The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 298

"But we made up at this same spot later on, decided to tie the knot here too. This place held a different meaning for us. Too bad they tore down the garden. Otherwise, I could've taken her back for a trip, perhaps she'll remember something."

Louis shook his head with a wry smile, bending down to pick up the architectural model that had taken a beating. His weathered face was tinged with faint regret and remorse.

Sophia glanced at the now distorted model on the table and saw the mix of regret and heartache on Louis's face and the confusion and hurt on Renata's. It unexpectedly stirred up memories of the night she and Brandon decided to divorce, when he just said 'okay' to it. A whirlwind of emotions sparked her usually buzzing brain, and a vague concept began to take shape alongside the model. Sophia had a bit of an obsession with design, a frenzy for sniffing out new ideas.

For a creator, a sudden burst of inspiration could easily light up their whole brain with excitement, not bothering to ponder what it is, who it's for, its significance, or whether it's worth the effort. In that moment, all thoughts were consumed by capturing that fleeting moment, instinctively transforming it into a tangible creation. That's all there was to it.

After hanging up the phone, Sophia followed her brain's instinct, headed back to her office downstairs, turned on the computer, grabbed her stylus, and without a second's pause started translating the flood of ideas and concepts into sketches, completely forgetting to rest.

She was at it all night.

Sophia threw herself into the creative surge. The piece came together in one fell swoop, completely oblivious to the passing hours.

Only when dawn broke and the first draft of her work began to emerge did Sophia snap out of her creative trance. She stretched out big time, easing the stiffness of a night's work.

Her body was weary, but her mind was still buzzing.

It had been a while since she'd felt this kind of flow.

Glancing at the initial design on her computer, Sophia felt pretty pleased. All that was left was to add color and the final touches.

She hadn't thought about what she'd do with the piece; it was a spur-of-the- moment creation, pure and simple.

Standing up from the computer, she let out a yawn. The post-creative buzz had worn off, and exhaustion hit her like a ton of bricks.

Sophia checked the time; it was past nine, and that's when Theresa video-called her.

The little one had just woken up, didn't see her mom, and called.

"Mommy, where did you go?"

Her voice was still thick with sleep, sitting up in bed, tousled hair and rubbing her eyes.

"I'm in the office, busy with work," Sophia said softly. "I'll be back in a bit." "Okay," Theresa chirped sweetly upon hearing her mom would return soon.

Sophia smiled, "Go have breakfast with Grace, okay?"

"Mhm." Theresa nodded seriously, climbing out of bed and telling Sophia, "Bye, Mommy."

With that, she hung up.

switched back to the

of Grace mentioning Brandon giving Theresa her phone number the night before. She hesitated for a moment, then bent down to pick up a toothpick from the

vacant apartment across the hall was open. It was the same layout as her place on the eighteenth floor. Ever since she moved in, she hadn't seen that

ajar now made her pause with curiosity, but she didn't dwell on it,

open door: "Sir, what do you think? The price is very

Someone's buying the place?

by the

in time to lock eyes

stopped dead in

the door, mistaking her for a neighbor, and cheerfully asked, "You

owner-occupied, high-quality residents, all decent folks working nearby. You won't have to worry about

speechless, she didn't know what

her, noticing

you up all night?" he

at them with

know each other? That's great, friends buying in the

chasing after a girlfriend a

their relationship, the agent wisely left the

at the agent, then turned to Brandon who had approached her:

plan,"

what do you think? If it works for you, let's seal the deal. This place is in high

gave him a

up, all his sales pitches stalling

the contract with the owner,"

watched them, didn't

was all smiles, "Sure

secure the place? Just to keep others

money

produced

out his phone, transferring

agent confirmed, barely containing his excitement. "I'll get you an invoice later. I'll contact the owner now, see when he's available, and I'll

gaze stayed on Sophia, who looked like she could use some

last night?"

inspiration, got

to react on how quickly

Sophia hesitated before asking, glancing at the