The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 370

Worried about bothering Theresa and Grace, Sophia snuck over to the studio next door to whip up pasta for Brandon.

She was usually all about Theresa's balanced diet; the fridge was like Noah's Ark, got a bit of everything.

Brandon's a fan of light flavors, so Sophia grabbed some fresh shrimp, clams, eggs, and green onions, planning to toss up a seafood pasta dish for him.

The kitchen next door was stocked with everything she'd need.

"Take a breather for a sec," Sophia said as she walked in and turned to Brandon.

He nodded, peeling off his tie with one hand as he headed for the bathroom. Passing by, Sophia caught a faint whiff of disinfectant on him - subtle and not quite real. She cast an unwitting glance at him.

Brandon had already ditched the tie and suit jacket.

"I'm gonna hit the shower," he said, flinging his clothes into the hamper.

"Okay," Sophia nodded.

She got to work in the kitchen, grabbing a pot single-handedly, rinsing it, filling it with water, and setting it on the stove to heat up. With her other hand, she poured the shrimp into a clean basin and skillfully yanked off the heads and lines, then peeled and deveined them.

Being the only girl at home, and not exactly the apple of her parents' eye, Sophia got roped into all kinds of chores by Laura Yearwood from a young age. So, she was no stranger to fending for herself, and her cooking skills were on point.

Whipping up a meal was a piece of cake for her. In no time, Sophia had prepped the shrimp and clams.

Fresh out of the shower, Brandon caught sight of Sophia, busily moving about the kitchen, the rich scent of seafood mingling with the zesty ginger and spring onions wafting through the room.

He couldn't help but watch her.

Freshly showered, her hair clipped up casually with a claw clip, with lazy curls framing her face - a look of relaxed elegance.

shrimp heads and clamshells. Then, effortlessly, she grabbed the kettle with her now-free hand, pouring the boiling water over the simmered seafood, moving

Sophia like this, Brandon was reminded of Patricia and Daniel's

a soul, yet she

due to her talent -

felt someone's gaze and instinctively turned to see Brandon leaning against the doorframe, quietly watching her. She flashed him a smile,

nodded softly, stepping

almost ready,"

"Okay."

soft and slow, and as he walked over, he suddenly wrapped his

but didn't

something was off with Brandon tonight - a deep weariness emanating from

instead pulled her closer, enveloping her in

head slightly to look at him, "Something

word, he leaned in to kiss her lips,

mix of restraint and release, stopped her. Her hands, initially set to push him away, ended up wrapping around his shoulders, offering

inside Brandon.

her against the countertop. The other hand removed the hair clip,

pressed down on her hair at the nape of her neck, his

simmering seafood started to bubble, keeping time with

of control, reaching to turn off the stove, but Brandon stopped her

reached behind, and with a click, the gas was turned off, quieting the

from wild to gentle, eventually

filled with heavy breathing and the hiss of steam from the

resting against the top of her head as they both caught their breath. Sophia leaned against his

the pot quieted down with the

dad had a cerebral hemorrhage and was taken

at him