The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 538

Marian's heart did a freaking somersault, nearly blurted out to grill him on why he had to spill the beans about her. She was just shooting the breeze, after all. But she swallowed her words, mustering a strained smile at Daniel, "No biggie, I'm not holding a grudge against Mr. Crawley. My bad that day; shouldn't have been such a chatterbox. I didn't see it coming."

She sniffled, her voice trailing off as she hung her head in guilt.

"It's all fate." Daniel sighed heavily, eyeing the nasty bruise on her neck with alarm, "You better not have hurt your neck; let me take you to the doc, okay?" Marian touched her neck and whispered back, "I'm fine, thanks Mr. Crawley. I want to check on Mr. Crawley. With him being like this, I'm really worried."

Daniel was kinda taken aback by her concern for Brandon, remembering how she'd been at loggerheads with him since her return. Even when their families tried to play matchmaker, she'd kept it cool.

Marian avoided Daniel's gaze, her eyelids drooping, "I'm just genuinely worried about Mr. Crawley."

Daniel was touched. He figured Marian's lukewarm response back then was due to her being considerate, knowing someone was already in Brandon's life. That reading made him extra grateful to her, plus the memory of how Yolanda had stood by Brandon when he lost his mom as a kid. So he just nodded, "Just be careful, okay?"

Marian nodded, "I will."

After saying their goodbyes, she bolted out.

Brandon beelined straight for the hotel parking lot and zoomed off in his car. By the time Kent hit the parking lot, Brandon's ride was long gone. Concerned, Kent hopped into his car and tailed him.

Brandon drove back to where Sophia had fallen into the river.

the stream's rapid flow, especially after last night's downpour, along with the

fell, and her body wasn't found in the foundations. Only one possibility remained: she didn't fall

Normally, she would've fallen right into it, but since she wasn't found there, Brandon figured Sophia's survival instincts made her veer off at the last second. Still, she was too close to completely avoid it, especially

sending a chill through

to search downstream, hoping against hope that Sophia had been washed ashore.

contemplate the

was short but swift, quickly merging into the main river, not far from the

no chance of saving herself. If she'd been swept out to

bear to think further. He drove along the river toward the sea outlet, his car's air conditioning on full

from the point of Sophia's fall to the sea outlet, and even into the ocean itself. No one had given up hope, all

related to Sophia. He parked near the mouth, heart wrenching in his chest. He wanted to get out, yet he

Brandon all the way, saw him slumped over the steering wheel, wracked with pain. Still worried, Kent tapped on the car

up at him, then sighed

rescue teams were still active

to the open

tightened, unable to respond. He walked to the shore, eyes fixed on the flat sandy beach carved by the

to the river that had swallowed Sophia, wanting to dive in once more to search

spoke up to stop him, "Mr.

as he walked and handed