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.

norm for the past

didn’t say more, just gave

make another sound, didn’t follow her,

his car still parked there through the glass of a shop window, her brow furrowing in confusion as phe entered

Chapter

new bulb for the broken

new bulb, Sophia

unavoidably locked

there, but they had been like strangers in their mamage, so she couldn’t be overly friendly either. When their eyes met again, she gave a slight tug

emotion, just watched her, his presence heavy, making

the door and followed her up

Sophia didn’t say anything.

trailed behind her all the way to her

couldn’t bear it and

Brandon said, “No”

Sophia was silent

any food at

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

an old friend swing by for a

hesitatingly unlocking

in her hand, his

“Yeah, the

reached out. “Give

okay, I

refusal was cut short as Brandon had already taken the bulb

grabbed a chair from the hallway, and stood on it, easily reaching the light. Sophia, worried about electrical hazards, said, “I’ll go turn off the power,” and shut off the circuit breaker, plunging the room into

flashlight to help him see. “Can you see

above as he skillfully

Brandon change a bulb before, but it seemed like smart folks have a knack for figuring things out. His movements were smooth and decisive, a sort of effortless cool. Sophia’s eyes drifted from his hands to his face,

She watched, transfixed.

guard by his gaze. She awkwardly tugged at her lips, stepping back

retreating legs to her face,

silence made Sophia feel even

if

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

before she knew it, Brandon had pulled

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.

instinctively tried to push

her waist and the back of her skull suddenly lightened, and Brandon deepened the kiss

Sophia couldn’t resist

began to

against the wall, kissing

demeanor tinged with a desperate emotion she couldn’t quite understand Confused, but without a chance to delve deeper, the kiss became more intense, teetering on the

his face, and pressed

clearly sense his breathing slowly

to pick up the ringing phone for the second time, and

taking the phone and answering it, her hand covering the device

to the electrical switch by the

at his retreating figure as a female voice came through the