The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 502

Marian had just shut down her computer, ready to bounce, when she looked up and caught Brandon eyeballing her. Her steps faltered, and she hung her head low, not quite daring to meet Brandon's gaze.

Ever since she got grilled by Brandon at the last press conference, where he had her spill the beans on the whole plagiarism fiasco, she had been scared stiff of him.

But woven into that fear was a tinge of envy for his unconditional defense of Sophia.

She wished she had someone who would have her back like that, no questions asked.

Brandon just glanced her way before shifting his attention to Cindy nearby. "Where's Director Yearwood?"

"She's already called it a day."

Cindy piped up quickly, equally wary of Brandon.

"That early?"

Brandon's brows knitted slightly as he shot a look toward Sophia's office, but he didn't press further and strode out.

Marian followed him out the door, keeping her distance.

While waiting for the elevator together, she couldn't help but murmur a greeting, "Mr. Crawley."

She didn't dare to be as casual as she was when she first walked in.

Brandon gave a noncommittal "hmm" and stepped into the elevator as soon as the doors slid open.

Marian hesitated, then followed him in.

She kept her distance, tucked away in a corner of the elevator, yet couldn't stop herself from stealing glances at Brandon.

All she could see was his profile-sharp, defined, and ridiculously handsome- sending her heart racing for no good reason.

But, by the time the elevator doors opened in the underground garage, she hadn't mustered the courage to strike up a conversation with Brandon.

The moment the doors opened, Brandon took long strides out of the elevator.

Marian hesitated, then called out, "Mr. Crawley."

Brandon paused, turning his head to look at her.

"I'm really sorry about using Sophia's designs," Marian said, clutching the strap of

her bag, head bowed in a sincere apology.

"You owe your apology to someone else, not me."

Brandon's reply was frosty, and he turned away to leave.

"I know," Marian hurried after him, "but I owe you an apology too."

Brandon didn't acknowledge her, just kept walking without looking back.

Marian bit her lip, feeling dejected but stubborn, and couldn't resist catching up to him. She raised her right hand, adorned with a beaded bracelet, revealing a vintage-looking Jesus bracelet on her fair wrist as her sleeve slipped down.

Brandon stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze shifting to the bracelet on her wrist, and then back to Marian.

Marian bit her lower lip, her eyes welling up, "Brandon, have you forgotten about our childhood too?"

Not far away, Sophia, who was about to get into her car by Kent's side, instinctively turned around at Marian's plaintive call of "Brandon." She caught sight of Marian, bracelet raised, looking vulnerable and on the verge of tears. She also noticed the momentary surprise on Brandon's face as he stared at the bracelet. Sophia's grip on the car door faltered slightly.

it was being torn

driver's seat, witnessed the whole scene and looked at

to

for such a talk, so they decided to head out. He didn't expect that the slight

Kent

snapped back to reality, offered him an apologetic smile, and then opened

Brandon and Marian, hesitating

"I don't think it's

she looked at Kent,

hesitated for a moment, then

that moment. The jade carver she had contacted the night before had replicated a miniature version of the white jade Jesus and

of

distraction and glanced at her phone, trying to make conversation to lighten the mood, "That white jade looks really nice." Sophia nodded, "It

you get it?" Kent asked

replied, "I've had

and chuckled, "I thought all girls liked to

"I don't

she spoke, her finger swiped away the image

carver.

chat showed a message from the salesgirl at the

a time for

arranged time, Sophia's mind wandered. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, typing out a message, [Hello, something came up tonight, and I might not be able to

to say "won't need it," but halfway through, she hesitated, deleted the text, and

corner of his eye, could guess that she wasn't feeling great, even though he didn't know what she was

sure how to

was clearly using her identity as Yolanda to

didn't know how things would

though he understood Brandon, he couldn't predict his choice when

the matter of Yolanda, Brandon was

to distract Sophia

important to discuss with me. What's up?" Kent asked with a smile, steering the

away.

gaze away from her phone, hit the off button, and

on the steering wheel, paused slightly, and his smile faded as he turned to Sophia.

farmhands and how tough it is to scrape by, and that we shouldn't be so quick to judge and give them the boot. I thought he was just a softie with a lot of empathy, so I

"He was there for the whole Nell debacle, saw all the stakes,

her, "Have you talked

her

and the recent scene with Brandon and Marian, he swallowed his words and said to Sophia. "I'll mention it to Mr. Crawley later. He's sharper and has a keener eye for detail. Maybe he'll dig

Sophia nodded. "Yeah."

asked. "What's the deal with the

midst of swapping them out," Kent said. "But

won't be a snap to get

"No worries, as

"Right."

off up ahead," Sophia said, feeling

pointed to

to ditch Sophia mid-way and turned to her. "Let me

I've got some stuff to take care of. Just drop me

request and, with a smile that said he was easy to talk to, he kept the car rolling, not

out.

despite his Mr. Nice Guy facade, anyone

give in

giving him a destination, there was no

me to 'Corner Memories' DIY shop," Sophia