Chapter 256
Noelle returned home once more – this time with Brandon still holding her hand. Despite all her recent lessons in social etiquette, "worldly-wise" Noelle didn't think much of it. After all, Brandon had already kissed her on the cheek; holding hands seemed harmless enough for someone who was her best friend.
As she stepped through the front door, she called out cheerfully, "Mom, Dad, I'm back!"
Kimberly looked up in surprise. "Noelle? You just left and—"
But her voice trailed off as she caught sight of the handsome young man by her daughter's side. Not only had he returned with Noelle, but the two were holding hands – fingers interlocked. The sight stunned everyone in the room, including Kimberly and the rest of the Anderson family.
Brandon, unbothered by the shocked stares, stepped forward with a polite smile. "Hello. I'm Brandon, a close friend of Noelle's," he said smoothly, offering a small gift bag to Kimberly. "I brought a few presents. I hope you'll accept them."
"Ah… thank you." Kimberly was still trying to process the scene.
"Huh? Just an old friend," Noelle replied casually, skipping over any lab-related backstory.
Eli narrowed his eyes. "And how long have you two known each other?"
"A few…"
"Years?"
"That long? So he's basically your childhood sweetheart?" Eli shot another glance at Brandon, clearly on high alert. "You're not… two-timing Nicolas, are you?"
"Two-timing?" Noelle blinked. "What's that mean?"
Eli sputtered. "It means—"
Before he could dig himself deeper, Bennett cut in. "Enough with the nonsense. Stop stuffing her head with drama!"
"It's not nonsense! That guy literally walked in holding her hand," Eli grumbled.
Bennett shot him a look. "We have a guest. Try acting like a civilized person."
Still, Bennett couldn't help observing Brandon closely himself. The moment Brandon felt his gaze, he turned around and met Bennett's with a polite smile, something unreadable flickering in his emerald irises.
Bennett was momentarily caught off guard… and then returned the same ambiguous smile.
So this is Brandon, he thought. Definitely not an ordinary guy. It was Brandon who gave Noelle permission to tell me about the lab. And Brandon who let her cooperate with me on the experiments. But what exactly is he after?
Clearly, a private conversation between the two of them was inevitable.
Understandably, Kimberly, slightly rattled by Brandon’s unexpected closeness with her daughter, kept her tone warm but probing. “So, Brandon, you’re a friend from school, is that right?" she said, playing the role of the polite hostess to a tee, the gentleman.
She smiled, eyes narrowing slightly. "You and Noelle seem very close. How did you two meet?"
"We were in the same program a few years back," Brandon replied smoothly. "I was pretty reserved—" I don’t think I’d have made it through if it weren't for Noelle. She means a great deal to me.
"That so?" Kimberly kept smiling, but inwardly she was taking mental notes. A great deal! How great? She glanced at Brandon again. "You're a fine young man – surely you have a girlfriend?"
Brandon chuckled, slyly catching on to where that was going. "I do."
"Oh, wonderful!" Kimberly visibly relaxed. Good. That means I don’t need to worry about a love triangle situation.
Noelle, on the other hand, was wide-eyed with surprise. She bounced over, beaming. "You have a girlfriend? Since when? You never told me! Who is she? You have to bring her to visit sometime!"
Brandon's lips curved slightly. "You already know her."
"I do!" Noelle blinked, now even more curious. She ran through names in her head. "Leia's in jail, Elsie likes Adriel… That just leaves – Tina? No way. Could it really be Tina?"
Brandon only smiled, keeping his cards close. "I'll tell you later."
"Why not now?" Noelle pouted. "You're so stingy. You know everything about me, and I don't even know who your girlfriend is?"
The rest of the Anderson family, overhearing, finally let out a collective breath of relief – except Bennett, who narrowed his eyes slightly.
He glanced between Brandon and Noelle. The way Brandon looked at her – with indulgence, intensity, and something almost possessive – set off every internal alarm Bennett had.
Brandon didn't stay long. After some polite small talk, he announced he was heading off. Noelle offered to walk him out – partly to say goodbye, partly because she wasn't done digging for gossip.
He glanced sideways at her, amused. "That curious, huh?"
"Of course! You've been secretly dating someone I know? That's totally not fair. I should at least get a free meal out of it when I find out who she is."
Brandon chuckled. Still as transparent as ever.
"Quit teasing me." Noelle tugged his sleeve. "Tell me! I promise I won't tell anyone. Scout's honor."
"You really haven't figured it out?" he asked, feigning surprise.
"No! That's why I'm asking," Noelle huffed.
She mentally narrowed the list: Leia – nope. Elsie – nope. Tina – could it be?
Just as she was spiraling into speculation, Brandon came to a stop. He set down her suitcase, then leaned down, gently cradled her face in one hand, and looked her dead in the eyes.
"Noelle," he said softly, "you still haven't figured it out?"
She blinked. "Figured what—"
Before she could finish, his lips brushed against hers.
Her eyes flew wide open. She froze.
Brandon pulled back slightly, emerald eyes locked on hers. He smiled with wicked warmth and whispered, "Who else could it be? My girlfriend could only ever be you."