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.

her bag resting on her thigh

rested on the papers as

done anything wrong.

love, so maybe not loving her wasn’t really

are you looking at?” His deep voice interrupted

shifted her gaze to

didn’t even look up, still busy and

watching Brandon

up when he didn’t get a

Sophia smiled. “Nothing.”

did Hannah start working at your

Sophia had shared a class with them 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

during her school days-she had aced her way through to university-but 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 went

returned to his computer, “I

nodded and didn’t

meals arrived quickly and what followed was a quiet, drawn-out

two people who liked their peace, it wasn’t a

to a couple at the next table,

a pang of

intimacy was something she and Brandon would

had eyes for work

life was like a well-wound clock, precise

science, knowing exactly what to

a man wasn’t cut out

Neither was she.

your mind?” Brandon looked up, noticing her

slightly, meeting his eyes

notification drew Brandon’s attention back

“Go ahead with your work. We can talk

“Alright.”

an hour later

later he asked as he

Chapter 1

was asking

the bookstore, not

you there. Don’t stay out too

was Brandon’s assistant, someone Sophia had met a few

She nodded. “Okay.”

ended blandly, just like their two years of

home from the bookstore until nearly

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

pleasant to the ear, with

not to catch the subtext in her words and gave a casual hello before heading back to her room. And sure enough, a symphony

Patricia’s sourpuss face, which made her miss the freedom she had before getting hitched even more Back then, she only had to fend for herself, with no expectations from

aware that Patricia had never

she and Brandon were from different worlds, as different as chalk

just a twist of fate that they ended up

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

to marry Brandon. It was

the future, which made putting up with Patricia’s two-faced antics

with different plans in mind for her future,

stormed out of the house in a huff, frustrated by Sophia’s quiet nonchalance and

wasn’t in the mood to cook and

late. His company was still expanding; long hours were

grown accustomed to his

night, around eleven, Brandon finally got