Chapter 413

The days that followed Brandon’s return were a cruel mix of hope and heartbreak. The mansion bustled around him, trying to fold him back into its rhythm, but every step revealed how foreign it all felt to him.

At breakfast, the children clung to his arms, telling stories about soccer games, bedtime jokes, the silly nicknames he gave them. Brandon smiled politely, nodding, but his eyes stayed blank. Later, Hannah walked him through their garden, pointing out the roses he once planted for their anniversary. He touched the petals gently, but his silence said more than words: I don’t remember.

Each night, Hannah fell asleep beside him, staring at the man she loved, willing the memories to return. Each morning, she woke to the same polite stranger with Brandon’s face.

And Linda watched.

***

She chose her