It took Brandon a long time to get over the pain.

He looked at the tightly closed door, regardless of whether Ann could hear him or not, he said to himself, "What happened in the news today is my father's own idea. I have personally clarified that there is absolutely no interest in my marriage."

He said the last sentence with extraordinary firmness.

"And I mean everything I said before. You can ignore or escape as you want, but I won't give up."

There was a slight footstep outside and the next door closed.

Ann curled her lips and smiled with bitterness, irony, and incomprehensible sadness.

...

The next morning....