Someone at the table laughed loudly. "Well, would you look at that. Brandon, guess who just walked in?"
Brandon Hughes turned his head.
His gaze landed on her, sweeping over her calmly, as though she were a stranger he'd stumbled upon by chance. Then he smiled faintly.
"I thought it was some beauty," he said lazily. "Turns out it's just Isabella."
He reached out, deliberately pulling Vanessa closer, his arm settling possessively around her shoulders. The mockery in his smile sharpened. "See? Your sister with a sugar daddy finally decided to show her face."
The room fell silent.
An awkward stillness crept in, thick and uncomfortable.
A small business owner who had once admired Isabella coughed and nudged Brandon Hughes's arm. "Bran, what's with you? Back in high school, you liked Isabella more than anyone else. Even if the engagement's broken, you're still family. There's no need to say things like that…"
