The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 54

Aside from scooching over a tad when she sat down, all polite and proper, Sophia didn’t make any move to chat him up during the whole dinner.

After the meal, the guys were all jockeying to escort the girls home.

Sophia had that girl-next-door charm, soft-spoken and serene, the kind of gal guys used to fall over themselves to please back in the school days, and that night was no different.

Among the eager beaver lads vying to take her home, Brandon piped up, “I live over in West district too. I can give you a lift on my way.”

He clearly caught the surprise on her face, but Sophia was never one to put someone out. She thanked him and turned down the lift, saying she’d called a cab. But her refusal seemed feeble against the backdrop of her enthusiastic classmates, and in the end, she gave in and got into his car after a bit of friendly arm-twisting.

The ride was light on conversation.

Back in the day, they had all those unspoken understandings, even a sort of tacit closeness and reliance, but after a few years apart, there was a certain awkwardness. Yet, that awkwardness turned into a torrent of intense and fatal attraction the moment they bumped into each other in the dark of her room.

He kissed her, and then things spiraled out of control.

He wasn’t the type to do things on a whim, and neither was Sophia, but that night was the start of a chaos for both of them.

Desire overrode all sense of reason.

Memories of that night flooded back, and Brandon couldn’t help but steal a glance at Sophia.

She was still watching the young couple goofing around, a soft smile on her calm and gentle face, just enjoying the show.

–

said he wanted marriage, but she wanted

you call love?” he blurted out, looking at her

in surprise, not expecting

always thought it odd to hear “love” from Brandon, who had always seemed immune

bring that up out of the blue?” she asked with

and didn’t reply, his gaze shifting back to the playful

really wasn’t

silly

had that playful,

how to protect someone but never quite learned how to make someone happy.

she was like him – both reserved and a bit cool. They would’ve been better off with partners who were more outgoing, someone to

gaze and turned towards

said softly, still fixating on her face, “Just suddenly thought maybe you were right

at him quietly and smiled, “So,

her gaze silently,

for both, but his heart surged with resistance and displeasure at her words.

had always been rational and was never one to make life tough for others or force them into anything. So

choose their paths and brave enough to stand by their decisions. If

talking about letting go was just as much a considered

didn’t want to think

don’t plan to, he said, his voice still low and even, his gaze never leaving