66__Losing you

66__Losing you
Erin’s mind was being dragged in different directions, torn by different emotions.

Her staggering feet automatically stepped slowly towards the door and then she was running, chasing after him.
There was a panic that exploded within her at the sight of Braden walking away from her, it left Erin incapable of standing still.

She ran through the house until she saw him. He was just downstairs, heading for the front hall.
If she hurried, she’d catch him and she’d be able to stop him from leaving.

But Erin stopped.

Her hands tightly clutched the railling and her vision blurred from tears, but still she stopped, clenching her teeth.
Without a glance back, Braden walked and soon, he was out of her sight.

Another burst of panic shot through her but Erin clamped down on it, stifling the suffocating feelings. She wouldn’t lose him.
She wouldn’t lose Braden, she wouldn’t let him go. Him walking out that door didn’t mean she’d lose him, so Erin had to do damage control whilst she still could.

She’d fix everything for him and then they could be together. Fixing it meant only one thing. Her clenched hands tightened, anger filling her entire being as she slowly turned to glare at the hallway.

With a tight huff, she marched off into the house, stalking through the hallways until she reached the Chairman’s office which Stephanie and her mother were walking out of.
Steph spotted her. “Oh, Erin—”

Erin marched past them, bursting into Julius Stone's office with dark fury.

The Chairman spun around in his chair like he’d expected Braden but quickly stilled with shock when he saw that it was Erin who’d burst in so furiously.
“Erin…” he said in quiet shock, staring at her as she practically trembled before him. “What is the meaning of—”

“Is it because I’m not as rich as you guys?”

Julius was in shock. “What?”

“Is it because I’m from the simple home of a single mother who had to be a maid to raise me?!” she demanded, her brows eyes glimmering with angry tears. “What’s your reason for forbidding Braden and I from being together?! What’s so wrong with it?!”

“Erin!” her mom chided, watching worriedly from the doorway.

Stephanie shook her head, taking Alicia’s arm. “Leave her alone.”

“I just wanna know!” Erin shouted, angrily wiping the tears that fell. “I’m not surprised because you’ve always hinted it at me, but Braden had full faith that you’d approve of us for the sake of his happiness. But you can’t even do that?! You’re not even half the man I idolized you to be, are you?!”

Julius was in absolute silence, staring in open-mouthed shock at the little girl who’d never raised her voice at him. “Erin. I only have your best interests—”

“We’re not kids! We’ll take care of our own interests, Sir, you can’t be a chairman over everyone’s lives!”

He frowned, slowly standing. “Now, hold on just a m—”

“No. I’ve never done this before and it’s out of character, I know, but I seriously don’t care! I’ve always respected you; I grew up thinking you were a real life Santa Claus! I thought you were kind and understanding, only to find out you’re controlling and inconsiderate!”

“I… I can’t believe this,” he said to the trembling girl. “Erin, I’ve treasured you for so long, treated you like my own granddaughter. For Braden, you’d speak to me this way?”

She nodded, giving him an exasperated smile. “Yes. Yes, I would. Because while you were busy in your office, Sir, plotting new ways to make us compete, I was witnessing how hard he’s worked. Braden literally dedicated his everything to you and the company, but over one tiny thing, you threaten to take away everything he’s worked for?! He did everything you asked, he did everything to please you! He worked nearly every night, he had nosebleeds, he collapsed, he was— h-he was starving himself…”

She pressed a trembling fist to her mouth, physically holding back the angry tears. “He worked himself… to the bone for you. Because he wanted to be good enough.”

The Chairman looked gravely at her through his glasses, eyes dark and unreadable.

“He’s been hurt so much,” she said. “You owe him the world and yet you act like he owes you his life. I find that so dishonourable and it paints me a clear picture of who you really are!”

“Erin, stop,” said Ms. Moore, horrified by the way things were going.

“You didn’t answer my question, Sir,” Erin said. “Why aren’t letting him be happy? Why’re you standing in our way?”

“Didn’t you hear me?” the Chairman demanded. “I don’t believe he really loves you! You’re asking me why I don’t think you’re good enough, you can’t be serious, Erin! It isn’t you, it’s him! You’re a precious child, Erin, a special girl to both me and your mother! I always hoped you’d find a nice boy who’d give you the world, not one who treats you so harshly!”

Erin stared at him, her mouth parted. “You think… you think Braden isn’t good enough for me?”

“Of course! I know my grandson better than you and he’s a splitting image of his father, both in looks and personality! He is the son of a man who’ll choose money over everything else, that’s who Braden is too!”

“He isn’t.”

“He is!”

“He isn’t!” she cried. “You know nothing about Braden! He’s so blatantly harsh on the outside but he’s such a warm-hearted person and he only acts out from scars he got in the past. Scars you caused him!”

Grey eyes widened behind the glasses. “Scars that I caused him?”

“Yes! From the moment you gave Mr. Stone this same ultimatum, you started causing Braden pain, don’t you realize it?! I’ve seen it first-hand. His pain, his scars.”

The Chairman stared at her in painful silence.

“You have the chance to fix your past mistakes, Sir. You separated Braden’s parents; do you really think it’s right to do the same to us?”

“Separated?” he scoffed, trembling from all the bittern emotions this situation was creating. “I didn’t separate anyone… I tried to help them.”

“Maybe they didn’t need your help, sir,” she said, seeing him flinch and feeling horrible but refusing to stop for Braden’s sake. “Just like we don’t need it. Both Braden and I love you very much, but we just love each other even more.”

His eyes widened. “You… you love him? Braden?”

“Of course, I do,” she answered sadly, her eyes filling again. “I love him with everything in me and it would kill me to lose him. Even just seeing him hurt breaks my heart, it’s crazy.” She shook her head, wiping her eyes. “You think he isn’t good enough for me? Please, I’m not good enough for him! I always hesitate to openly love him, I get scared to give him my all, but Braden never holds back. He loves me… the way he deserves to be loved. And it kills me that I didn’t give him that.”

The room was silent and they all stared at her in unhidden shock.

Erin sighed. “I’m giving you until tomorrow morning to call Braden back and make everything okay. Otherwise, I’m leaving too and you’ll have nothing left but your company.”
The Chairman’s eyes darkened and Erin swallowed, knowing how much he hated to be threatened.

“Erin, the contract—”

“You changed the terms of that contract without my knowledge, Sir. You and I both know that a relationship between Braden and I was never breach of contract when we first signed. Because I accepted automatic renewals of the contract, you took the liberty of adding new terms without telling me. I believe that could be an issue if we were to go to court. Phoebe’s a lawyer, I do hope you haven’t forgotten.”

He stared at her in shock and betrayal, making her heart somewhat clench in guilt.
With a nod, she stepped back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”


Braden stood before the closed door, his head lowered as he thought it over once more. He wanted to go back. He shouldn’t have left Erin, he wanted to go back and get her. It didn’t take much for him to remember that even if he went back right now, she wouldn’t leave with him. He didn’t know if Erin really had a big sense of responsibility or if she just didn’t find him worth sacrificing anything for.

Braden leaned towards the second and it made his gut churn bitterly.

He loved her so much, it hurt. Why couldn’t she love him the same?

Inhaling deeply, he turned his gaze up to the hallway ceiling in an attempt to control his emotions.
It didn’t matter, he was here now.
This was his chance to do this and he couldn’t leave.

There was nothing but doubt and insecurity in his head regarding this, not one positive emotion to encourage his standing here. Still, he stood, remaining rooted to the spot as he’d wanted to do countless times over the past two months.
It happened too fast. He hadn’t knocked and so there had been no time to prepare for it.

The door suddenly opened and he jolted, staring wide-eyed at the person before him.

Her eyes widened, filling with the most perfect mixture of shock and fear.

Braden swallowed hard, awkwardly adjusting the strap of the bag on his shoulder. Hesitantly, he took a step forward. “Hello…”

The woman before him could barely speak, her mouth open and trembling. He was alarmed to feel his own eyes prick when hers grew full of tears.
“Braden?” she whispered softly, like she was afraid to startle him.

He nodded uncertainly. “Hi…. Mom.”

The house was in grave silence for the rest of the day, not a servant in sight.

The Chairman hadn’t slept a wink and, the next morning, he sat haggardly in the downstairs living room.
A cup of tea sat untouched on the coffee table beside him, the beverage gone cold now. A tired sigh left him.

Braden had vanished overnight.

The assistant who’d brought him no good news stood beside him, a tablet in his hands.
Raising a hand, Julius waved her away, another sigh deflating him.

Not too long after he’d been left alone, he heard approaching footsteps.
Erin entered the living room and stood before him. Raising his gaze, Julius looked at the suitcase she held under her hand.

He met her gaze and saw the same unrelenting determination she’d shown him yesterday.
“Good morning, Mr. Chairman,” she said politely, albeit coldly.

He stared up at her, his lips pressed tightly together. His little girl had well and truly started despising him. “It wasn’t my fault…”
She looked down at him. “What wasn’t?”

“Braden’s parents,” he muttered. “I didn’t separate them. I tried to make them be together for Braden’s sake, but they wouldn’t.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you.”

Julius suddenly looked all of his 70 years, his still handsome face pale and weighed down by suppressed outrage. “You don’t believe me. You don’t believe me?”

Her accusation that he was lying broke through the exhaustion that had weighed him down since yesterday to spark up a bitter rage.

Erin didn’t dwell on the topic, not wanting to argue with him this morning. She’d done enough yesterday. “Braden, Sir. Have you called him to return? Or will you go on hurting him? Your answer will determine whether or not I also leave.”

Julius stared darkly up at her, feeling rage course through him. All his life, he’d done all he could for them all. For Michael, for Braden’s mother, for Braden and for Erin. He’d done all he could for them and yet…

They were so ungrateful! The whole bunch, none of them cared about him! None of them had any gratitude.

Braden was gone, Julius didn’t even know where. He hadn’t bothered to turn back around even once for his old grandpa, he’d just left. They’d located his car early this morning, his phone and other belongings were in it. Only Braden and his ID card wasn’t there. The two bags he’d left with were also gone.

None of the Chairman’s assistants could locate him, he’d disappeared into thin air.

That alone had Julius’ heart shattered. It was true that he’d been harsh, but he’d only wanted to make sure Erin wouldn’t get hurt the way Braden’s mother had. But none of them could see that, they’d both spoken to him so harshly.

Anger and hurt gripped him so tightly, it made his cheeks tremble.

A harsh sigh left him and he looked up at Erin. They kept accusing him of being the bad guy, so he’d become the bad guy.
“He’s gone.”

Her brows slowly drew together in a frown. “What? What do you mean?”

“Braden’s left the country. I offered him a good sum to walk away from this and begin a new branch of Stone Estates in a different country. He took it. He’s left.”