The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 11

Sophia had just cleared security when Ivan finished up too

They headed to the boarding gate together, keeping a bit of distance one after the other, barely exchanging words along the way.

Once they reached the security hall, they each plopped down onto their own patch of empty seats.

Ivan took the spot next to Sophia, whipped out his phone the moment he sat down, looking like he was swamped with

work

Sophia didn’t peep a word, her gaze drifting from the bustling crowd in the gate area to the window outside.

Outside the sky was gradually darkening

The tarmac was ablaze with lights, planes taking off and landing, the night merging with the lights, slowly deepening the sense of parting

–

Sophia thought back to that call with Brandon – picked up and then abruptly dropped her fingertips grazing the edge. of her phone She felt nowhere near as calm as she had expected.

Brandon always had a way of getting under her skin, no matter what.

She wanted to call him back ask what was up, but then she remembered their goodbye, how he’d hugged her gently. told her to take care, and the determined stride he took as he walked away. Her fingers, which had been caressing the edge of her phone, finally relaxed and she shifted her gaze to the specks of light outside the window.

The unease in her gut wasn’t letting up. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse

She was in for a flight over ten hours long, and she was starting to worry about a mid-air body breakdown. Her hand instinctively pressed against her chest, hesitating whether she should grab some meds.

Ivan glanced up at her. “Feeling off?”

Sophia gave a slight shake of her head. “I’m fine

Her eyes caught a glimpse of a pharmacy nearby and paused for a moment.

Ivan picked up on her pause “Not feeling well?

Sophia, a tad embarrassed Yeah probably didn’t sleep well last night and didn’t eat much today. My stomach’s throwing a bit of a fit”

frowned Stomach acting

cue, a wave of nausea hit Sophia, and she couldn’t hold back a dry heave to the side, hand covering

up. “Let’s get you some meds before we’re stuck on that

Sophia nodded.

to a food joint, its rich food

hand to block her nose and looked over at the pharmacy staff, asking for

staffer a cautious pharmacist

her head. “No,

this been

“Just started this moming.”

“How long exactly?”

“Felt a bit sick when I got up, but felt better after

Chapter

mind, her eyes widening slightly at

by with a steaming hot pot of oden, the pungent seafood smell triggering another wave of nausea. Sophia turned away instinctively, gagging, while Ivan quickly patted her

pale and a mix of startled

on her shoulder paused,

to twist a smile at him.

caught this scene, and his steps slowed to a

Brandon, not too far but not too close, could easily see

lean so affectionately into another man’s arms, her unique gentle smile blooming for someone else. The

didn’t know why he’d

presence,

Sophia had already said their goodbyes. There was no need

wasn’t necessary either. Departing was her choice,

hint of reluctance, and walked

Ivan aside and turned around, her gaze inadvertently sweeping a familiar silhouette in the window reflection.

crowd surged behind her, but the familiar tall figure was nowhere

the pharmacy

gaze snapped

pharmacist looked at Sophia, surprised, but still

to the

the test result, her mind felt empty,

more bewildering than her first

just panicked and clueless, unsure of what to

was a deathly kind of