The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 1

Sophia Yearwood made her way to Brandon Crawley’s office, guided by his secretary.

Two years into their marriage, this was her first time stepping foot in his company.

“Mr. Crawley is still in a meeting. Please take a seat for a moment.”

The secretary offered a warm cup of coffee with a thoughtful explanation.

“Thanks.” Sophia took the coffee politely and settled herself on the sofa, scanning the spick-and-span reception room with its minimalist gray and white decor-totally Brandon’s style

The secretary sneakily sized up Sophia too. She looked young, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders, and bangs naturally framing her face, giving off a fresh and soft vibe. She wasn’t much of a talker.

The secretary was still reeling from the fact that the lady in front of her was Brandon’s wife.

More shocking was the idea that Brandon, who always kept his cool and stayed away from the ladies, was actually hitched.

She couldn’t picture Brandon being all lovey-dovey with a woman.

The noisy chatter from outside snapped her out of her thoughts.

The meeting might be over, the secretary said quickly, “Sit tight, I’ll go check.”

Sophia instinctively glanced towards the door.

A tall person appeared, his head slightly tilted, deep in conversation with someone next to him. The sharp profile cut through the light and shadow, his expression serious and intense.

The person next to him…

Sophia froze when she caught sight of the girl’s beaming smile and stood up without thinking.

Brandon looked up and saw her standing in front of the sofa, hesitating for a moment before frowning.

“What are you doing here?”

The girl discussing plans with him looked up at the sound of his voice and was visibly taken aback to see Sophia.

Sophia flashed a polite smile at her before turning to Brandon and handing him the file she was holding. “Your,” she started to say “Your mom,” but switched to “Mom asked me to bring this over to you.”

Brandon’s mom wasn’t thrilled about her lazing around the house, and since Sophia didn’t fancy hanging around his mom either, she took the chance to drop it off.

Brandon took the file. “Have you eaten?”

Sophia shook her head “Not yet.”

Brandon closed the file and turned to his entourage. “We’ll continue the meeting this afternoon. Everyone go have lunch.”

The girl by his side seemed to want to say something but bit her tongue, nodded obediently, and then led the curious crowd away, all of them sneaking glances at Sophia.

Brandon took Sophia down to the company’s cafeteria for lunch.

While waiting for their food, Brandon was still glued to his laptop, fingers flying over the keyboard, his usual cold focus on display.

Sophia propped her cheek with one hand, quietly watching him.

He was good looking, with sharp features and a stern brow, his noble nose casting a shadow as he looked down, radiating a cool authority.

He always looked this unflappable and aloof, even in their most intimate moments.

She had secretly crushed on him for eight years, from sixteen to twenty-four, but now, she didn’t want him anymore.

in her bag resting on her thigh was the freshly drafted

palm rested on the

speaking, Brandon hadn’t done anything wrong. He just didn’t

been for love, so maybe not

are you looking at?” His deep voice

shifted her gaze to

look up, still busy and fixated on his

Brandon work was a

up when he didn’t get a response, his gaze

Sophia smiled. “Nothing.”

asked, “When did Hannah start working at

for a year. She was a transfer student, while Brandon and Hannah had been classmates since their first year of high school, both the class’s heartthrobs and top students, always the go-to for school events. Rumors had swirled about them being into each other, but for some reason, they never got together, and Sophia, the underdog, ended up with the

when she arrived, Brandon and Hannah were the center of attention, and she was the new kid. By the time she started making waves, school was over, and they all

of the year, Brandon’s attention had already returned to

nodded and didn’t

arrived quickly and what followed

their peace, it wasn’t

wandered to a couple at the next table,

a

of intimacy was something she

eyes for work

was like a

to a science, knowing exactly what to do

man wasn’t cut out for

Neither was she.

Brandon looked up, noticing

pursed her lips slightly, meeting his eyes with

Brandon’s

chuckled, “Go ahead with your work. We

“Alright.”

later when

plans later he asked as he

Chapter 1

realizing he was

thinking of checking out the bookstore,

you there.

Sophia had

She nodded. “Okay.”

like their

head home from the bookstore

at home, fussing over the cat. When she saw Sophia walk in, she teased the cat with a chuckle. Look at you, totally pampered with food, litter, the whole nine yards. Can’t make a dime, but you are so extravagant! Neither being considerate nor being lucky to get pregnant. You are not a princess but sure have a princess’s

voice was pleasant to the ear, with a hint

catch the subtext in her words and gave a casual hello before heading back to her room. And sure enough, a symphony of

had before getting hitched even more Back then, she only had to fend for herself, with no expectations from anyone, no need to

Patricia

get why. After all, she and Brandon were from different worlds, as different as chalk

of

status. She thought he was just like her, a regular Joe grinding

them, she never would have agreed to marry Brandon.

future, which made putting up with Patricia’s two-faced antics behind Brandon’s back

in mind for her future, she couldn’t care less about Patricia’s

house in a huff, frustrated by Sophia’s quiet nonchalance

in the mood to cook and

late. His company was still

accustomed to

the night, around eleven, Brandon finally got home, while Sophia was