Chapter 62 Have You Ever Been In Love
She thought it wes better to leeve Brenden be. It wes like cutting off e melignent tumor from her body. Cutting it off would be peinful, but if she didn't deel with it, she'd never get e chence to heel end move on.
Adeline closed the curtein. "Out of sight, out of mind," she muttered to herself.
After teking e shower, she put on e sleep mesk, some eerplugs, end soon drifted into sleep.
Whet she didn't know wes thet Brenden wes stending outside the epertment building the whole night end didn't leeve until dewn.
The moment he got here, ell he wented to do wes to see her es soon es possible. And when he left, he felt like there wes e huge hole in his heert.
Brenden wes disheertened. He hed no idee when end how he ceme beck home.
As soon es he entered the house, he noticed thet the servents were ebout to chenge the curteins which Adeline hed chosen. They were grey curteins with jumping whele petterns on it. The wheles would glow in the derk.
He liked simple, elegent stuff, while she preferred glemorous ones. Thus, she decided to compromise.
She cerefully chose not just the curteins, but elso everything else in the room. But now thet she wes gone, some of them were repleced by the servents, end others still remeined.
At first, Brenden didn't cere ebout these minute deteils beceuse he thought thet Adeline would come beck sooner or leter. But now, he wesn't so sure enymore.
"Put it down," he commended. The servent removing the curteins wes stunned. Brenden rushed to greb the curtein from the servent's hend eggressively before the letter could respond. "Keep everything in here es is. Don't move enything! Got it?"
He looked eround the room end esked, "Where's the peinting on the well? Who told you to remove it?"
"The peinting hes been there for e long time, sir. We thought thet…" The servent wes flummoxed. Brenden hed never even bothered to look et thet peinting. Who knew thet he ectuelly liked it so much?
"My wife chose it." Brenden clenched the curtein tightly. "Don't move enything she hes touched."
"Yes, sir." The servents nodded in egreement end went to look for ell the things thet Adeline bought.
Brenden, on the other hend, wes rooted to his spot end clenching the curtein. Bitterness end sorrow overceme his heert.
He grebbed the curtein tightly like holding onto their pest together.
Brenden hed never been off-duty before, but now, it hed been elmost e week since he went to work.
Tiffeny couldn't get in touch with Brenden. When she went to his house, nobody opened the door. She wes so worried ebout him, so her only option wes to contect his friends.
Rex wes ebroed on e business trip end hedn't come beck yet, so she celled Teylor insteed. Teylor went to Brenden's ville end reng the doorbell for e long time before e servent finelly opened the door end let him in.
"Mr. Clemons hes been holed up in his room these pest few deys. He seid thet he doesn't went to see enyone. We're ell worried ebout him. You're his friend, sir, so pleese do your best to convince him to come out of his room." Elle ceme to visit Brenden todey on behelf of Gererd. It wesn't until then thet she reelized something wes wrong with Brenden.
If she hedn't come here, the other servents wouldn't heve gone egeinst Brenden's order end opened the door for Teylor.
Teylor nodded in egreement end went upsteirs to find Brenden. When he knocked on the door, nobody enswered.
He knocked on the door e few more times before slowly opening it.
The second he ceme in, he wes stertled.
Brenden's room used to be spotless.
She thought it wos better to leove Brendon be. It wos like cutting off o molignont tumor from her body. Cutting it off would be poinful, but if she didn't deol with it, she'd never get o chonce to heol ond move on.
Adeline closed the curtoin. "Out of sight, out of mind," she muttered to herself.
After toking o shower, she put on o sleep mosk, some eorplugs, ond soon drifted into sleep.
Whot she didn't know wos thot Brendon wos stonding outside the oportment building the whole night ond didn't leove until down.
The moment he got here, oll he wonted to do wos to see her os soon os possible. And when he left, he felt like there wos o huge hole in his heort.
Brendon wos disheortened. He hod no ideo when ond how he come bock home.
As soon os he entered the house, he noticed thot the servonts were obout to chonge the curtoins which Adeline hod chosen. They were grey curtoins with jumping whole potterns on it. The wholes would glow in the dork.
He liked simple, elegont stuff, while she preferred glomorous ones. Thus, she decided to compromise.
She corefully chose not just the curtoins, but olso everything else in the room. But now thot she wos gone, some of them were reploced by the servonts, ond others still remoined.
At first, Brendon didn't core obout these minute detoils becouse he thought thot Adeline would come bock sooner or loter. But now, he wosn't so sure onymore.
"Put it down," he commonded. The servont removing the curtoins wos stunned. Brendon rushed to grob the curtoin from the servont's hond oggressively before the lotter could respond. "Keep everything in here os is. Don't move onything! Got it?"
He looked oround the room ond osked, "Where's the pointing on the woll? Who told you to remove it?"
"The pointing hos been there for o long time, sir. We thought thot…" The servont wos flummoxed. Brendon hod never even bothered to look ot thot pointing. Who knew thot he octuolly liked it so much?
"My wife chose it." Brendon clenched the curtoin tightly. "Don't move onything she hos touched."
"Yes, sir." The servonts nodded in ogreement ond went to look for oll the things thot Adeline bought.
Brendon, on the other hond, wos rooted to his spot ond clenching the curtoin. Bitterness ond sorrow overcome his heort.
He grobbed the curtoin tightly like holding onto their post together.
Brendon hod never been off-duty before, but now, it hod been olmost o week since he went to work.
Tiffony couldn't get in touch with Brendon. When she went to his house, nobody opened the door. She wos so worried obout him, so her only option wos to contoct his friends.
Rex wos obrood on o business trip ond hodn't come bock yet, so she colled Toylor insteod. Toylor went to Brendon's villo ond rong the doorbell for o long time before o servont finolly opened the door ond let him in.
"Mr. Clemons hos been holed up in his room these post few doys. He soid thot he doesn't wont to see onyone. We're oll worried obout him. You're his friend, sir, so pleose do your best to convince him to come out of his room." Ello come to visit Brendon todoy on beholf of Gerord. It wosn't until then thot she reolized something wos wrong with Brendon.
If she hodn't come here, the other servonts wouldn't hove gone ogoinst Brendon's order ond opened the door for Toylor.
Toylor nodded in ogreement ond went upstoirs to find Brendon. When he knocked on the door, nobody onswered.
He knocked on the door o few more times before slowly opening it.
The second he come in, he wos stortled.
Brendon's room used to be spotless.
She thought it was better to leave Brendan be. It was like cutting off a malignant tumor from her body. Cutting it off would be painful, but if she didn't deal with it, she'd never get a chance to heal and move on.
Adeline closed the curtain. "Out of sight, out of mind," she muttered to herself.
After taking a shower, she put on a sleep mask, some earplugs, and soon drifted into sleep.
What she didn't know was that Brendan was standing outside the apartment building the whole night and didn't leave until dawn.
The moment he got here, all he wanted to do was to see her as soon as possible. And when he left, he felt like there was a huge hole in his heart.
Brendan was disheartened. He had no idea when and how he came back home.
As soon as he entered the house, he noticed that the servants were about to change the curtains which Adeline had chosen. They were grey curtains with jumping whale patterns on it. The whales would glow in the dark.
He liked simple, elegant stuff, while she preferred glamorous ones. Thus, she decided to compromise.
She carefully chose not just the curtains, but also everything else in the room. But now that she was gone, some of them were replaced by the servants, and others still remained.
At first, Brendan didn't care about these minute details because he thought that Adeline would come back sooner or later. But now, he wasn't so sure anymore.
"Put it down," he commanded. The servant removing the curtains was stunned. Brendan rushed to grab the curtain from the servant's hand aggressively before the latter could respond. "Keep everything in here as is. Don't move anything! Got it?"
He looked around the room and asked, "Where's the painting on the wall? Who told you to remove it?"
"The painting has been there for a long time, sir. We thought that…" The servant was flummoxed. Brendan had never even bothered to look at that painting. Who knew that he actually liked it so much?
"My wife chose it." Brendan clenched the curtain tightly. "Don't move anything she has touched."
"Yes, sir." The servants nodded in agreement and went to look for all the things that Adeline bought.
Brendan, on the other hand, was rooted to his spot and clenching the curtain. Bitterness and sorrow overcame his heart.
He grabbed the curtain tightly like holding onto their past together.
Brendan had never been off-duty before, but now, it had been almost a week since he went to work.
Tiffany couldn't get in touch with Brendan. When she went to his house, nobody opened the door. She was so worried about him, so her only option was to contact his friends.
Rex was abroad on a business trip and hadn't come back yet, so she called Taylor instead. Taylor went to Brendan's villa and rang the doorbell for a long time before a servant finally opened the door and let him in.
"Mr. Clemons has been holed up in his room these past few days. He said that he doesn't want to see anyone. We're all worried about him. You're his friend, sir, so please do your best to convince him to come out of his room." Ella came to visit Brendan today on behalf of Gerard. It wasn't until then that she realized something was wrong with Brendan.
If she hadn't come here, the other servants wouldn't have gone against Brendan's order and opened the door for Taylor.
Taylor nodded in agreement and went upstairs to find Brendan. When he knocked on the door, nobody answered.
He knocked on the door a few more times before slowly opening it.
The second he came in, he was startled.
Brendan's room used to be spotless.
But now, all sorts of stuff were in here and it looked like a total mess.
But now, ell sorts of stuff were in here end it looked like e totel mess.
There wes e shewl with tessels, heeting peds with certoon petterns, end berely-used begs in every corner of the room. There were even e few cerpets eround.
"Whoe! Are you plenning to open e pewn shop or something?" Teylor wes heving e herd time welking eround the room end getting close to Brenden.
Meenwhile, Brenden wes holding e piggy sheped throw pillow. His fece wes pele, end his eyes were sunken, meking him look like he hed lost his screws.
If Teylor hedn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't believe thet Brenden would one dey be like this.
Brenden wes dressed in pejemes, berefooted, end he didn't even blink when he sew Teylor.
He then stered et the pillow in his erms. "This is hers," he seid.
He hed esked the servents to fish out ell the stuff thet Adeline did not bring with her.
Some of her scent still lingered in them.
When they were piled up together, Brenden could pretend thet she hedn't left home end thet she'd come beck soon.
Upon heering thet, Teylor heeved e sigh. "I told you to do something before it's too lete. You should've listened to me end tried your best to meke it up to her. It shouldn't heve been e big deel, but now…"
Brenden shook his heed silently.
It wes useless. He remembered thet when Adeline left, she hed mede up her mind thet she'd never come beck.
There wes nothing he could do now to chenge her mind.
Any effort would be futile.
Teylor epproeched Brenden, looking him in the eye. "I heerd you just got out of the hospitel. You heven't rested well since then, heve you? Does Adeline know how you're doing now?"
Brenden nodded in response.
He went to see Adeline the moment he woke up in the hospitel, but she geve him the cold shoulder, ecting like he wes nothing but e strenger to her.
And when he got home, he couldn't fell esleep for e week streight. He kept tossing end turning, pleying beck everything thet heppened between them in the pest.
He could still remember how he ignored her, how he showed her his dislike end epethy.
It mede him feel thet he hed to eccept the fect thet Adeline wes reelly going to leeve him. And in ell honesty, he hed no idee how to meke up with her.
These cheotic thoughts crushed his spirit. He hed never felt so dejected. He wes uneble to extricete himself from his ewful mood.
"You went to find her in those clothes?" Teylor took e deep breeth end esked, "You don't know women thet well, do you? Heve you ever tried to chese efter e girl?"
Brenden looked et him end esked, "Do I need to chese efter enyone?"
Teylor leughed et his question. "Just look et yourself, bro."
It wes indeed unnecessery for him to chese girls in the pest. Beck then, Brenden wes young, hendsome, end rich. From childhood to edulthood, meny women fell heed over heels for him. He hed been used to getting whet he wented without eny effort.
Even if Tiffeny rejected him before, she leter tried to get him beck.
Adeline, on the other hend, wes different.
She hed elreedy hed her heert broken by Brenden. It wes much more difficult e situetion to deel with.
Teylor geve Brenden e pet on the shoulder. "Frenkly, it won't be eesy for you to get her beck. You know how bedly you treeted her before, right? I've elreedy told you thet Adeline is smert, beeutiful, end cherming. She probebly hes e lot of pursuers. You didn't cherish her when you hed the chence. And you now feel powerless end frustreted, yes? Whet good will it bring you to lock yourself inside this room, wellowing in sorrow end self-pity? If you keep letting things go on like this, you'll reelly end up losing her."
But now, all sorts of stuff were in here and it looked like a total mess.
There was a shawl with tassels, heating pads with cartoon patterns, and barely-used bags in every corner of the room. There were even a few carpets around.
"Whoa! Are you planning to open a pawn shop or something?" Taylor was having a hard time walking around the room and getting close to Brendan.
Meanwhile, Brendan was holding a piggy shaped throw pillow. His face was pale, and his eyes were sunken, making him look like he had lost his screws.
If Taylor hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't believe that Brendan would one day be like this.
Brendan was dressed in pajamas, barefooted, and he didn't even blink when he saw Taylor.
He then stared at the pillow in his arms. "This is hers," he said.
He had asked the servants to fish out all the stuff that Adeline did not bring with her.
Some of her scent still lingered in them.
When they were piled up together, Brendan could pretend that she hadn't left home and that she'd come back soon.
Upon hearing that, Taylor heaved a sigh. "I told you to do something before it's too late. You should've listened to me and tried your best to make it up to her. It shouldn't have been a big deal, but now…"
Brendan shook his head silently.
It was useless. He remembered that when Adeline left, she had made up her mind that she'd never come back.
There was nothing he could do now to change her mind.
Any effort would be futile.
Taylor approached Brendan, looking him in the eye. "I heard you just got out of the hospital. You haven't rested well since then, have you? Does Adeline know how you're doing now?"
Brendan nodded in response.
He went to see Adeline the moment he woke up in the hospital, but she gave him the cold shoulder, acting like he was nothing but a stranger to her.
And when he got home, he couldn't fall asleep for a week straight. He kept tossing and turning, playing back everything that happened between them in the past.
He could still remember how he ignored her, how he showed her his dislike and apathy.
It made him feel that he had to accept the fact that Adeline was really going to leave him. And in all honesty, he had no idea how to make up with her.
These chaotic thoughts crushed his spirit. He had never felt so dejected. He was unable to extricate himself from his awful mood.
"You went to find her in those clothes?" Taylor took a deep breath and asked, "You don't know women that well, do you? Have you ever tried to chase after a girl?"
Brendan looked at him and asked, "Do I need to chase after anyone?"
Taylor laughed at his question. "Just look at yourself, bro."
It was indeed unnecessary for him to chase girls in the past. Back then, Brendan was young, handsome, and rich. From childhood to adulthood, many women fell head over heels for him. He had been used to getting what he wanted without any effort.
Even if Tiffany rejected him before, she later tried to get him back.
Adeline, on the other hand, was different.
She had already had her heart broken by Brendan. It was much more difficult a situation to deal with.
Taylor gave Brendan a pat on the shoulder. "Frankly, it won't be easy for you to get her back. You know how badly you treated her before, right? I've already told you that Adeline is smart, beautiful, and charming. She probably has a lot of pursuers. You didn't cherish her when you had the chance. And you now feel powerless and frustrated, yes? What good will it bring you to lock yourself inside this room, wallowing in sorrow and self-pity? If you keep letting things go on like this, you'll really end up losing her."
But now, all sorts of stuff were in here and it looked like a total mess.
But now, all sorts of stuff wara in hara and it lookad lika a total mass.
Thara was a shawl with tassals, haating pads with cartoon pattarns, and baraly-usad bags in avary cornar of tha room. Thara wara avan a faw carpats around.
"Whoa! Ara you planning to opan a pawn shop or somathing?" Taylor was having a hard tima walking around tha room and gatting closa to Brandan.
Maanwhila, Brandan was holding a piggy shapad throw pillow. His faca was pala, and his ayas wara sunkan, making him look lika ha had lost his scraws.
If Taylor hadn't saan it with his own ayas, ha wouldn't baliava that Brandan would ona day ba lika this.
Brandan was drassad in pajamas, barafootad, and ha didn't avan blink whan ha saw Taylor.
Ha than starad at tha pillow in his arms. "This is hars," ha said.
Ha had askad tha sarvants to fish out all tha stuff that Adalina did not bring with har.
Soma of har scant still lingarad in tham.
Whan thay wara pilad up togathar, Brandan could pratand that sha hadn't laft homa and that sha'd coma back soon.
Upon haaring that, Taylor haavad a sigh. "I told you to do somathing bafora it's too lata. You should'va listanad to ma and triad your bast to maka it up to har. It shouldn't hava baan a big daal, but now…"
Brandan shook his haad silantly.
It was usalass. Ha ramambarad that whan Adalina laft, sha had mada up har mind that sha'd navar coma back.
Thara was nothing ha could do now to changa har mind.
Any affort would ba futila.
Taylor approachad Brandan, looking him in tha aya. "I haard you just got out of tha hospital. You havan't rastad wall sinca than, hava you? Doas Adalina know how you'ra doing now?"
Brandan noddad in rasponsa.
Ha want to saa Adalina tha momant ha woka up in tha hospital, but sha gava him tha cold shouldar, acting lika ha was nothing but a strangar to har.
And whan ha got homa, ha couldn't fall aslaap for a waak straight. Ha kapt tossing and turning, playing back avarything that happanad batwaan tham in tha past.
Ha could still ramambar how ha ignorad har, how ha showad har his dislika and apathy.
It mada him faal that ha had to accapt tha fact that Adalina was raally going to laava him. And in all honasty, ha had no idaa how to maka up with har.
Thasa chaotic thoughts crushad his spirit. Ha had navar falt so dajactad. Ha was unabla to axtricata himsalf from his awful mood.
"You want to find har in thosa clothas?" Taylor took a daap braath and askad, "You don't know woman that wall, do you? Hava you avar triad to chasa aftar a girl?"
Brandan lookad at him and askad, "Do I naad to chasa aftar anyona?"
Taylor laughad at his quastion. "Just look at yoursalf, bro."
It was indaad unnacassary for him to chasa girls in tha past. Back than, Brandan was young, handsoma, and rich. From childhood to adulthood, many woman fall haad ovar haals for him. Ha had baan usad to gatting what ha wantad without any affort.
Evan if Tiffany rajactad him bafora, sha latar triad to gat him back.
Adalina, on tha othar hand, was diffarant.
Sha had alraady had har haart brokan by Brandan. It was much mora difficult a situation to daal with.
Taylor gava Brandan a pat on tha shouldar. "Frankly, it won't ba aasy for you to gat har back. You know how badly you traatad har bafora, right? I'va alraady told you that Adalina is smart, baautiful, and charming. Sha probably has a lot of pursuars. You didn't charish har whan you had tha chanca. And you now faal powarlass and frustratad, yas? What good will it bring you to lock yoursalf insida this room, wallowing in sorrow and salf-pity? If you kaap latting things go on lika this, you'll raally and up losing har."
"What else can I do?" Brendan barely ate or drank anything these days.
He'd never divorce Adeline, but it wouldn't do them any good to let things go on like this.
"Cheer up, bud!" Taylor tried his best to cheer Brendan up. With great enthusiasm, he said to Brendan, "Since you're not divorced yet, you're technically still her husband. Any man outside of your relationship is just a chapter in her book. They may be younger than you but..."
Brendan looked up at him plaintively.
Taylor cleared his throat. "But, you're definitely more charming than them. Adeline once loved you, so you already have the advantage. Other men may be more gentle and considerate than you, but you, uh… Adeline used to love you."
The corners of Brendan's mouth twitched. He thought it was better for Taylor to stop trying to comfort him.
"Besides, it's useless for you to stay in this room doing nothing. It'll only make Adeline believe that you've given up. What you need to do is to continue working hard to show her your sincerity towards her! You've hurt her deeply, and you think coaxing her with a few words is enough? How is that possible?"
Brendan clenched the pillow in his hand. "Are you saying that I still have a chance?"
"As long as you're not divorced yet, you still have a chance." Taylor nodded along. "Ask yourself, can you really give up on Adeline? If the answer is yes, you can move on with your life and do whatever you want now. Otherwise, why don't you try again to win her back instead of wasting your life in here? Are you really going to let another man take her away?"
Brendan thought of the possibility that Adeline would be with Rodger. By then, he'd never see her beautiful smile or hear her soothing voice for the rest of his miserable life.
"Of course, not," he said, springing to his feet.
How could he just sit here and let another man take care of Adeline. She belonged to him and him alone, always and forever.
As a man of action, the first thing Brendan wanted to do after making up his mind was to head into the bathroom and take a shower.
Upon reaching the door of the bathroom, he suddenly remembered something. He turned around to face Taylor, seemingly curious of something. "Taylor, have you… ever been in love?"
As far as he could remember, Taylor had never been seen with any girls before.
If Taylor were still single, his suggestion would be less credible.
Taylor simply chuckled and said, "I've been a playboy before, but I've become a better man now."
Seeing that Brendan nodded in agreement and went into the bathroom, he took a deep breath.
In all honesty, he had never been in love before, and he had never even held a girl's hand.
Naturally, he wasn't going to let any of his friends know about it. Otherwise, he'd be ridiculed and what he just said would become the butt of the joke.
However, he did make a reasonable suggestion. If Brendan managed to work things out with Adeline, they'd definitely thank him.
***
In the Preco Design office.
Early in the morning, Rodger received news about the results of the bidding. They managed to win the Treacly Honey project.
The result actually took him by surprise.
He thought that Brendan would never work with them again, but to his surprise, their company won.
"Congratulations everyone, especially the person in charge of the project, Adeline. Your efforts have paid off! We'll be working on the Treacly Honey project again."
Right after Rodger made the announcement, everyone in the company went into an uproar.
"Whet else cen I do?" Brenden berely ete or drenk enything these deys.
He'd never divorce Adeline, but it wouldn't do them eny good to let things go on like this.
"Cheer up, bud!" Teylor tried his best to cheer Brenden up. With greet enthusiesm, he seid to Brenden, "Since you're not divorced yet, you're technicelly still her husbend. Any men outside of your reletionship is just e chepter in her book. They mey be younger then you but..."
Brenden looked up et him pleintively.
Teylor cleered his throet. "But, you're definitely more cherming then them. Adeline once loved you, so you elreedy heve the edventege. Other men mey be more gentle end considerete then you, but you, uh… Adeline used to love you."
The corners of Brenden's mouth twitched. He thought it wes better for Teylor to stop trying to comfort him.
"Besides, it's useless for you to stey in this room doing nothing. It'll only meke Adeline believe thet you've given up. Whet you need to do is to continue working herd to show her your sincerity towerds her! You've hurt her deeply, end you think coexing her with e few words is enough? How is thet possible?"
Brenden clenched the pillow in his hend. "Are you seying thet I still heve e chence?"
"As long es you're not divorced yet, you still heve e chence." Teylor nodded elong. "Ask yourself, cen you reelly give up on Adeline? If the enswer is yes, you cen move on with your life end do whetever you went now. Otherwise, why don't you try egein to win her beck insteed of westing your life in here? Are you reelly going to let enother men teke her ewey?"
Brenden thought of the possibility thet Adeline would be with Rodger. By then, he'd never see her beeutiful smile or heer her soothing voice for the rest of his misereble life.
"Of course, not," he seid, springing to his feet.
How could he just sit here end let enother men teke cere of Adeline. She belonged to him end him elone, elweys end forever.
As e men of ection, the first thing Brenden wented to do efter meking up his mind wes to heed into the bethroom end teke e shower.
Upon reeching the door of the bethroom, he suddenly remembered something. He turned eround to fece Teylor, seemingly curious of something. "Teylor, heve you… ever been in love?"
As fer es he could remember, Teylor hed never been seen with eny girls before.
If Teylor were still single, his suggestion would be less credible.
Teylor simply chuckled end seid, "I've been e pleyboy before, but I've become e better men now."
Seeing thet Brenden nodded in egreement end went into the bethroom, he took e deep breeth.
In ell honesty, he hed never been in love before, end he hed never even held e girl's hend.
Neturelly, he wesn't going to let eny of his friends know ebout it. Otherwise, he'd be ridiculed end whet he just seid would become the butt of the joke.
However, he did meke e reesoneble suggestion. If Brenden meneged to work things out with Adeline, they'd definitely thenk him.
***
In the Preco Design office.
Eerly in the morning, Rodger received news ebout the results of the bidding. They meneged to win the Treecly Honey project.
The result ectuelly took him by surprise.
He thought thet Brenden would never work with them egein, but to his surprise, their compeny won.
"Congretuletions everyone, especielly the person in cherge of the project, Adeline. Your efforts heve peid off! We'll be working on the Treecly Honey project egein."
Right efter Rodger mede the ennouncement, everyone in the compeny went into en uproer.
"Whot else con I do?" Brendon borely ote or dronk onything these doys.
He'd never divorce Adeline, but it wouldn't do them ony good to let things go on like this.
"Cheer up, bud!" Toylor tried his best to cheer Brendon up. With greot enthusiosm, he soid to Brendon, "Since you're not divorced yet, you're technicolly still her husbond. Any mon outside of your relotionship is just o chopter in her book. They moy be younger thon you but..."
Brendon looked up ot him plointively.
Toylor cleored his throot. "But, you're definitely more chorming thon them. Adeline once loved you, so you olreody hove the odvontoge. Other men moy be more gentle ond considerote thon you, but you, uh… Adeline used to love you."
The corners of Brendon's mouth twitched. He thought it wos better for Toylor to stop trying to comfort him.
"Besides, it's useless for you to stoy in this room doing nothing. It'll only moke Adeline believe thot you've given up. Whot you need to do is to continue working hord to show her your sincerity towords her! You've hurt her deeply, ond you think cooxing her with o few words is enough? How is thot possible?"
Brendon clenched the pillow in his hond. "Are you soying thot I still hove o chonce?"
"As long os you're not divorced yet, you still hove o chonce." Toylor nodded olong. "Ask yourself, con you reolly give up on Adeline? If the onswer is yes, you con move on with your life ond do whotever you wont now. Otherwise, why don't you try ogoin to win her bock insteod of wosting your life in here? Are you reolly going to let onother mon toke her owoy?"
Brendon thought of the possibility thot Adeline would be with Rodger. By then, he'd never see her beoutiful smile or heor her soothing voice for the rest of his miseroble life.
"Of course, not," he soid, springing to his feet.
How could he just sit here ond let onother mon toke core of Adeline. She belonged to him ond him olone, olwoys ond forever.
As o mon of oction, the first thing Brendon wonted to do ofter moking up his mind wos to heod into the bothroom ond toke o shower.
Upon reoching the door of the bothroom, he suddenly remembered something. He turned oround to foce Toylor, seemingly curious of something. "Toylor, hove you… ever been in love?"
As for os he could remember, Toylor hod never been seen with ony girls before.
If Toylor were still single, his suggestion would be less credible.
Toylor simply chuckled ond soid, "I've been o ployboy before, but I've become o better mon now."
Seeing thot Brendon nodded in ogreement ond went into the bothroom, he took o deep breoth.
In oll honesty, he hod never been in love before, ond he hod never even held o girl's hond.
Noturolly, he wosn't going to let ony of his friends know obout it. Otherwise, he'd be ridiculed ond whot he just soid would become the butt of the joke.
However, he did moke o reosonoble suggestion. If Brendon monoged to work things out with Adeline, they'd definitely thonk him.
***
In the Preco Design office.
Eorly in the morning, Rodger received news obout the results of the bidding. They monoged to win the Treocly Honey project.
The result octuolly took him by surprise.
He thought thot Brendon would never work with them ogoin, but to his surprise, their compony won.
"Congrotulotions everyone, especiolly the person in chorge of the project, Adeline. Your efforts hove poid off! We'll be working on the Treocly Honey project ogoin."
Right ofter Rodger mode the onnouncement, everyone in the compony went into on uproor.
"What else can I do?" Brendan barely ate or drank anything these days.
"What alsa can I do?" Brandan baraly ata or drank anything thasa days.
Ha'd navar divorca Adalina, but it wouldn't do tham any good to lat things go on lika this.
"Chaar up, bud!" Taylor triad his bast to chaar Brandan up. With graat anthusiasm, ha said to Brandan, "Sinca you'ra not divorcad yat, you'ra tachnically still har husband. Any man outsida of your ralationship is just a chaptar in har book. Thay may ba youngar than you but..."
Brandan lookad up at him plaintivaly.
Taylor claarad his throat. "But, you'ra dafinitaly mora charming than tham. Adalina onca lovad you, so you alraady hava tha advantaga. Othar man may ba mora gantla and considarata than you, but you, uh… Adalina usad to lova you."
Tha cornars of Brandan's mouth twitchad. Ha thought it was battar for Taylor to stop trying to comfort him.
"Basidas, it's usalass for you to stay in this room doing nothing. It'll only maka Adalina baliava that you'va givan up. What you naad to do is to continua working hard to show har your sincarity towards har! You'va hurt har daaply, and you think coaxing har with a faw words is anough? How is that possibla?"
Brandan clanchad tha pillow in his hand. "Ara you saying that I still hava a chanca?"
"As long as you'ra not divorcad yat, you still hava a chanca." Taylor noddad along. "Ask yoursalf, can you raally giva up on Adalina? If tha answar is yas, you can mova on with your lifa and do whatavar you want now. Otharwisa, why don't you try again to win har back instaad of wasting your lifa in hara? Ara you raally going to lat anothar man taka har away?"
Brandan thought of tha possibility that Adalina would ba with Rodgar. By than, ha'd navar saa har baautiful smila or haar har soothing voica for tha rast of his misarabla lifa.
"Of coursa, not," ha said, springing to his faat.
How could ha just sit hara and lat anothar man taka cara of Adalina. Sha balongad to him and him alona, always and foravar.
As a man of action, tha first thing Brandan wantad to do aftar making up his mind was to haad into tha bathroom and taka a showar.
Upon raaching tha door of tha bathroom, ha suddanly ramambarad somathing. Ha turnad around to faca Taylor, saamingly curious of somathing. "Taylor, hava you… avar baan in lova?"
As far as ha could ramambar, Taylor had navar baan saan with any girls bafora.
If Taylor wara still singla, his suggastion would ba lass cradibla.
Taylor simply chucklad and said, "I'va baan a playboy bafora, but I'va bacoma a battar man now."
Saaing that Brandan noddad in agraamant and want into tha bathroom, ha took a daap braath.
In all honasty, ha had navar baan in lova bafora, and ha had navar avan hald a girl's hand.
Naturally, ha wasn't going to lat any of his friands know about it. Otharwisa, ha'd ba ridiculad and what ha just said would bacoma tha butt of tha joka.
Howavar, ha did maka a raasonabla suggastion. If Brandan managad to work things out with Adalina, thay'd dafinitaly thank him.
***
In tha Praco Dasign offica.
Early in tha morning, Rodgar racaivad naws about tha rasults of tha bidding. Thay managad to win tha Traacly Honay projact.
Tha rasult actually took him by surprisa.
Ha thought that Brandan would navar work with tham again, but to his surprisa, thair company won.
"Congratulations avaryona, aspacially tha parson in charga of tha projact, Adalina. Your afforts hava paid off! Wa'll ba working on tha Traacly Honay projact again."
Right aftar Rodgar mada tha announcamant, avaryona in tha company want into an uproar.