The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 231

When Sophia snapped back to reality, the "beep" tone had already come through from the other end of the phone, startling her into a fluster as she scrambled to hang up. But the more she panicked, the more likely she was to mess up.

Before her finger could decline the call, her frantic hand had already knocked the phone flying. The phone hit the floor, and from the other end, Brandon's deep pleasant voice came through, "Hello?"

Sophia was so startled that she instantly shushed Theresa, her other hand shaking as she picked up the phone.

Brandon didn't hear any response from her end and frowned, "Sophia?"

"Uh, yeah, it's me."

Sophia blurted out a reply, her eyes nervously glued to Theresa as she stood up from beside the coffee table. Obediently, Theresa didn't make a sound, and just stared at Sophia with big, puzzled eyes.

Sophia tried to reassure her with a smile and signaled Grace with a glance to come look after Theresa; then she headed into the master bedroom.

It wasn't until the door closed behind her that Sophia let out a silent sigh of relief. "Sorry, I hit the wrong button by accident."

She explained sheepishly, walking towards the balcony of the master bedroom as she spoke.

There was a nonchalant "Okay" from the other end and then silence, but the call wasn't disconnected.

Sophia felt awkward just hanging up, so she tried to make conversation, "By the way, you came to see me today; was there something you needed? I didn't check my phone and had no idea you were here."

"I know."

The response from the other end was indifferent. Sophia was at a loss for words for a moment.

"So," Her fingers nervously fiddled with the phone, "if there's nothing else, I've gotta..."

She wanted to hang up, but Brandon's gentle voice cut in, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, about Patricia not being my mom."

"It's no big deal. I should've asked more clearly," Sophia replied softly.

"I was eight when she married my dad." Brandon said in a calm, even tone, "She took good care of me as I was a kid, and we lived together until before college. She always played the role of my mom in my life, but my relationship with my family has always been kind of distant. Be it my biological dad or stepmom, we didn't have much contact and didn't live together, so I never made a point to mention it to you. That's on me."

"It's all good." Sophia chuckled, "Thanks for opening up to me."

Brandon didn't respond.

tighter,

keep you

again, smooth and measured; footsteps in the background suggested

stopped fiddling with the phone and fell silent, waiting for

on the other end didn't go on for

Whatever the reason,

spoke, calmly, "Sophia, I can't

"Sophia."

to say more, but suddenly there was a loud thud from his end, the chaotic noises of an

heart tightened, and she called out anxiously,

"Quick, call an ambulance." Sophia panicked, calling out "Brandon" a couple of times into the phone with

what's going

her voice, but instead of a reply, the call was abruptly cut off, the phone emitting a few busy tones before returning to the home

in the living room as she hurried towards the hallway, "Grace, look after Theresa. I have to go out for something

up her little princess toy and seeing Sophia hastily leaving, she immediately dropped the toy, stood up,

where are

play with you later. Be good and listen to

instructed Theresa as

nodded, half understanding, "Mommy, come

saying this, she tiptoed to grab the keys from the hallway and handed them

"Will do."

head, took the keys, and walked out the door, calling Kent as she went.

"Ms. Yearwood?"

you

end, "No, I'm not with Mr. Crawley. What's

he have any plans?" Sophia asked urgently, pressing the elevator button, "I was just on the phone with him, and something seemed to go wrong on his end, and

have any other plans."

"Not really."

construction noise; has he been

the Starlight Group's mall project on Friday. There seemed to be some issue, and since the project is not far

got it,

hung up the

mall project Kent mentioned was located, right between her residential complex and

had just left from here, and on his way back, he must have passed by and decided to drop

a 2-kilometer distance. Sophia took the elevator down, hopped