The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 3

And Kent was stumped.

Brandon said, “Aren’t you busy at work?”-

Kent shook his head like a madman. “Busy, super busy.”

He sneaked a peek at the darkness outside the window and couldn’t help but give a little nudge. “Mr. Crawley, it’s way past quitting time, and, uh, I’ve got an appointment to check out a place with a realtor, can I take off now?”

Brandon glanced at the time on his computer-it was already past seven.

He gave a nod “Mhm.”

Thanks. Mr. Crawley. After a hurried thank you, Kent did a quick tidy up and bolted out the door.

When the office door shut, Brandon finally lifted his gaze from the computer, his eyes lingering on the closed door for a moment before drifting to the vast night outside the window.

It was the time when thousands of homes were lit up, and the lights in the distant neighborhood were twinkling like

stars.

Brandon’s mind wandered to the lights at home and Sophia, always curled up on the couch sketching.

Sophia’s face flashed through his mind, and Brandon’s expression softened. He pulled his eyes away from the window and back to the computer screen. His long fingers hit the keyboard, ready to dive back into work, but after typing just one character, he stopped. The designs and spreadsheets that once captivated him now seemed bland.

With a swift move, Brandon pushed the keyboard away, stood up, yanked his suit jacket off the coat rack, grabbed the car keys from his desk, and left.

Once in the car, his emotions gradually settled down.

Brandon let out a sigh, started the engine, and slowly drove off.

Outside the window, the busy streets were a blur of light and color, a hive of activity. Brandon drove aimlessly, not wanting to go home.

As he passed by Sophia’s neighborhood, Kent’s words burst into his mind unannounced. “Looks like Sophia’s gonna sell the house.”

Brandon couldn’t help but glance at the entrance to her complex.

Just then, Sophia emerged, and their eyes met in a fleeting moment as she paused.

Brandon saw her too, his gaze coolly sweeping over her face.

Sophia managed a strained smile.

Brandon coldly looked away.

Sophia felt awkward, gave a self-macking chuckle, and turned to leave.

Suddenly, Brandon called out to her, “Are you going out?”

His voice was as calm and steady as ever

Sophia looked at him surprised and nodded. “Yeah, just need to pick up a few things.”

Brandon nodded and said nothing more.

for the past two

too, didn’t say more, just gave a polite

sound, didn’t follow her, but he didn’t leave

there through the glass of a shop window, her brow furrowing in

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new bulb for the broken bathroom

new bulb, Sophia saw Brandon

unavoidably locked eyes

in their mamage, so she couldn’t be overly friendly either. When their eyes met again, she gave a slight tug of her

just watched her, his presence heavy, making even Sophia’s breathing feel

passed his car Brandon opened the door and followed her up the

Sophia didn’t say anything.

didn’t speak, just silently trailed behind her all the way to her

it and turned hesitantly.

Brandon said, “No”

Sophia was silent

food

couldn’t help but remind him, “You know,

swing by for

speechless, hesitatingly

noticed the bulb in her hand,

“Yeah, the bathroom

reached out.

okay, I can do

was cut short as Brandon had already taken

Sophia, worried about electrical hazards, said, “I’ll go turn off the power,” and shut off the circuit

her phone’s flashlight to help him see.

Brandon’s deep, steady voice came from above

figuring things out. His movements were smooth and decisive, a sort of effortless cool. Sophia’s eyes drifted from his hands to his face, his sharp profile silhouetted against the light, intense

She watched, transfixed.

chair. Sophia was still staring, caught off guard by his gaze. She awkwardly tugged at her lips, stepping back to put some

shifted from her retreating legs to her

Sophia feel even more

go check if the light’s

she turned to leave, but her wrist was suddenly caught, her phone dropped, and a light filled

knew it, Brandon had

up in a panic, and his hand smoothly slid from her wrist to wrap tightly around her waist, while his other hand fell to the back of her head, lifting her face towards his. His crisp breath closed in, and

Chapter

kiss.

to push

and the back of her skull

Sophia couldn’t resist

to fill the

pushed Sophia against the wall,

with a desperate emotion she couldn’t quite understand Confused, but without a chance to delve deeper, the

abruptly stopped, keeping her from seeing his face, and

clearly sense his breathing slowly

the ringing phone for the

the phone and answering it, her hand covering the device as she turned away, Hello,

at her before heading to the electrical

couldn’t help but glance at his retreating figure as a female