The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 145

At the airport.

Sophia was hustling out of the jet bridge while whipping out her phone to power it up, striding towards baggage claim. Before she even reached the carousel, her phone, now booted up, was flooding with notifications one after another.

Glancing at her screen, she saw that it was mostly Susan, peppered with a barrage of missed call alerts.

Texts morphed from [Have you reached West district yet?] to the more urgent [Why’s your phone still off? Sophia, call me back ASAP when you see this.]

Sophia skimmed the messages and quickly video-called Susan back.

The moment the call connected, Susan looked like she was about to burst into tears. “Finally, you call back. What took you so long? Did something happen to the flight? You had me scared to death.”

“It’s all good, just some weather delays,” Sophia reassured softly, “We got held up due to a local thunderstorm at the layover, and the plane kept circling without clearance to land. It’s caused a bit of a delay. I’m at West district now, so don’t fret.”

Susan sighed in relief, “As long as you’re safe. Remember to call me once you’re settled in, and watch out for yourself.”

“Will do,” Sophia nodded, inquired about the kid for a bit, and then hung up.

After the call, Sophia checked the time on her phone – past ten in the morning. She paused for a second.

The flight was hours behind schedule, and it was already past the nine o’clock work rush.

Sophia had no clue whether Brandon’s “by Friday” meant business hours or the opening ceremony.

If it was the former, she had essentially given up by now.

If it was the latter, making it on time was still touch and go.

Brandon was always a man of his word.

Letting go of the Zenithan-style project was something Sophia knew he would follow through on.

Suddenly, she wasn’t sure if there was any point in rushing over.

Her decision to return wasn’t solid to begin with. It was more Zachary’s plea, the suspicions from overhearing Darcy and others’ conversation, and several other factors that had rushed her.

The conveyor belt started moving, and luggage began to appear one by one.

bag among the sea of

bent over to lift her luggage

she caught a cab now, it would be a race against the clock to make

to get to the Starlight Group in time, but this flight just

some cosmic sign holding

to leave it up to

to be part of this project and she’d give it

destiny’s way of telling her it was time

cab, Sophia was surprisingly

Starlight

emcee was delivering a speech for the grand opening, and the celebratory mood peaked.

the guest of honor seat with an expressionless face, sneak-peeks at his phone from time to time, his demeanor cool

smile, though his eyes betrayed

Brandon’s turn to speak, introducing the new company’s leaders and design

designer couldn’t

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Zenithan-style resort design, leaving no

knew Brandon well.

at his phone, even reaching to call Sophia directly when there were no updates. But as his fingertip touched the

said, his voice faint,

ran into some trouble on the way?”

she lack a phone? Or internet?” Brandon’s tone remained flat, not even looking at him, “If it was something serious, wouldn’t she have called ahead?”

had no

had finished the opening speech and turned the attention to Brandon. “Please welcome, with a round of applause, the President of the Starlight Group, Mr. Crawley, to deliver his

the room.

Brandon, noticing a brief flicker of something on his face before he rose emotionlessly and headed for the stage.

stood on stage, composed, speaking at an even pace,

to the guests, then briefly explaining the reasons behind Star Dempsey Architects’ inception and future aspirations, before

up was Don, with a quick verbal intro and a display of his résumé and portfolio on the big screen behind Brandon, eliciting

up to express his thanks amid the claps.

is comprised of equally young and talented designers,” Brandon continued in a calm voice

voice suddenly halted.

looked at