The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 463

Brandon ducked out of the office before quitting time.

The moment the door swung open, there was Theresa, playing solo on the play mat.

The setting sun streamed through the balcony, casting a pale yellow light in the chilly living room, somehow carrying a tinge of lonely desolation.

Brandon couldn't help but gaze at Theresa, lost in thought, while the image of Sophia leaving with her suitcase haunted his mind.

He slightly turned his head, his Adam's apple bobbing intensely in the dying light of the sun.

Grace, busy with her tasks, looked up to see him and greeted him, "Mr. Crawley, you're back."

Hearing the voice, Theresa, engrossed in her toys, looked up and, spotting Brandon home from work, was over the moon. She dropped her toys and scampered over to him with a pitter-patter of little feet.

Brandon squatted down and opened his arms to catch the little tornado that was Theresa.

"Did Mommy come home today?" he asked, smoothing her tousled hair with a soft voice.

"Mhm," Theresa nodded, "She said she had to go on a business trip."

"And did she mention when she would be back?" Brandon inquired.

Theresa pouted and shook her head, looking a bit downcast but soon perked up again, "But Mommy said she'll call me whenever she gets a chance."

"Hmm," Brandon hummed in response, gently stroking her hair, falling silent.

That evening, Brandon, as usual, took Theresa for dinner, went for a walk with her, but perhaps because Sophia wasn't there, these simple, cozy routines felt oddly hollow and tasteless.

Theresa, still young, didn't grasp the sting of parting too deeply and threw herself wholeheartedly into the fun at the playground.

But Brandon was somewhat distracted.

He even felt time dragging on unbearably.

Sophia felt during the two years

to go solo, it must have been a

unhappy one

by this marriage

like a caged beast

turmoil was so intense it nearly

heart, and he hated that they had

once said. how good it

Brandon bathed Theresa

called at

usually fell asleep early, was reluctant to do so, insisting on waiting for her mom's

a chance to call you yet," Brandon coaxed softly, "How about you

well-behaved child, nodded obediently at

her eyes, and soon drifted off to

Theresa's peaceful sleeping face for a while before his gaze

phone lay still,

snatched it up and

have dialed is

expected the call to be greeted by

abruptly and

In the hotel.

on the phone

already asleep," Grace reported dutifully about Theresa's day, "Mr. Crawley came home earlier tonight, had dinner with her, and then took her to the park. He just got her

she fuss at all today?"

replied, "Why are you calling

just

want me to wake

sleep," Sophia stopped her, "I'll

you get some rest, don't

"Yeah, you too."