The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 73

Brandon stood in the middle of the paternity test center’s lobby, staring blankly at the bustling staff and clients, feeling a weariness and emptiness like never before.

It was like the beliefs that had propped him up inside just crumbled in an instant, leaving him totally lost.

Then, among all those unfamiliar faces, Brandon spotted Martin on the phone, clutching a folded-up paternity test report.

Martin saw him too, his face just as composed.

Neither of them said hello.

Brandon didn’t greet him either. His gaze lingered on the DNA report in Martin’s hand for a moment before calmly shifting away. After a brief silence, he asked, “Need a lift?”

“No, I’m good,” Martin smiled and declined. “My grandpa and my parents are in town, at the airport. I’m heading there to pick them up.” Brandon nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

“Brandon,” Martin called after him, “why don’t you join us at the airport? You haven’t seen them in a while.”

“No need, I’ve got things to do, Brandon declined.

Martin nodded, not pressing any further.

When Brandon got home, Sophia was sketching design drawings in the living room.

It wasn’t homework or work. She was just doodling in her free time.

She sat in front of her easel on the balcony, wielding her drawing pen with ease, her long curly hair pinned up behind her head, her side-swept bangs curling softly against her cheek. Bathed in the light and shadows, her face was tranquil and gentle, her expression serious and focused.

remembered she was always like this. Whether she was frustrated or just bored, once she sat in front of her canvas, her whole demeanor

relying on anyone else’s emotional support or pep talks. She’d long since reached a point where she

of clear-headed independence came from balancing herself amidst a long-standing absence of

she learned to depend on people,

was silently watching her with a calm yet wooden expression, filled with a hint of regret and nostalgia, as well as a faint, indescribable

his hand, her gaze pausing briefly on it before looking back at Brandon with

a while before nodding

then asked, “Have you

nodded gently, “Yeah, just

had something too.”

the DNA test results in his hand, offering them to her, but

to

her a look, nodded quietly,

the

way to school, neither of them spoke.

their own silences.

Sophia finally turned to

out of the car before he too got out

people, Brandon saw Louis and Martin,

were also Brandon’s father, Daniel Crawley, and mother, Patricia Crawley.

fussing over a bewildered Marian, their eyes red and teary,

of the group, watching the tears in their eyes, especially Louis’s, but his