The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 397

Brandon didn't look at her; he just opened his arms and gently embraced her.

"You are a bit off tonight," Sophia murmured, not pushing him away. "What happened?"

"Nothing." Brandon croaked softly. "I just suddenly remembered things from the past, and I feel like I owe you an apology."

"There's nothing to apologize for," Sophia whispered back. "The path I chose was mine to take. Our marriage was a mutual decision, without any coercion. I have my own faults to bear."

Lifting her head to look at him, Sophia added, "So you shouldn't blame yourself."

Brandon glanced at her, caressed her hair with his hand, but remained silent.

Deep down, he wished she would argue with him, give him an earful for not being attentive enough.

To care and to hope means she paid attention.

The flip side of that is to have enough detachment to be objective.

Now, Sophia and he were bound together only because of their kid.

He cracked a smile at her, "Let's sleep for now."

Sophia nodded, "OK."

Aaron was anxious because he couldn't see Daniel at the hospital.

The bid meeting for the Frost Group was about to kick off, and without connections to pave the way, he knew his company didn't stand much of a chance.

Countless established corporations vied for this project, and his held no advantage.

His intention wasn't to gobble up the entire project. Initially, a partnership was what he had in mind-Let the big players take the lion's share while he got a slice of the pie.

That's why he had approached Mr. Gellar for a partnership, envisioning him winning the whole deal, while he just contributed a minor investment for a small stake, pocketing a few million, perhaps up to ten.

Mr. Gellar was the big fish he had clung to while Sophia and Brandon were still married, thanks to Brandon's uncle status. Though not in Brandon's league, Mr. Gellar had a decent reputation in the West district real estate scene.

At first, it was Mr. Gellar who had cozied up to him, offering brotherly flattery.

But once Mr. Gellar got wind of Brandon and Sophia's divorce, his responses cooled.

Fortunately, Aaron was decent in his dealings. He had not abused his brief advantage; he always treated Mr. Gellar with respect. So even though Mr. Gellar became colder, he didn't kick Aaron out of his social circle.

Aaron knew that for a network to last, being useful to others was crucial.

Over the past two years, he'd been conscientiously keeping the relationship with Mr. Gellar. Beyond the routine exchange of gifts during festivals, he also attended to minor issues for him, like arranging hospital stays for relatives, or sorting out schooling issues for their children—all facilitated by the network he had established when he was Brandon's brother-in-law. He was thorough in his approach, and would often visit Mr. Gellar to sit awhile, serve tea, drive guests around—anything practicable to assist, he would do. Over these years, their relationship had stayed pretty solid.

Aaron had thought, given his rapport with Mr. Gellar, that he would be included in the Frost Group project, even if just to reap some benefits. But to his surprise, Mr. Gellar had never brought up the matter.

When Aaron broached the topic, Mr. Gellar seemed uneasy, saying he wasn't even sure he could land the Frost family project and didn't want to lead Aaron astray, suggesting Aaron might as well bid on his own.

The sincerity of this advice was unclear to Aaron, but with an invitation to bid, he wouldn't pass up the chance. He even approached the Frost family with a gift to test the waters.

From the attitude of the Frost family's members, Aaron gathered that they looked down on him.

But the trip wasn't in vain; he accidentally uncovered the relationship between the Frost family and the Crawley family, which was a significant discovery.

Now that Sophia had reconciled with Brandon, Aaron planned to leverage the Crawley family connection to persuade the Frosts.

But with Daniel out of reach, he felt anxious.

past, when Aaron needed something, Brandon would just delegate it to his subordinates, a bunch of paycheck collectors who were all smiles while being utterly

their hands, Aaron

too busy, and when prodded, they were full of apologetic smiles and polite assurances, promising swift

act all surprised to hear the task was incomplete and would claim they needed to check with others. After some investigation, they'd realize they had simply forgotten, followed by profuse apologies

Aaron disliked asking Brandon for help, especially

Patricia was a lot

affluent relatives. They often

expected Daniel to be laid up with cerebral hemorrhage at such a critical time, and it wasn't his place to bust

he couldn't afford to wait

stopped at the elevator by Daniel's bodyguard with

thought he couldn't get any more stressed, the Frost Group

Brandon was reliable

was diverted to Brandon's subordinate,

Yearwood?" Kent's voice on the other end was as annoyingly

couldn't fault him for anything. Thus, he maintained his decorum and politely said, "I

playing Mr. Nice Guy. "The meeting is crucial. Mr. Crawley might be tied up for a while. If you have any urgent matter, I can pass

tell him that I'd like to have dinner with him tonight,

business, I'm afraid that would be inconvenient," Kent replied regretfully. "However, I could

out of town? Since when? How long

the truth; Brandon had indeed left for a business

he'll be back," Kent

response left Aaron's worry lines

that by the time Brandon returned, the bidding would

right, I'll see what I

out a heavy sigh, threw his phone

behind his head, and stretched out, staring at the ceiling, stewing

woes.

another room, dressed as if about to

your Mom not to

she gets back."

briefed Aaron, he sat down to slip on

was putting on some

you going?" he asked

accident, he had been recuperating at home, unable to return to his previous work in renovations. His

he'd made such an

dinner date with your sister and will check in on her kid as well," Haley said,

upright with a sudden jolt of excitement,

was startled by his sudden

Aaron declared, swiftly heading to change, "Just wait a

uneasy, "What

be in joining my sister for dinner?" Aaron said while rummaging for clothes, half-turning to Haley, "Dad, can you stop overreacting? When

made sense to

and paid little attention to his sister. Most older brothers were similar, he

affection of their parents and wasn't always the kindest brother, things changed as they grew up- especially after Aaron fell in love and devoted himself to his romantic

relationship in the Yearwood family. As their father, he naturally wanted his kids

Aaron, "Hurry up then, I'll

"Got it."

He reemerged shortly after, looking quite presentable-which

advise

notion, "She never lacked food or clothes. Despite our family's struggles, you and my mom worked hard to put her through university. She got into a top high school, and you didn't hesitate to support her. How many girls like her ended up working in factories or getting married? If you hadn't insisted on sending her to that high school, she wouldn't have the

offered her scholarships to attend. We just had to provide a little for her living expenses-of course, we had to let her go," Haley said, with a touch of pride, "We owe it to her intelligence and success that she could help with buying a house even before graduating. Otherwise, you and Barbara would struggle to make ends meet when you were newlyweds, and wouldn't be living so comfortably

us, she wouldn't have her successes

with a resigned sigh and left the