrieved the cup of whiskey from my hand and placed it back on the bar counter.

"Drinking?" Ken asked, a smirk on his face as he took his seat on the stool in front of me.

"Ken, it's good to see you," I said and gave him a handshake with a smile.

"I heard what happened with Sophia," Ken said as he pushed the cup of whiskey toward the barman to dispose.

The man carried the cup of whiskey and went ahead to dispose of it.

I feel like this is all my fault" I said, my head bowed down.

"Why would you say that man?" Ken asked.

"I feel some of the people against me are trying to break me by trying to hurt Sophia, this wasn't what I bargained for when I asked her to marry me," I said with so much guilt.

"You can't blame yourself for things like this Bran, and drinking isn't going to solve the issue at hand"

"I just needed a few glasses to clear my head, I feel so bad about this…. It feels like being back with me wasn't ideal for her" I said in a low voice.

"Look, we both know who might be responsible for these….. You just need to find enough evidence but in the meantime, keep Sophia safe" Ken advised.

"That has always been my utmost priority, I didn't think my uncle would stoop so low to have Sophia kidnapped," I said and held my head.

"And what if it's not your uncle? What if it's someone else? You have to keep your mind open about these things Bran" Ken said.

"What do you mean?" I asked, quite confused.

"I am just trying to be open-minded about these things and it would do you good if you do too....we never can tell" Ken defended.

He signalled the barman to get him two bottles of water.

"Where is she now? Instead of being here, don't you think it's best you stay with her at times like this?" Ken inquired as he collected the bottled water from the barman.

I kept silent for a while without any response.

"Bran, is there a reason why you're not home?" Ken's brows raised.

"He came to see her at the office" I muttered.

"What? Who did?" Ken asked.

"Liam" I muttered.

"Liam? Her friend?" Ken asked more.

"Yeah, he stopped by the office to see her," I said.

"Is that why you are here sulking on a glass of whiskey?" Ken asked as he laughed mockingly.

I said no words and just stared at Ken who was apparently finding it funny.

"How did you even get to know this? Don't tell me you have someone tailing her?" Ken asked, his poise changed.

"Of course not man, I am not that insensitive….. I was just informed by her security details" I said and collected one bottle of water from him and drank.

"Informed? Security details? You hired security details for Sophia?" Ken curiously asked.

"Yeah"

"Are you sure you didn't hire them so they could monitor her whereabouts for you out of jealousy?" Ken asked as he looked at me, his right brow slightly slanted with a smirk on his lips.

"Of course not, I just happened upon that information" I defended.

"Look, I can't also tell if there is anything between the two of them but I would solely advise and encourage you to go after her if you really want to keep her.....letting jealousy cloud your judgement about her might send her further away from you as it did six years ago, and that didn't end up well for you," Ken said and tapped me on the shoulder.

"I know, I am really trying not to let history repeat itself… I won't be able to forgive myself if she goes through this again" I said with a glimpse of hope.

"Then let's get your ass back home man...you're not needed here," Ken said and smiled at me and I smiled back at him.

We both stood from the stool as I reached out for my wallet to pay for my drink.

"Nahh, don't worry about that" Ken stopped my hand and reached out for his own wallet. He brought out some dollar notes and placed them on the bar counter.

"Keep the tip," he said to the barman who retrieved the dollar notes with a smile.

Ken and I walked out of the bar and met with Pierre who was waiting by the car.

"My trip ends here, please get him home safely will ya?" Ken said as he turned to Pierre.

"Yes sir," Pierre said and opened the door for me.

"What do you say we play some golf this weekend?" I suddenly turned and asked.

"I think that would be great...goodnight man," Ken said and pocketed his hands.

"Goodnight," I said and got into the car.

Pierre got into the car and I immediately asked.

"Do you think I am drunk?" I asked as I permed my hair to the back with my hands.

"Sir?" Pierre asked out of surprise.

"Do you think she would notice that I am tipsy?" I asked again.

"I don't know what to say sir" Pierre muttered.

"Just drive then," I said, a soft smile played on my lips.