Chapter 249 Just Want to Keep You
Brandon hadn't expected Candice to be so forward.
Feeling the soft body pressed against his back, and seeing those arms wrapped tightly around him, he couldn't help but mock her deliberately, "Candice, you're really going all out. For custody, you're willing to hug me, even offer yourself?"
Candice's whole body stiffened at his words.
That wasn't what she meant.
She wanted to pull her hands back.
But thinking that the moment she let go, he would definitely leave, she bit her lip and didn't answer.
Brandon was still angry, but feeling her stubbornness at this moment, a sense of helplessness washed over him.
Actually, he wasn't unable to understand Candice's thinking.
Their relationship back then had indeed been terrible.
And there were many misunderstandings in that marriage.
He couldn't blame her for hiding things from him.
What made him angry was what came after.
After they reunited and cleared up some misunderstandings, Candice actually had many chances to tell him, but she never mentioned it.
She even put on an act with Yasmin.
That was what really made Brandon angry.
Right now, she was holding him tightly with no intention of letting go.
Brandon couldn't just pry her hands off forcefully either.
He remembered she had wounds on her arms.
Brandon calmed his emotions, let out a heavy breath, and grabbed Candice's wrist.
"I won't let go!"
Thinking he was trying to pull her off, Candice immediately held him even tighter.
Brandon sighed helplessly to himself, "Let go, I won't leave. Let's talk more."
Hearing this, Candice hesitated for a moment, then chose to believe him.
She loosened her grip. Seeing him turn around, she looked up to meet his eyes, waiting for him to speak.
Brandon's deep gaze fell on her face.
Seeing her eyes red from anxiety just now, he reached out, pinched her chin, and said, "Candice, you had no advantage when discussing Elijah's custody with me before. Now with Yasmin added in, what's your plan?"
"If you're thinking of taking Elijah's custody and then disappearing, let me tell you—no way!"
"Now, I only accept one outcome: Yasmin acknowledges me as her father, and we both have custody of the kids!"
"If you stay in Seaside City, I can give you custody, the kids can stay with you, but I get to see them whenever I want."
"But if you choose to leave Seaside City, then sorry, all my compromises are off the table!"
Brandon's attitude was very firm when he said this.
Candice was naturally unhappy.
He was too domineering and forceful. This behavior was basically keeping her in Seaside City forever!
Brandon did indeed want to keep her here permanently.
Using the kids as leverage was just a temporary measure.
What he really wanted was to keep her by his side.
Candice asked him angrily, "So I can't even go back to my own home?"
Brandon said, "If it's just to visit family, of course, you can. I won't restrict your freedom. But if you're taking the kids and moving away from Seaside City permanently, that's absolutely impossible."
She'd never met anyone like him!
Candice was furious. "Brandon, how is this any different from imprisonment?"
"That's too strong. At most, I'm just—"
Brandon pulled his hand back, but his deep gaze stared straight at her, saying with complete seriousness, "trying to keep you here."
Candice's expression froze at his words.
What did Brandon mean by that?
He wanted to keep her in Seaside City?
Brandon looked at her and told her, "Candice, when I asked you to come back to me before, I wasn't just saying it casually."
"I'm willing to give you time. And these two kids—one grew up without a father, one grew up without a mother."
"All these years, Elijah's mother has finally come back to him. Can you really bear to let Yasmin continue without a father?"
"Have you ever thought about how she feels every time she faces me but can't acknowledge me?"
Listening to his words, Candice didn't know how to respond.
In her mind, she recalled what Yasmin had said to her.
Yasmin had always been so understanding, thinking she had been wronged, so she couldn't forgive him. That's why she never mentioned wanting to find her father.
But she seemed to have gotten used to Yasmin doing this, without considering whether Yasmin actually needed a father.
Seeing her fall silent, Brandon continued, "I'm not forcing you, but this isn't something you can solve by just walking away."
"As the parents of two children, we've both failed them. Whether to continue letting them lose more, or let them have both parents—it's all up to you."
After saying this, he suddenly cupped Candice's face and lowered his head to plant a gentle, lingering kiss on her lips.
Candice's mind was a mess, a bit dazed, and she didn't react right away.
By the time she came to her senses, she was already in Brandon's arms.
She frowned, looking displeased. "You're taking advantage of me again!"
Brandon's lips curved slightly, saying matter-of-factly, "You're going to be mine sooner or later anyway!"
Candice rolled her eyes and pushed at him with her hands. "You're getting ahead of yourself."
Brandon simply held her tight, not letting her push away. "What? Do you have other options?"
Candice pursed her lips reluctantly, thinking to herself that even if she didn't, she couldn't tell him that.
She patted his hands. "Stop hugging me. Let's go downstairs. Yasmin and Elijah must be worried!"
Brandon had no problem going downstairs, but before letting her go, he asked again, "So you agree to what I suggested just now?"
Candice answered vaguely, "I guess I temporarily agree."
She couldn't be too absolute.
She might need time to think it over again.
Brandon wasn't completely satisfied with this answer, but the fact that Candice was willing to compromise was progress.
He couldn't push too hard.
"Okay."
Either way, he'd eventually get her to fully agree.
After finishing their discussion, the two were about to go check on the kids.
But unexpectedly, the moment they opened the door, both children tumbled in uncontrollably.
Sweet, childlike cries of pain rang out as Elijah cushioned Yasmin from below to keep her from getting hurt.
"Why aren't you two downstairs eating? What are you doing here?"
Candice found it amusing and went forward to help them up.
Elijah, caught eavesdropping, answered honestly, "We were worried Daddy and Mommy would fight, or even hit each other, so we came up to check."
"Hit each other?"
Brandon glanced at Elijah and said, "Don't worry, we won't fight. Even if we did fight, it wouldn't be that kind."
Elijah asked in confusion, "Then what kind?"
Brandon said, "The kind kids can't hear about!"
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Candice.
Candice understood that look almost immediately.
He was talking about sex!