The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 286

On the way back, Sophia and Louis were among those sharing a ride in the same

car.

Gerald was behind the wheel, with Rachel riding shotgun.

Sophia joined Louis and Renata in the back seat.

Maybe it was the comfort of being in the car, but Renata's grip on Sophia's hand relaxed a lot. She just held Sophia's hand gently in hers, caressing it back and forth without a word, just looking at Sophia with this mix of heartache and nostalgia.

Sophia felt a bit awkward under her gaze, kind of like she was wearing someone else's shoes.

Louis noticed her discomfort and softly reassured her, saying.

"Sweetheart, don't mind it. Yoli is my granddaughter. She got lost when she was just a kid, and after searching for over a decade, we never found her. My wife always kept her in her thoughts, especially these past few years with the disease setting in. She forgot everyone but always remembered her missing granddaughter."

Sophia gave an awkward chuckle, not quite sure how to respond.

Louis went on. "We finally found her two years ago, but by then, Renata had lost all her memories. She couldn't even recognize her own granddaughter standing right in front of her. Now, she goes up to any young girl she sees on the street to see if it's her. She probably mistook you for Yoli because you two are around the same age."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Renata blurted out a scolding, "Nonsense, she is my Yoli."

Seeing Renata getting agitated again, Louis quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, soothingly saying, "Alright, alright, she is Yoli. Don't get upset; getting worked up is bad for your health."

Eventually, Renata settled down again, naturally leaning on Louis's shoulder.

Sophia looked at the loving couple and felt a pang of envy.

bit wistful and regretful, "Unfortunately, after she fell ill, she forgot everything." Seeing his downcast look, Rachel turned to comfort him, "Dad,

paused and

smiled at Sophia

They traveled to many places together

to rekindle those memories, but before they could even set off, my dad almost had a stroke. He couldn't make the trip, and by the time he got a bit better, my mom had developed Alzheimer's and

but neither of them can handle the strain of travel anymore, so he thought of fulfilling a promise they made when they were young: to recreate those special places

are all the places they've been. My mom doesn't remember anything now, but she still treasures this album and takes

the album

the other day, but this album was

she flipped through the album, it was clear that the couple

over at the two old

Rachel's words had stirred something in Louis, as his expression grew

have time," he murmured, looking at Renata, who was still gazing at Sophia with a dazed affection, "When you're young, you always think there's time, no

hire a few more construction crews and get it done

chimed in with

at him, his sadness not quite eased, and

just rambling

back. "No

window unintentionally, and she realized they had entered a

original affluent neighborhood, a bit aged now, with private villas enclosed by tile walls and iron fences, the latter of which

road, their branches dense and interwoven, all exuding an air of

looked out at the vintage fences and trees, feeling a bit

"We're here."

her reverie. She hesitated, then