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

witnessed the whole scene

hadn't expected to stumble upon

The company was too crowded for such a talk, so they decided to

Yearwood?" Kent called

to reality, offered him an apologetic smile,

car immediately but looked worriedly in the direction of Brandon and Marian,

shook her head, "I don't think it's a good time to

spoke, she looked at Kent, "Let's just go, work

for a moment,

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

photo of the white jade Jesus, somewhat

conversation to lighten the mood, "That white jade looks

it?" Kent asked with

wasn't purchased," Sophia replied, "I've

looked at her, a bit surprised, and chuckled, "I thought all

don't know why I

away the image and exited the chat

carver.

at the DIY shop from yesterday,

a time for seven

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

"won't need it," but halfway through,

distraction and hesitation from the corner of his eye, could guess that she wasn't feeling great, even though he

how to

using her identity as Yolanda to

didn't know how

he understood Brandon, he couldn't predict his choice when confronted with the living,

of Yolanda,

he tried to distract Sophia by

you mentioned on the phone that you had something important to discuss with

away.

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

slightly, and his smile faded as he turned to Sophia. "What

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.

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

Kent agreed, asking her, "Have you talked to Mr. Crawley

her head.

brought it up with Brandon, but considering the tension between them lately 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

Sophia nodded. "Yeah."

the deal with

midst of swapping them out," Kent said.

a

worries,

"Right."

me off up ahead," Sophia said,

to an

didn't dare to ditch Sophia mid-way and turned

care of. Just drop me off up front. You go do your

give in to Sophia's request and, with a smile that said he was easy to

out.

Mr. Nice Guy facade, anyone who

give in that

a destination, there was no way

me to 'Corner Memories' DIY shop," Sophia finally caved, "near the children's