The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 549

Brandon went over to the store in his ride. He had some memories of this place.

Back when Sophia had just returned from a business trip, he and she took Theresa to the park. He took Theresa to play on the park's equipment while Sophia took a call below. After hanging up, she bee-lined it to this craft store.

Then, when she caught Marian cornering him in the parking garage, she split without a peep and headed straight for the same spot.

Only, when he later showed up, he didn't bump into her.

Now, back at this quiet little store on the bustling street corner, he looked up at the dim yellow streetlight hanging by the door. But when he looked up, that familiar, quiet figure was nowhere to be seen in the alley's corner. A familiar lump rose in his throat, tinged with a faint, bittersweet taste.

Brandon swallowed it down, sitting in the car, staring at the artsy little store under the dim streetlight, not making a move.

It was the shop clerk who spotted him first. But she wasn't sure if he was the same guy Sophia had called earlier, so after hesitating for ages, she finally picked up her phone and called Brandon again.

Brandon, as usual, reflexively grabbed his phone, but the spark in his eyes fizzled out as soon as he recognized the familiar number. He didn't pick up, but he pushed open the car door and walked towards the shop.

The pretty clerk noticed his buzzing phone and looked at him uncertainly, "Hi, are you Mr. Brandon Crawley?"

"That's me," Brandon replied coolly, already standing at the counter.

was supposed to pick it up last weekend, but she never showed. We couldn't reach her by phone, so we had no choice but to use the backup number she left to ask you to pick it

glanced at her and nodded slightly,

Brandon, pointing to a storage unit in the

at the storage

said thanks and walked over

help Sophia make a bracelet, and Sophia, with her beauty, good temper, and charm,

smile and say hi; then she asked

glanced at her, not

"We've been unable to reach Ms. Yearwood

out a trace of sorrow in his eyes. She wasn't sure and when she tried to take

help but worry and exchanged a glance with the pretty clerk, both speculating about Sophia's absence and the lack of contact, feeling a surge of bad guesses but not daring to ask more. Brandon opened Sophia's gift compartment, and there in the quiet, enclosed little space, he found a hand-knitted men's scarf and a men's sweater necklace. Brandon stared at the two gifts for a moment, then slowly reached for the sweater necklace and took it out. Inside

stared at that necklace, somewhat

still, pointed to the metal tag behind the pendant and said, "There's a QR code on the back

only keep the recipient's phone numbers as per our store policy, in case we can't reach the person and don't know how to handle the DIY craft. Mr. Crawley, you can

glanced at her, a forced twitch at the corner of his mouth, "Thanks." His demeanor was far from eager, even harboring a deep, indescribable sadness.

surprise the recipient by arranging for them to pick it up. No matter the reason, the people who came always had surprise and joy on their faces, eagerly calling the giver, but

handmade gift, said thanks, and

pretty clerk watched Brandon's retreating figure, the tall silhouette under the winter night sky strangely solitary