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.

just as he reached Brandon's office door, he'd indeed see Brandon holding 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

frightened by Daniel's displeasure, slightly loosened her grip

tighter, patting her shoulder to

at Daniel. "Let's talk in

keeping

a look at the little

assessing

was pretty, exceptionally well-behaved and adorable, looking

mix of anxiety

softened a

kid is

"Kent, take Chairman

stepped forward. "Chairman Crawley, right this

pay him any mind, his eyes shifting from Brandon's calm face to Grace beside him, remaining

look made Grace tense up, bowing

at the company, heard her dad had come up to see Brandon, she

walked into a room that seemed to be at a

reached out to Theresa. "Little one,

her and nodded

a smile, opening her arms, "Can

at Brandon for

a

immediately climbed into Yvonne's

at Yvonne. "Take her

couldn't help worrying,

cheerfully told Theresa, "Come on, I will take you for a walk outside," and left with the child. Grace quickly grabbed Theresa's bottle bag and

the group walked away, then turned to Kent, "Hit up

up to, his face turned sour, but he didn't

side a few times, Daniel swallowed his pride, softened his tone

of the office pricked up

Brandon said coolly. "Spit it out if you've got something

something," Daniel said, handing

project. "We've

Brandon's phone

up and saw a video

He answered the call.

the little one says she

video connected, Yvonne's face popped up

she spoke, she turned the camera

face appeared on the screen, not looking too

home," she said

by a tidal wave of

hadn't brought her to the office to expose her to the

she had earlier, just hesitated and shook her head, "No need, I'll go

of emotions,

"You wait there for

hesitated, but

she handed the phone back

guys at now?" Brandon

in the second-floor gym

wander off," he said, then hung up and

stop him,

paid him