Chapter 82
A classmate glanced over at him curiously, âAre you looking for her for something?â
Brandon just shook his head, âNope.â
âThanks.â
After murmuring another quick thank you, Brandon looked up, scanning the sparsely filled seats in the classroom, reminiscing about the times heâd come here to find her engrossed in a book in the corner.
That evening, Brandon was on the flight back to West district.
He drove himself to the airport, solo. Leaving the hotel, he bumped into Daniel and Patricia, fellow guests there.
Both of them did a doubleâtake at the sight of his luggage.
âBrandon?â Patricia called out in surprise, then approached him with a beaming smile, âWhere are you off to? Mr. Frostâs family is planning a getâtogether, and you havenât seen Yolanda in years. Itâs a good chance to catch up.â
Brandon acted as if he hadnât heard a thing, his handsome face as impassive as ice, silently pressing the elevator button.
Patriciaâs smile faltered into awkwardness.
As Brandorâs stepmom, she felt sheâd done her part raising him from a boy to a man, but Brandon had always been lukewarm towards her. Not rebellious to the point of denying her as his mom, but he just never warmed up to her.
Patricia hadnât really tried to win Brandon overâafter all, he wasnât her biological son, and not meddling suited her just fine. But she had married a rich guy, and deliberately so.
Coming from a humble background, she had never wanted the grind of a mundane life just for a meager paycheck. But Patricia knew bagging a wellâoff match wasnât easy with what she had to offer. Her plan had been to elevate her status through education, to mingle with the elite, and land a topânotch guy. So, she hustled hard, got into
a prestigious university, and later landed a job with the Starlight Group.
The Crawley family was already wellâestablished by then. Patriciaâs stellar performance at work caught Danielâs attention, and she was soon working closely with him. But what really got her noticed was her gentle, sensible demeanor and her patience with children.
Brandonâs mom had just passed away, and the young boy needed a mother figure. Daniel saw in Patricia the perfect blend of warmth and patience, so soon after meeting, they tied the knot.
Patricia was well aware their marriage wasnât about loveâit was convenience. A cushy life was what she wanted, and she served Danielâs needs too.
She had planned for a long time to get Danielâs attention, so naturally, she didnât want any mess in her married life. Knowing how much Brandon meant to Daniel and his grandfather, she went out of her way to please her stepson.
Brandon, however, had always been resistant to her efforts. While not outright confrontational, he maintained a polite distance.
Though frustrated, Patricia couldnât lash out. She had hoped that once Brandonâs grandfather passed and her position in the family was solidified, she wouldnât have to keep playing nice with Brandon. But Daniel continued to spoil Brandon, even willing to clash with her for his sonâs sake. Patriciaâs concessions were all for maintaining her comfortable life, so she didnât dare butt heads with Daniel.
Over time, pleasing Brandon became a habit for Patricia, especially as he grew into a more impressive young man, and she couldnt help but feel a sense of pride in his achievements, feeling her effarts had played a part.
She yearned for his recognition and became increasingly invested in his life.
And thatâs how she noticed Sophia.
Like Patricia, Sophia came from a modest background, graduated from a prestigious school, and seemed wellâmannered and sensible. To Patricia, it was as if Sophia was following her playbook, aiming to climb the social ladder through Brandon.
Knowing her own kind too well, Patricia had never taken to Sophia. Sophiaâs presence was like a mirror, reflecting Patriciaâs own past squalor and years of compromise.
Now settled into a comfortable, enviable life with a secure position in the family, estranged from her own roots, Patricia didnât need someone else reminding her of her past lowliness.