Oblivious to Brandon’s reaction, Natalie, filled with excitement,asked expectantly,”How did I get to know Draco before? Can you tell me?” Swallowing his jealousy, Brandon forced a gentle smile onto his face and explained,”You used to be a designer at the W Marks Studio. Draco is the boss there, so naturally you knew him.”
“I was a designer at the W Marks Studio?” Natalie clasped her face in her hands,her voice a mixture of astonishment and joy.”Did I do well back then?”
Jealousy continued to gnaw at Brandon,but the sight of Natalie’s happiness made him laugh.”Very well, indeed. You left W Marks and became an independent designer. Now you even have your own studio.”
The more Natalie heard, the more animated she became, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.”I knew I was a designer,but I didn’t realize I was so accomplished!”
Brandon, unable to resist, poked one of the dimples in Natalie’s cheeks. His smile softened as he continued, “Actually, before you lost your memory, you entered a world-class design competition and won the Best Newcomer Award. Sadly, you disappeared before youcould attend the award ceremony. His voice trailed off, a shadow of guilt crossing his face. It was all his fault!
If he hadn’t left her alone in the dressing room at the fashion show, she wouldn’t have been abducted by Jeremy, nor would she have endured so much pain.
Natalie,sensing his remorse, took his hand and reassured him, “It’s not your fault. It’s all because of that awful person, Jeremy.”
Wishing to lift his spirits, she quickly changed the subject.”Could I see the work I submitted for the competition? I’m curious about what I designed back then.
Brandon pulled out his phone,quickly locating Natalie’s works and the list of awards she had received before she disappeared,and handed it to her.Take a look.”
“Is this really my work?”Natalie took the phone in a daze, her eyes widening at the sight of the exquisite and unique design works on the screen.Her fingers curled involuntarily,almost as if she couldn’t accept what she was seeing.”Did I really create something this beautiful?” Brandon placed a warm hand on her head, rubbing it affectionately.”Of course, you’re an incredibly talented designer.
Natalie scrolled through her works and the list of awards, her face alight with joy. But then, something dawned on her, and her happiness gave way to a crestfallen expression.
Unfortunately… She could no longer create such beautiful clothes…
Brandon saw the disappointment in her eyes, and his grip on her hand tightened. In a gentle voice, he reassured her”Don’t worry,we’ll find a way to help you regain your memories.”
Frank,eager to help, chimed in”I’ve already talked to Jeremy about the drugs you were given when you were missing When we get back to Barnes, we’ll run a thorough check-up. Soon we’ll figure out why you lost your memory and help you get it back.
To alleviate Natalie’s potentialdoubtsFrank patted his chest confidently, boasting”Don’t worry.I’m the best doctor in Barnes.I guarantee you’ll remember everything once we’ve finished the treatment!”
Natalie’s smile returnedwarmed by Frank’s confidence. “Thank you. I believe you’ll cure my amnesia.”
“Of course,Frank replied,swelling with pride after receiving Natalie’s endorsement.
But as the conversation moved on, Natalie’s smile faded, and her head drooped Although Frank appeared to be a competent doctor and might truly have a solution to her memory loss, the emptiness that her amnesia created was still there, filling her heart. It was a profound sense of unease and confusion that weighed her down, leaving her dispirited and downcast.
Observing the change in her demeanor, Brandon was tender and patient. He gave her palm a gentle squeezeandwhispered comforting words, “Don’t be afraid. You have many good friends in Barnes. Perhaps seeing them will help you remember…
Natalie glanced at Brandon, her lips quivering as she confessed in a soft voice”Brandon, I’m still scared…
She was tormented by the fear that she would never remember the past, that the memories of her life so far would remain lost forever, leaving her to start anew. She was terrified that she would never again be able to craft a design as breathtaking as her previous works…
Brandon sighed and delicately lifted her chin with his slender fingers, his deep eyes fixed on hers without wavering. His voice, gentle yet imbued with unwavering conviction,whispered,Brandon’s eyes were captivating-slightly upturned with thick lashes,and now filled with warmth and affection for Natalie. The tenderness in his gaze acted like a balm on her restless heart, calming her fears.
“Okay,” Natalie’s voice, soft and imbued with trust, replied as she grasped Brandon’s hand.”I trust you.”
Frank, sensing the intimacy of the moment, discreetly looked down and busied himself with his phone, staying silent.
But soon, he was staring at the phone screen, eyes wide. His brow furrowed as he rapidly swiped at the display, and then he shot a grave look at Brandon.
Noticing Frank’s anxious expression, Brandon surmised that something urgent had come up. He found a pretext to coax Natalie to take some rest, ensuring she was comfortable.
He then turned to Frank,his brow creased with concern. “What’s wrong? What happened?””I can’t articulate it. You need to see for yourself.” Frank’s hand trembled as he handed the phone to Brandon, his hair a disheveled mess from his anxious scratching.
As Brandon’s eyes scanned the news on the phone,his face turned ashen,and a cold dread settled in his stomach.
“Brandon Larson, CEO of the Larson Group, Under Suspicion for Murder.”
“Larson Group CEO Accused of Homicide: Fact or Fiction?
The bright red headlines flashed prominently on the screen. The top trending searches on several major domestic social platforms were filled with sensational news about Brandon’s alleged murder abroad. The reports were filled with vivid details,and it didn’t take long for the story to spark a nationwide frenzy.
Brandon’s face contorted into a frown. He rapidly skimmed through two stories that claimed to contain irrefutable evidence, including pictures. Clicking on the images, he enlarged them to see clearly. At first glance,he recognized the setting-it was the private room of the exclusive club that had been burned down.
His lips thinning, Brandon scrolled through the images with his fingertips. The next picture was a GIF, purportedly showing him stabbing Jeremy with a dagger.
The final image was a death certificate-Jeremy’s death certificate.
Though Brandon had weathered many storms in his life, this moment left him feeling a chill in his fingers.
Who could have spread this news on the Internet, catching him off guard?
The Darkmoon Assassin Group was currently in turmoil, and Corinne obviously had neither the time nor energy to orchestrate this. Except for her, only Jeremy, who was supposedly consumed in flames, would have the motive. It seemed that Jeremy was not dead after all. He had even taken advantage of Brandon’s unguarded state to attack him.
The realization that he had been framed made Brandon’s eyes burn with rage.
Sensing the overwhelming killing intent emanating from Brandon, Frank asked in a trembling voice, “It seems that not only is Jeremy still alive, but he’s also prepared. What should we do now?”
A cold light flickered in Brandon’s eyes. He sneered,”Game on. I’d like to see what tricks he has up his sleeve.
Though he spoke defiantly, he rubbed his temples, a weariness showing in his eyes.
The recent events, piling one on top of the other, were beginning to take their toll. Even for someone as capable as Brandon, the relentless pressure was wearing him down. Noticing the exhaustion on his face, Frank reached over to pat him on the shoulder, suggesting,”Shall we contact Sean to ask him to deal with it?”
Rubbing his temples, Brandon nodded and dialed Sean’s number.
Clearly, Sean had been anticipating Brandon’s call. He answered almost immediately, and before Brandon could even speak, he said,”Mr. Larson, we have been dealing with the posts on the Internet, but those posts are coming from overseas websites.The IP addresses are located outside our country, and the information is being spread across numerous platforms. We can’t delete them in a short time.”
Brandon had already understood that since Jeremy had orchestrated this, he would not give him a chance to handle it neatly. Pondering for a moment, Brandon instructed, “Make every effort to bring the situation under control tonight. Don’t let the rumors continue to spread unchecked.”
“Yes, we’ve already dispatched someone to address the situation. If nothing goes wrong,we may be able to delete all the posts tonight,” Sean replied, his voice tinged with the strain of a headache.”But now, most online users have already seen these posts.Even if we delete the reports, it will be difficult to stop people from talking about them.”
This was indeed a vexing problem for Brandon. Jeremy had cunningly utilized the power of public opinion to exert pressure on him. It didn’t matter whether or not Brandon was the actual murderer; as long as the public believed he was, the perception would stick. If the police were to intervene at that point, the Larson Group’s reputation and stock price would suffer immensely.
Even if he were not arrested, if he couldn’t conclusively prove his innocence, he would be burdened with the stigma of being labeled a murderer for the rest of his life.
The only way out would be to present evidence that unequivocally proved he was not the one who committed the crime.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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