The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 318

Sophia's heart was racing behind the door. From her spot, she could see every move Brandon made, including him glancing up at the surveillance camera. Thanks to the sudden stop she made earlier, Sophia knew she hadn't walked into the camera's view yet.

Brandon seemed puzzled by his own abrupt action.

After a moment's pause on the camera, his gaze shifted to Ivan, who was walking out with the crowd towards the gates, and then slowly retreated back to Theresa, who was anxiously watching him. He flashed her a smile and reached out his hand, "Doesn't Theresa want her Handsome Unkie anymore?"

Theresa hesitated, shaking her head no, but still too wary to get close to Brandon, instead snuggling closer to Grace for comfort.

Grace, equally intimidated by Brandon's unintentional aura of authority, lowered her voice without realizing it, "I'm sorry, Mr. Crawley, you're right, it was my oversight, I promise it won't happen again."

She didn't even know why she was making such a promise to a stranger, but the apology and assurances just slipped out under the pressure of Brandon's invisible presence.

Seeing Grace get scolded made Theresa feel sad, and she couldn't help but whisper an explanation to Brandon, "It was me, I ran out on my own, I didn't wake

Grace up."

"I know," Brandon reassured her with another gentle smile. "Why did you come looking for me?"

"I wanted to give my mommy's drawing to you," Theresa whispered. "But the drawing, it's gone, I wanted to find it."

Ivan, who was passing by behind Theresa, caught every word she said without missing a beat.

He deliberately followed behind the people leaving the building, unnoticed in the crowd.

His steps didn't falter as he walked out the door with the others.

Brandon's attention was also fixed on Theresa.

"Where did it go missing?" he asked softly.

Theresa pointed to where she had been sitting: "There."

Sophia behind the door couldn't help but frown. From her angle, she could only see Brandon clearly but not the entirety of Theresa, unaware of where Theresa was pointing.

She could only look towards Brandon, who glanced in the direction of the hall and then spoke to Theresa in a tender voice, "How about I take you to ask the front desk lady, okay?"

Theresa nodded hesitantly and finally leaned in, allowing Brandon to pick her up. Kent, always quick on the uptake, swiftly called the front desk over, but when questioned, they hadn't noticed any drawing, hadn't seen it.

Theresa seemed downcast, "Maybe it was blown away by the wind."

"It's okay, your mommy has so many other drawings, you can give one to me

another time," Brandon comforted her, patting her head.

consoled, nodding

resting on her

wisp of hair inadvertently caught between his fingers was

expression distant, a mix of

flooded his eyes, Brandon gripped the strand of Theresa's hair a bit firmer, causing her to utter a confused "Ow," looking

with a remorseful touch, softly telling her, "Theresa, go back with Grace for now, okay? I

Theresa nodded: "Okay."

own anymore, okay?" Brandon

Theresa nodded again: "Okay."

to Grace, "Grace, Theresa is too young, she can't be left alone, especially not go out

responded, "Yes, it's my job.

nod and then directed Kent, "Kent,

Kent nodded

introduced Theresa to Kent, "Theresa, this is Kent.

Theresa nodded: "Okay."

Theresa from Brandon,

arms.

still, watching them leave until his hand, hanging by his side,

Brandon looked at the hair in silence for a moment, then asked the front

handing them to Brandon. Brandon wrapped the hair sample in the tissue, turned,

behind her until the silence settled. She leaned back against the door, too drained to move, her heart slowly calming from its frantic pace but her legs

the shock of seeing her with Brandon, to witnessing Brandon's decisive collection of Theresa's hair, she had been on an emotional roller coaster, from heaven to hell and back again,

what she

and discomfort, but mostly,

away from the moment she hung

fact that he was moving

hurt by him. She knew Susan had no love left for this city. Neither

the Zenitha-style resort is over tomorrow, that project will

for coming back would be accomplished;

leave was just a never-ending

time and again, and finally picked it up, dialed Brandon's number, then slowly brought

the other end was the long, slow ringing,

waiting for the call to connect, Sophia's hand holding the phone trembled. She thought about

seemingly long

deep voice came through, faintly mixed with the sound of car horns in the

said softly, "Are you at the office? I'd like to see you." Brandon:

need to talk to you about something," Sophia said quietly. "Are you free

of silence on the other

it's not a good time, never mind," Sophia

"I'll hang up."