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.

apologized, "Sorry to bother you, truly. Ms. Yearwood DIYed a gift here last week, 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

at her and nodded slightly, "No worries, just give it

out a key and handing it to Brandon, pointing to a storage unit in the corner, "It's in the third compartment of

at the storage and

thanks and walked over to the

empty compartments, remembered Sophia well. She had been there to help Sophia make a bracelet, and Sophia, with her beauty, good temper, and charm, had left a

help but smile and say hi; then she

her, not

and tried to change the subject, "We've been unable to reach Ms.

Brandon pause, his Adam's apple bobbing, and though he didn't speak, she could vaguely make out a trace of sorrow in his eyes. She wasn't sure and when she tried to take a closer look, Brandon had already lowered his eyelids, inserting the key

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 the metal pendant, he saw a mini version of the white jade necklace, identical to the one on his hand, the jade

stared at that

the back of the tag. Scan it and there

in case we can't reach the person and don't know how to handle the DIY craft. Mr. Crawley, you can also take the craft home, and wait for Ms. Yearwood to open it when she's

His demeanor was far from eager, even harboring a deep, indescribable sadness. The owner didn't know what to make

up. No matter the reason, the people who came always had surprise and joy on their faces, eagerly calling the giver, but not Brandon. He had no such excitement, nor

took Sophia's handmade gift, said

Brandon's retreating figure, the tall silhouette under the winter night sky strangely solitary and