The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 252

Grace said, "Nelly."

Brandon glanced up at her.

Grace met his gaze without flinching.

Whether it was Theresa's birthday or her mom's name, both were specifically mentioned by Sophia and Susan back when they were still in Wye City.

Grace remembered encountering Brandon at a restaurant in Wye City.

That time, she and Susan were taking Theresa to eat at Sophia's company. The three of them went ahead, and Sophia would join after work.

After getting out of the car, Susan went to park, and she and Theresa headed on first.

On the way, she bumped into a childhood friend from her hometown and stopped for a quick chat, exchanging contact info, not expecting Theresa to let go of her hand and dart straight into the restaurant, tumbling right in front of Brandon.

Scared half to death when she realized Theresa was missing, she was relieved to find her after parting the curtains to the restaurant.

That time she had a brief encounter with Brandon. Aside from noting that he was a good-looking guy, she didn't think much of it. But when they were about to sit down, Susan called her, asking if she could get her childhood friend to pose as Theresa's mom for a bit since she and Sophia couldn't come in.

Grace's friend, who happened to be out alone and up for catching up, readily agreed.

So they borrowed her friend Nelly's name that time.

After that day, Sophia had told her that if anyone inquired about Theresa, to say her birthday was November of the year before last, and to use the name Nelly for the mom, sticking with Theresa for the name.

Grace didn't know why, but she made sure to remember this.

Working for someone else, she was afraid of misspeaking and causing trouble for hia's family, so when Brandon asked, she recited the details like reading from

a textbook, extra nonchalant.

Brandon took another look at her.

At that moment, respectful greetings rang from outside the door. "Chairman Crawley."

Then Kent's voice was deliberately raised. "Chairman Crawley, what brings you here?"

And then he called into the office. "Mr. Crawley, Chairman Crawley's looking for you."

Brandon's eyes shifted towards the doorway.

Daniel was striding over, looking none too pleased.

The news of Brandon bringing a little girl to the office was spreading like wildfire throughout the company.

The company was mostly long-time employees, especially in Brandon's office, where there had been minimal staff turnover for years.

Aside from the revelation that Brandon was married when Sophia visited him two years ago, no one had seen any woman near Brandon for years, Tia's public confession at the company's door notwithstanding.

However, not long after that, Susan had unintentionally let slip in a collaboration with the company that Brandon was divorced.

So everyone knew Brandon was divorced.

But the sight of the bachelor Brandon suddenly showing up with a toddler in tow, looking utterly smitten, was a bombshell even more explosive than an alien visit. In no time, the grapevine did its work, and the news reached Daniel quickly.

Daniel was in his office and knew this couldn't be just a rumor.

He remembered Yvonne recently mentioning her brother might have a love child. He and Patricia had even made a trip to Brandon's house, only to be brushed off. Not long after, this rumor surfaced at the company, and he hurried over posthaste.

a little girl over a year old, and standing beside him was the mother of the child Yvonne had described as "kind of plain, a bit tall, a bit

displeasure, slightly loosened her grip on Brandon's

instinctively held Theresa tighter, patting her shoulder to comfort

"Let's talk in the

keeping his

a look at the little girl in

his assessing gaze already

pretty, exceptionally well-behaved

mix of anxiety and curiosity

expression softened a

is this?" he

Kent. "Kent, take

quickly stepped forward. "Chairman Crawley,

mind, his eyes shifting from Brandon's

look made Grace tense up, bowing her head to

her dad had come up to see

seemed to be at a standstill. She

smile, she reached out to Theresa. "Little one, do you

her

smile, opening her

at Brandon for

a

climbed

"Take her outside for

but couldn't help worrying, advising.

a walk outside," and left with the child.

walked away, then turned

to, his face turned sour, but

side a few times, Daniel swallowed his pride, softened his tone and asked, "Who's that

of the office

it out if

said, handing over

"We've hit

Brandon's

it up and saw a video

He answered the call.

the little one says

as the video connected, Yvonne's face

she turned the camera towards

little face appeared on the

home," she said in her babyish

overwhelmed by a tidal wave of

office to expose her to the adult world's

take you home, okay?" His voice softened involuntarily. Theresa didn't show the excitement she had

surge of emotions, a bittersweet

smile, "You wait there for a bit, okay? I will come

but

handed the phone back to

you guys at

in the second-floor

he said, then hung up and headed

him, "Wait up, I've

paid him any