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.

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

world a bit. Don’t worry, two years will fly by. Sophia reassured him, and seeing Haley

his pride mixed with relief, “That’s great. I always knew you’d go

Sophia smiled.

voice called out, and as the words fell,

bent down to scoop her up, “Betty, did you have fun

her mother,

his high school sweetheart, and they got married a couple of years after graduating

sales rep and climbing her way up to sales director, raking in a hefty annual salary. All her earnings, though, were poured

that Aaron wasn’t working or taking care of the kid, and she didn’t kick up a fuss, just soldiered on, earning

for years on end. If she had to break it down, it probably

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

acknowledged with a “Mhm,” her attention returning to the little tyke snuggled against

kids so much, you better hurry up and have your own. Otherwise, when he finds someone else to have kids with, you’ll be the one crying about

that, she couldn’t help but mutter, “I have no clue what you were thinking back then. So young, yet couldn’t even keep a baby. If you had that kid, we wouldn’t have to grovel

her, she said, “Mom, I’ve already divorced Brandon.

Aaron were

evening and needed to pack her bags. After bidding Barbara and Haley

Aaron were still trying to

real? How come they’re

“Yes, it’s true. She’s

frowned, “Where is she

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

he couldn’t keep things to himself and was worried, so he headed to Brandon’s company that

went straight to the front desk girl.

at him, “Hello, do you have

retorted “He’s my brother-in-law Why would

that he

him. “Sir. I’m sorry, I

and tried to barge through, but security quickly stepped forward to stop

my brother-in-law, just let your boss

getting impatient and attempted to continue his way, but the security couldn’t let him go. Just then, Kent returned from

he asked

“This gentleman claims to be Mr. Crawley’s brother-in-law

to see him.”

Aaron over skeptically, not seeing any resemblance

what Kent

you don’t

surprised Kent thought for a moment, then told the

Security let him through

“I told you Mr. Crawley is my brother-in-law and you didn’t believe

to the CEO’s office on the

outside for a moment,

the outer office, Kent whispered instructions and then

Brandon’s deep voice came from

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

you

Kent was speechless.

Brandon glanced at him.

suddenly felt a chill down his spine, “Mr.

has hand dismissively. “Yeah,

at Brandon, “What’s the deal with you two? How come

noticed Brandon’s hand pause on the mouse, looking

remained calm. He looked