The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 532

Kent instantly got why Brandon was keen to keep these folks around and bump

their pay.

When they were clean as a whistle, getting a pat on the back and a salary that was doubled by the big boss wasn't gonna make them want to bail. They couldn't find a gig this sweet anywhere else, and they were all here to make a buck, after all.

Especially with everyone spooked about the bad juju from the beam that kept failing, those willing to roll the dice and give it a shot, well, cash was king for them.

Only someone with skeletons in their closet would think of hitting the road when the heat was on and the cops had got a smoking gun.

"I'm on it," Kent quickly piped up.

Brandon gave a slight nod, didn't say another word, but stayed put. He stood where Sophia had taken her fall the night before, gazing down at the railing, reaching out as if to touch it, his hand trembling before he could lay it down.

Kent, standing behind him, couldn't read his face and, worried, called out, "Mr. Crawley?"

"Go on, I'm fine."

Brandon's voice was steady as he continued to look down at the railing. Finally, his shaking hand slowly gripped the railing, and then tightened, the familiar veins slowly standing out on his arm.

That was the last place Sophia had left her mark.

not daring

didn't dare disturb Brandon

and flung into the air,

losing Sophia could hurt like this. He thought he'd lost her many times before - the never-again goodbyes after high school, the turning away when they divorced, over and over. He thought he'd already lost her so many times, and he thought he was used

how things were before;

her quiet, dimpled smile looking up at him, calling him "Brandon" in her uniquely soft voice, it felt like someone

past had not been about losing her at all. She had just

But this time.

stomach pain. He looked out at the now calm river, remembering those days they'd fought, the days she'd

I had let you go that day, how much better it

but other than the gentle sound of the wind over the water, no one answered

"Sophia."

stab of pain, but he kept on calling like self-torture, more urgent and choked with each call until the pain was too much to

Brandon never knew

what about Theresa? But in all this time, he'd never really spent it, never truly

Brandon from afar, doubled over in

her heart ache for no reason, and she didn't dare to disturb him. But remembering Theresa in the hotel trapped in a nightmare, crying and unable to wake, she had to approach him,

paused but said

her sleep since we got back to the hotel, and she won't wake up. Should we take

Grace voiced her concern.

out of her depth; Theresa was like possessed by the nightmare, crying. She and Susan didn't know what to do, so they had no choice but to seek out