The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 301

The little girl in the video was totally jazzed, showing off the shells she found and the beach behind her to Sophia, not missing her mom one bit.

Maybe it's because Sophia has been busy with work and studies since she was born, leaving little time to hang out. Unlike other kids, Theresa's not clingy to Sophia when work picked up.

That kind of understanding just piled on the guilt for Sophia.

So, she called Susan back with a video call.

The phone was picked up after a short ring, and Susan's smiling face popped up on the screen.

"You're up?" she chuckled, peeking over Sophia's shoulder, "Are you alone?"

Sophia nodded, "Yep. Is Theresa sleeping?"

"Yeah, tuckered out from the afternoon fun," Susan said, "Brandon just called Grace, wanting to catch up with Theresa."

Sophia pursed her lips, at a loss for words.

It was a curveball for Sophia when Susan took Theresa on a trip out of town.

Sophia figured Susan bolted because she knew Brandon was around and found out Theresa was on the 18th floor. Probably worried he'd pop up or Theresa would go looking, so they skipped town for a vacay.

Susan was still job hunting, so she's got all the time in the world for babysitting.

"Mommy?" Theresa's sleepy, bleary call came from behind the camera.

"Whoa, up again?" Susan looked surprised, swiveling the camera to her.

They were still out, in the car, parked at the scenic spot without budging.

They drove there, and Theresa was sleeping in the back seat.

The camera showed Theresa, obviously still groggy, rubbing her eyes and looking

at the screen. Seeing Sophia, she brightened up quite a bit.

"Mommy." She called out crisply, scrambling up to the phone.

Susan couldn't help but chuckle, "Sweetheart, your mom misses you."

Sophia cracked a smile at Theresa, "Did you have fun at the beach today?"

Theresa nodded, "Yes, there's so much water, and, so much, so much sand, super pretty."

Theresa couldn't help but gesture wildly as she talked.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Sophia asked.

"Yes, I did!" Theresa beamed, then curiously asked Sophia, "Godmom said you will come too, so when is mommy coming?"

From behind the camera, Susan explained, "Thought we'd make the most of it, stick around a couple more days, why don't you join us?"

"Sounds good." Sophia nodded, "I'll get my stuff."

Then told Theresa, "Mommy's gonna change clothes, be there in a jiffy, probably by dinner. Why don't you take another nap, and I'll wake you when I get there, okay?"

"Okay."

Theresa nodded vigorously, thrilled. Then she hesitated, gazing at Sophia with a milky voice, "Mommy, can I ask Handsome Unkie to join us too?"

Both Sophia and Susan went silent.

Seeing Sophia speechless, Theresa blinked her big eyes, puzzled, "Mommy, is it not okay?"

Sophia didn't know what to say, her heart suddenly heavy.

It was a simple request from her daughter, and she couldn't straightforwardly say "yes."

When she first decided to have Theresa, she did think of going it alone. Plenty of folks single-parent in this world, raising happy, healthy kids.

During her marriage to Brandon, his passion for work didn't exactly scream "dad of the year."

Sure, he'd spoil the kid, provide a plush life, but not the hands-on time.

He'd just be the stern parent: successful, authoritative, kinda scary. Add in his folks' disdain for her and their old-money mindset, that's was why she chose the solo route for Theresa.

She could provide a loving, comfortable life-not luxury, but enough for a regular kid.

For Theresa, being happy and content is the real jackpot.

when dodging Brandon became impossible without tanking her career, she gave in to fate, and

was sure that Brandon would stay single and it won't

was keen, and Theresa took to him more than expected, scrambling

the Crawley family's desire for the Frost family... everything remained

villa, Patricia ominously warned Rachel, saying, "I don't know what she did to Brandon, just waltzed in by getting knocked up. She knows about Yolanda and Brandon, and I'm worried." And then there was Daniel on the phone saying, "Don't let that woman's act fool you. She tricked Mrs. Frost by pretending to be Yolanda. You know what the old lady's like, barely recognizes people anymore, believes anything she's told. This woman, to get into our family, would even use someone out of their wits what

would bad-mouth her in front of Theresa when she wasn't around. That sort of thing shouldn't be on the plate for someone

"He's gotta work, okay? He'll play with

time she understood, Theresa nodded obediently and said, "Okay,"

for her and said, "Then you go to sleep, and mommy will come to you

agreeing and a "Mommy,

and asked, "So what's the plan

she bumped into Patricia, then Theresa met Brandon and brought him home. That was followed by Brandon's pointed probing, Patricia and Daniel's scolding calls, and then a video call from Yolanda's grandma. She had a burst of inspiration and spent the whole night on designs, busied herself till this morning, then ran into Brandon again on her way

Susan suggested, turning the camera to the seaside view outside the car window. "Beach and sea, a bit of wind and sand play, and you'll

nodded lightly, "I'll head over in a

to her room, changed clothes,

and Theresa was fully charged, over the moon to see Sophia. Usually okay with anyone's embrace, she clung to Sophia like a koala the moment she saw her, holding tight and

the sandy beach to the aquarium, then the amusement park, Sophia gave her a solid weekend

fun.

had a blast, too. Maybe it's a kid's short memory or the distraction of new, exciting stuff, but she didn't bring up

they all went to eat in Zion City's bustling downtown area, at a local

Susan drove them there.

parking lot, Sophia held Theresa,

park, and we'll go queue

Sophia, "Alright, go ahead. I'll find

holding Theresa as she walked toward the

reached the elevator, the doors opened just in time, and people

to the

a floral shirt walked by, smoking. Sophia paused at

him. The man didn't notice her and

to call Susan, but Susan didn't pick up. Anxiety bubbling inside her, Sophia was about

get out of the car, I just saw your

Susan, but it was too late. Susan had already stepped out,

you been these two years?" The angry roar came through the phone as he reached out and violently grabbed her ponytail, yanking her toward

going to check on your godmother and will come find you

confusedly, wanting to turn and see what was

her down.

good girl, mommy will be back

nodded, "Okay," and climbed into Grace's

floor," Sophia instructed, "and call security at the entrance, tell them someone's getting beaten up

the floral shirt hitting Susan and was visibly shaken. She quickly nodded, protecting Theresa so she wouldn't see the

Cooper, was smashed against the car, dazed and unable to react, her head buzzing with pain

there? You got guts now, huh? Just ran off like that, do you even know how much you screwed me over by calling off that wedding? Couldn't give the agreed-upon bride price, couldn't buy the

hair again, about to smash her face

a second thought, she took out

in her hand, and jabbed the pointed end of the key into Cedric's hand with all her

a taste of his own medicine and involuntarily released Susan's hair from his grip. Sophia seized the moment to pull Susan behind her, shielding

a smile, "Who do we have here if it isn't the so-called high-society lady who got kicked out by the Crawley family? What's the matter, can't

and wanted to lash out at him, "Cedric, don't push it!" Sophia stepped in front of her,

with Sophia anymore and lunged to grab

behind her and calmly confronted Cedric, "I've called

"What a joke. Who dares to meddle when I'm

ordered Sophia,

and stalling for security, "Cedric, whatever it is, we can

Cedric, who was used to being

nothing to talk about with her," Cedric declared. "I'm going to teach her a lesson

made his move,

on to Susan, dodged to the side and screamed at the top

cry was loud and piercing, startling Cedric into hesitating. Seizing the

help.

parking garage was deserted. Cedric, snapping out

off after them.

him many strides to nearly catch up with

pushed Susan

she spun around, grinding to

stop

now reaching for Sophia's arm to fling

but she couldn't outrun Cedric. As

hair unexpectedly fell

intending to throw her against

this, Susan turned around, tears streaming down her face in

Cedric, but ran into