The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 396

"Mommy!" Theresa's eyes lit up instantly when she saw Sophia appear on the screen, calling out to her with a voice that danced with surprise and delight, tender and endearing.

The happiness in her voice was infectious. Sophia responded with a light tone, and then asked her, "Theresa, have you had your dinner?"

"Uh-hun, all done. Kent just made us dinner," Theresa said, "His cooking is yummy."

Sophia chuckled, "Is that so? Is he still there?"

"Nope," Theresa shook her head, "He's playing with my toys with godmother."

To convince Sophia, Theresa clumsily aimed the phone's camera towards Kent and Susan.

There they were, sitting on the floor right on Theresa's play mat-Susan kneeling and Kent squatting alongside her. The two of them were happily putting together Theresa's Lego set, occasionally consulting the instruction manual to figure out the patterns. Kent would call out for a piece, and Susan would eagerly hand it to him.

They were having so much fun they'd almost forgotten about their little host.

"Uncle Kent said he would teach me how to build with Legos, but then he, well, he started teaching godmom instead," Theresa explained to Sophia with a hint of innocence, her gaze watching the two adults collaborate with glee, "So, I called you."

"It's okay," Sophia reassured her with a smile, "Theresa has every day to play, but Uncle Kent and godmom have work on weekdays. Can you let them play for a while?"

"Okay." Theresa nodded seriously, her gaze returning to the phone screen. Then, out of curiosity, she asked, "Mommy, are you with Daddy?"

"Yes, Daddy's here," Sophia said, shifting the camera to Brandon.

Brandon smiled and waved, "Did Theresa miss Mommy and Daddy?" Theresa nodded.

Then she asked, "Daddy, when are you and Mommy coming back?"

"We'll be back home soon," Brandon reassured her, "You just play Legos with Uncle Kent and godmom for now, okay?"

Theresa agreed cheerfully, "Okay."

After saying goodbye to Sophia, she hung up the phone.

Brandon checked the time; it was just past eight, still early.

He looked at Sophia.

"Let's head back," Sophia said, "We can't leave Theresa to Susan and Kent."

"They're probably enjoying it."

Brandon's voice was calm, the implication clear in his voice: Whether it was cooking or playing Legos, it seemed to him that Theresa was just a prop for them to build their relationship.

It was convenient to have the child around as a buffer against any awkward silences that might arise.

Sophia coughed lightly, "Well, there are certain things that are not so convenient with a child around." Like, say, when they were in the mood for a kiss.

Brandon glanced at her.

Sophia's ears felt a bit warm, discussing this topic with him still felt a tad awkward. "Let's go," she shifted the subject slightly, looking away and starting to walk back.

Brandon watched her with a hint of amusement, caught up to her, and naturally took her hand in his.

Sophia turned to look at him.

Brandon acted as if he hadn't noticed.

"Let's go," he echoed softly, leading her towards the school gates with her hand in his.

Sophia's fingers twitched, but she didn't retract her hand; instead, she let him guide her back.

The campus road at eight in the evening was long and quiet.

The night wind was strong, tossing leaves into the air, tracing delicate arcs.

Dimly lit by the scattered streetlights, their shadows elongated and intertwined by

the light, dancing together like silent confessors to their closeness.

They had walked this campus road together before, but this was the first-time hand in hand.

Back in the day, after evening self-study, Brandon would often wait for her at the back gate.

He never said he was waiting for her, but she took it for granted that he was. She'd hurriedly pack up her bag, then walk with him.

Back then, they'd blend into the crowd of students leaving school, not talking much, not standing too close, at most he'd casually grab her hand if she got jostled by the crowd, but their silent covenant was enough to make her heart flutter for a long time.

When the two got home, Kent and Susan were still there. Seeing the large bouquet of roses in Sophia's arms, their eyes moved from the flowers to Sophia's face, then to Brandon, and back to Sophia.

It was a kind of attention Sophia was unaccustomed to; relationships like this were foreign to her.

couldn't respond to their affections, she'd always politely declined any gifts or flowers, and when she couldn't refuse, she'd leave them by the trash-never

today some

his brain frantically trying to recall if he

his forte, but even he knew the significance of giving flowers on

was Brandon's idiosyncrasy,

looked at Kent's panicked face and replied

more as he searched his memory for the special occasion while awkwardly apologizing to Susan, "Sorry, I've been so busy with work lately, I've kind of lost

perplexed, thinking hard about what special day it might be, while placating Kent, "No worries, I've been home every day, I don't even know what

looked at the roses with wide-eyed joy, "They're so pretty," she said, tiptoeing to get a better

brought the flowers closer

curiously to touch

any damage, and couldn't help but ask Sophia

Sophia whispered to

some for me

with

we get you some for Theresa's

Theresa nodded: "Okay."

but sneakily ask Susan: "Is

her head: "No, it is

Kent's frown deepened.

couldn't figure out what was special about

Kent

what's

lowered his voice, scared to be overheard

above the liquor cabinet, didn't even

what

even more confused and anxious: "What is it

him:

walked over

Sophia

rose into the

on her toes, watched eagerly as her mother arranged the flowers. Both their faces-one looking

he looked at the mother

to look up

She stealthily pulled Kent, who was secretly Googling what day

followed her gaze and gave a gentle nod towards the family

in time to see the two whispering and gave them a puzzled

head out now," Susan

with a

two leave

after admiring them for a bit, turned to Theresa and

late.

Theresa nodded.

bath and to bed," Sophia told

"All right."

Sophia take Theresa into the room, then turned to

the flowers

them to

warmth to it.

ringing of a phone broke the

his phone; it was

a moment on

came out of the room with clothes for Theresa and saw a

her with a normal expression:

replied, waving the clothes at Brandon, "I just went to

to find them."

for her bath

bathroom with Theresa, and Brandon stepped out onto

Yvonne typically didn't bear

concern, "Brother, Dad's condition has worsened again. Do you want to come to the

Yvonne's voice trailed off.

Brandon and hung

out into the vast night sky, put away his phone, and

"Something's come up with Don; I need

might be late when I get back, so you and Theresa should go

to look at him and

told Theresa: "Daddy has to step out

up with Mommy, okay?"

Theresa nodded: "Okay."

you come

"Will do."

his