The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 5

Sophia didn’t have some kind of super memory. It was just that Laura had always had it in for her since she was a kid. Laura’s favorite line was, “If your dad hadn’t picked you up, you’d have starved to death by now. We’ve fed you, housed you, sent you to school How have we ever wronged you? Is it too much to ask for a little help around the house?”

With that kind of nagging in her ear day in and day out, it would’ve been tough for her not to take notice.

She used to get really upset about it when she was little, not understanding why she wasn’t like everyone else, why she didn’t have parents who doted on her But now that she had grown up, she had come to terms with it. Maybe some folks were just dealt a thinner deck when it comes to kin-whether it was parents, kids, or even spouses. They were just not meant to stick around long, and it seemed she was fated to go it alone in this life

Lucky for her her dad, Haley Yearwood, had always been decent to her

He was the one who found her, and the first person she saw when she came to after passing out with a high fever.

Sophia couldn’t really remember what went down back then, but she had this fuzzy memory of being alone out in the middle of nowhere for a long time, freezing cold and starving, scared out of her wits every day So when she woke up to Haley holding and comforting her she felt this deep sense of kinship and a bit of fear. She clung to Haley and wouldn’t let go. When they couldn’t find her family. Haley felt sorry for her and decided to keep her and adopt her.

Truth be told, their family wasn’t in the best position to take in another mouth to feed, and Laura certainly wasn’t keen on looking after someone else. But she couldn’t win against Haley’s resolve and ended up having to keep Sophia.

Haley had been a pushover his whole life, except for the one time he put his foot down about keeping her. Even though he wasn’t able to provide the kind of care and protection a father should, given his constant work outside, Sophia still had a lot of respect and gratitude for Haley.

She had come back this time just to see Haley before she went abroad, knowing it wouldn’t be as easy to return once she left the country.

Laura, not getting a response from Sophia, had escalated to throwing a fit outside, banging pots and pans around.

What’s going on now? Haley’s voice came from outside the door.

Your precious daughter that we picked up! Do you have any idea how hard it’s been for us to raise her all these years? If not for us, who knows, she might be still grafting away on some assembly line. And would she have had the chance to marry into a family like Brandon’s? Look at her now, acting all high and mighty, too good for her own folks. What’s wrong with helping out the family now that she’s made something of herself?”

Haley’s voice perked up with surprise, “Sophia’s back?”

As his voice trailed off, there was a knock at the door.

Sophia went to open it and saw Haley standing there.

“Dad, she said softly

Haley stepped in, lowering his voice, “Don’t mind your mom. She’s all talk.”

Sophia nodded slightly, “Mhm.”

Haley asked, “What brings you back all of a sudden? Where’s Brandon?”

Sophia hesitated, then came clean, “We got divorced.”

Divorced? Haley’s expression turned serious, “Why?”

Sophia simply said, “We weren’t right for each other.”

Haley frowned, ‘Is it because of your mom and brother?”

Sopha shook her head, “Just tell them not to bother hirn anymore.”

Haley looked hesitant. It wasn’t that he wanted to go, but he couldn’t convince Laura and Aaron: Laura called the shots

Sophia understood his predicament and smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to them. I just came to see you today I’ve been accepted into a graduate program abroad and I’m leaving tomorrow. It’s a two-year program and I probably won’t be able to visit often, so take care of yourself’

She took out a bank card from her purse, There’s some money on this card. Keep it for now and let me know if you need more.”

Haley quickly tried to give it back, “You’ll need the money abroad. Keep it, I have enough”

“No, I’m good, Sophia insisted, pushing the card back into his hand.

sadness, “Why are you leaving so suddenly? Studying abroad is such a big step. Isn’t studying here good

years will fly by. Sophia reassured him, and seeing Haley still

Haley up, his pride mixed with relief, “That’s great. I

Sophia smiled.

sweet little voice called out, and as the words fell, a two-year-old girl had already wrapped

“Betty,

little girl nodded vigorously, turning to look at her mother, Barbara

his high school sweetheart, and they got married a

a simple insurance sales rep and climbing her way up to sales director, raking in a hefty annual salary. All her earnings, though, were poured into Aaron’s

taking care of the kid, and she didn’t kick up

years on end. If she had to break it down, it probably boiled down to Aaron’s sweet talk and the emotional value

chummy, but when Barbara caught Sophia’s gaze, she politely greeted her. “Sophia, welcome

“Mhm,” her attention returning to the little tyke snuggled against her neck,

Sophia’s eyes and couldn’t resist being snarky, “If you love kids so much, you better hurry up and have your own. Otherwise, when he

thinking back then. So young, yet couldn’t even keep a baby. If you had that kid,

expression faded a bit, and looking up at her, she said, “Mom, I’ve

were both

elaborate. She had a flight that evening and needed to pack her bags. After bidding Barbara and Haley goodbye, the left

were still

that for real? How

sighed. “Yes, it’s true.

“Where is

replied, “She said she’s going back to school

but he didn’t say anything more. However, he couldn’t keep things

straight to the front desk girl. “I’m here to

receptionist smiled at him, “Hello, do you have

Why would I need

he headed

sorry,

to barge through, but security quickly stepped forward to stop him, Sir, I’m sorry, you need an

he s my brother-in-law, just

his way, but the security couldn’t let him go.

going on here?” he asked as

security guard greeted him respectfully. “This gentleman

to see him.”

not seeing

tell what

is my sister. If you don’t believe me,

a moment, then told the security, “Let him

Security let him through

mad at him, just pointed to himself, “I told you Mr. Crawley is my brother-in-law and you didn’t

the CEO’s office on the top

moment, I’ll

they reached the outer office, Kent whispered instructions and then knocked on Brandon’s office door,

deep voice came from the

door open, about to speak, when Aaron pushed the door wider from behind

have you

Kent was speechless.

Brandon glanced at him.

a chill down his spine, “Mr.

dismissively. “Yeah, I’m just

“What’s the deal with you two? How come you’re suddenly divorced?

noticed Brandon’s hand pause on the mouse, looking at

remained calm. He looked at Amron. ‘Do you