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.

felt like it was being

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

expected to stumble upon this

crowded for such a talk, so they decided to head

Yearwood?" Kent

an apologetic smile, and then

Brandon and Marian, hesitating before turning to Sophia, "Aren't you gonna go

shook her head, "I don't think it's

looked at Kent,

hesitated for a

before had replicated a miniature version of

gazed at the photo of the

distraction and glanced at her phone, trying to make conversation to lighten the mood, "That white

get it?" Kent asked with a

Sophia replied, "I've had it since I

surprised, and chuckled, "I thought all girls

"I don't know why

away the image and exited the chat with the

carver.

showed a message from the salesgirl at the DIY shop from yesterday,

had set a time for seven o'clock

over the keyboard, typing out a message, [Hello, something came up tonight, and I might not be able to make it, so the necklace, I

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

eye, could guess that

sure how to

clearly using her identity as Yolanda to remind Brandon

how things would

Brandon, he couldn't predict his choice when

Yolanda,

distract

something important to discuss

away.

her phone, hit the off button, and

hand, resting on the steering wheel, paused slightly, and his smile faded as he turned to

construction crew," Sophia said. "He acted all sorts of weird when we were in Zion City for that business trip. I suggested we switch teams back then, but he kept batting for them, yapping about how they're just honest 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 didn't think much

there for the whole Nell debacle, saw all the stakes, but he's way

her, "Have you talked

shook her head.

and Marian, he swallowed his words and said to Sophia.

Sophia nodded. "Yeah."

asked. "What's the deal with

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

a snap to get

nodded again. "No worries, as

"Right."

me off up ahead," Sophia said, feeling they had covered enough

pointed to

to ditch Sophia mid-way and

care of. Just drop me off up

was easy to talk to, he kept the car rolling, not showing any

out.

knew that despite his Mr. Nice

give in that

him a destination, there was no way Kent

to 'Corner Memories' DIY shop,"