The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 319

Sophia and Brandon found a afternoon tea place near their office and snagged a private booth.

It was Sophia who had found the place and insisted on the private room.

"Is it something important you wanted to discuss?" Eyeing the super private eatery, Brandon asked as he pulled out a chair, smoothly helping Sophia with the one next to it.

Sophia nodded lightly. "Yeah."

She settled into her chair, reached for the teapot intending to pour some tea, but Brandon beat her to it, taking over and filling cups for them both before handing her the menu.

Sophia picked out something small and handed the menu back to Brandon. Brandon randomly selected a few items and closed the menu.

Neither of them were there for the food.

"So, what's up?" Dropping the menu, Brandon looked at her, his voice steady.

Sophia hesitated, catching his gaze.

Brandon's eyes were deep and calm, a look that sent an inexplicable shiver through Sophia.

She lowered her lashes, took a small sip of tea, and began softly, "When I first came back to Wye City, I was on the fence about taking on the Zenitha-style resort project. Just so happened, our mentor, Mr. Gardner-you know him—was in town for a conference and we grabbed a bite. He advised me not to ditch the Zenitha project."

Looking up at Brandon, she continued, "We were at a restaurant near the school when a guy bumped into me. I turned and recognized him as the short, chubby dude we ran into in the Starlight Hotel's underground parking lot-named Darcy. The one we tried to dodge that time."

Brandon seemed surprised by the topic, and after a moment, he nodded. "Hmm."

"While he was dining, the skinny tall guy from the parking lot was with him," Sophia whispered, her eyes on Brandon, "I heard him call the other guy Ms. Barlow. Over dinner, Ms. Barlow asked Darcy how things were going, and Darcy said it was all cool, that the guy was all set up in the company, totally solid, and to not worry."

Brandon glanced at her but didn't chime in.

Sophia continued, "Darcy mentioned how hard it is to get into Starlight Group, that the turnover is low and they hardly ever recruit externally. He said they were lucky Starlight Group was launching a subsidiary, Star Dempsey Architects, needing new blood; otherwise, who knows how long they'd have to wait. So, I'm suspecting there might be a mole among the folks who joined the company with me."

"You came back because of this?" Brandon's voice was measured as he looked at her.

Sophia pursed her lips, silent for a beat.

"Half and half," she murmured.

"Why wait till now to spill the beans?" Brandon's tone remained cool, almost like he was interrogating, seemingly unfazed by the idea of a mole in his company. "The guy's last name is Barlow, and it just so happens that Marian was staying at Starlight Hotel when we bumped into him and Darcy," Sophia hesitated, "I did some digging and found Marian's school records. She listed a Dennis Barlow as her father. I looked the guy up online and saw his picture, turns out he's that tall, skinny dude."

come off like I was trying to smear her or spread rumors." "And since I started, I made it a point to get everyone's resumes, keep an eye on their every move. But so far, everyone's normal, just clocking in and out, doing their jobs," Sophia added quietly, "The work Mr. Dempsey and I assign is pretty standard, nothing top secret. Plus, our computers have tight firewall security, no outside devices can infiltrate or access sensitive info. So,

studied her, not moving,

her

why bring it

bit her lip, seeming to

on the teacup, her slender fingers slightly tense, pressing a pale crease into the back of her

that pale crease, then lifted to

calm. "The ground-breaking ceremony for the Zenitha-style resort is tomorrow. Big event, press will be there. I was worried they might try something, thought it was better to give

not to mention a top-notch

"I haven't been here long, I didn't

guess I was overthinking

twitched slightly,

in the food carefully and

then, along with the rest of the crew, headed out, closing the private room

with his fork, and served it into her bowl, his

you

and she glanced

just gently and slowly placing the cut steak

steak in her plate

fork, just nodded slightly, and then spoke

his movements and looked

a little girl, you two seemed pretty close, so I

as

it almost made Brandon second-guess himself, stirring up a

had caught him off

wasn't his daughter, every question he asked now could plunge their relationship into a point of no

was a gamble

fact he had no direct proof right now, or if this

the get-go, aside from the coincidence of Sophia and Theresa appearing at the same time, and the strange sense of affection and pain he felt when facing Theresa, there was no evidence

do with you?" Brandon's eyes were

Her reply was eerily calm, with a hint of chill and resolve in the

up, walked over to her, bent down to grab her

her along calmly, only speaking up softly, "Brandon, I agree to the paternity test. But if the result proves nothing, we go our separate ways. After

in his tracks, turning to look at her coldly, "You

at him almost defiantly, "I can't always be dancing to your tune. I'll cooperate with the paternity test,

verge of splitting with fury as he looked at her, "You dare walk out on