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.

his silhouette, worried but not daring to say more, and simply nodded,

disturb Brandon any further and silently

and flung into the air, a raw pain surging in his chest, so intense

never knew 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

back to how things were before; no

the thought of a world without Sophia, without her quiet, dimpled smile looking up at him, calling him "Brandon" in her uniquely soft voice, it felt like someone had gouged a hole in his

past had not been about losing her at all. She

But this time.

on the railing suddenly tightened, bending him over in stomach pain. He looked out at the now calm river, remembering

had let you go that

rose with the morning breeze, but other than the gentle sound of

"Sophia."

her name, again and again, each time a deeper stab of pain, but he kept on calling

coursed through his limbs. Brandon never

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

she saw Brandon from afar, doubled over in

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

paused but

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

Grace voiced her concern.

felt out of her depth; Theresa was like possessed by the nightmare, crying. She and Susan didn't