---- Chapter 18 Farah Moore POV: "What do you think you're doing, Brandon?" | demanded, my voice tight with fury. He just stared at me, his eyes dark and intense. "Are you really going to marry him?" "It's none of your business," | snapped, trying to push past him. His men blocked my path "Get out of my way," | ordered. Brett stepped forward, his expression grim. "Still playing the tyrant, Carlson? Forcing women to do your bidding?" Brandon's gaze never left my face. A bitter, self-deprecating smile touched his lips. "At least she's talking to me now. Even if it's just to tell me to get lost." Then he did something that shocked me to my core. He lowered his head, his proud shoulders slumping. "Please, Farah," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Don't do this. Don't marry him." For a moment, | saw a flicker of the man | used to love- vulnerable, desperate. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the cold, hard reality of what he had done to me. ---- My heart remained a stone in my chest. "You're the most selfish, arrogant man | have ever met," | said, my voice trembling with rage. "You thought my love was a given, an endless resource you could tap into whenever you pleased. You sent me to that hellhole, Brandon. You stood by and watched while your psycho sister framed me for murder. You had your own brother impersonate you, for God's sake!" He flinched as if | had struck him. "You know about Danial?" "| know everything," | spat. "I know he kissed me, pretending to be you, while you were off playing house with your secret wife." "| never told him to touch you!" he said, his voice raw. "I just... | didn't want you to be alone." "Alone?" | laughed, a harsh, broken sound. "| was never more alone than when | was with you! And let's not forget the grand finale, shall we? Your plan to have me killed in an 'accident' so Caryl could have my eyes." "No!" he denied it instantly. "| would never... | would have found another donor. | swear it." "| don't believe you," | said, my voice flat and final. "| will never believe a word you say again. Now, get out of my way." He closed his eyes, a look of profound pain on his face. "Anything else," he whispered. "Ask me for anything else in the world, and it's yours. Just don't marry him." ---- The police arrived, called by a city hall official. We were all taken to the station. The day was ruined. As Brett and | left, | turned to Brandon one last time. "You can't stop me forever," | said, my voice a cold promise. "I will marry him." His eyes, full of a desperate, obsessive fire, followed me as | walked away. Later that night, Brandon drove to Danial's apartment. He found his brother stumbling home, drunk, with a young woman on his arm. A woman who, in the dim light, looked vaguely like me. Brandon's face hardened. He ordered the woman to leave. The moment she was gone, he grabbed Danial by the collar, slamming him against the wall. "You kissed her," he snarled, his voice a low, dangerous growl. Danial, still drunk, just laughed. "You told me to play the part, brother. A loving fiancé kisses his bride-to-be." "l never gave you permission to put your hands on her!" Brandon roared, his control snapping. "You were too busy with your real wife to care!" Danial shot back. Just then, Brandon's phone rang. It was the head of security ---- from the facility where Caryl was being held. "Mr. Carlson," the man said, his voice urgent. "She's gone. Caryl has escaped."