The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 242

"Just give me a sec."

Sophia whispered, flinging the clothes into the dryer. She fumbled with her phone to set it on silent before reluctantly hitting the answer button.

The moment the video connected, Theresa's surprised and smiling face popped up on the screen.

"Mommy."

Theresa cheerfully called out to her.

Sophia flashed a smile back at her and looked up around the room. Brandon was

still busy, not paying attention to them.

Theresa, noticing Sophia wasn't looking at the camera, leaned in curiously, "Mommy, what are you looking at?"

Sophia couldn't hear her with the phone on mute, but she could make a fair guess from Theresa's expressions and lip movements.

"Nothing much." Sophia said with a smile, her voice hushed as she turned

sideways, whispering into the phone, "I'm swamped with work right now, can't chat. I'll call you back tomorrow, okay?"

The sugary coaxing tone at the end made Brandon pause in his movements; the sweet, cajoling voice felt like a tease to his ears.

In all the years he'd known Sophia, from the flirty high school days to the close- knit two years of marriage, she had never spoken to him with such a soft, cooing tone.

He couldn't help but look up at her.

on her lips, her demeanor tender, her eyes

flashed in Brandon's mind, only to be quickly dismissed. He had seen Sophia interact with Ivan a few times - always polite and distant, no different from

Augus popped up. That sunny, handsome, witty,

chit-chat with Sophia at the ribbon- cutting ceremony of the new company, clearly

major as Sophia, that

gaze and glanced back at him. Brandon's eyes shifted

tilted her phone slightly, a subtle move that Brandon caught. The last gleam of light from her phone screen vanished

said somewhat awkwardly into the phone, "Gotta hang

Brandon sounded like she was

steadied her nerves

ready," Brandon said, passing her the

"Thanks."

the towel wrapped around her. She still felt a bit awkward in

handed her the take-out box and casually asked,

his question, Sophia hesitated before nodding,

nothing. Over the years, he knew

grip on the tableware faltered, but since Brandon didn't press, she didn't

curry towards

he wasn't going to

to eat, trying to

hotel staff sent it

Sophia just went, "Okay."

still felt a bit

emotions - happy for her current well-being, yet also feeling dismal. It was an expression he hadn't seen in

up at her, calling her

looked at him,