The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 584

A couple of months later.

Saturday rolled around, and the weather was starting to warm up, bathing

everything outside in a pleasant sunshine.

Brandon squatted down, meticulously fixing Theresa's clothes until they were just right, then finally looked up at her and said, "All set."

Theresa, who had just stretched her arm out to place her little teddy bear at a distance, immediately pulled it back into a tight hug against her chest.

This had become her go-to comfort move over the past few months. Brandon had gotten used to this little ritual of hers and didn't try to correct it anymore, even if the teddy bear wasn't looking its freshest from being clung to and slept with all the time.

Silently, he brushed off some lint sticking to the teddy bear, his fingertips lingering a bit too long on the bear's soft fabric before he pulled away, his expression drifting into a reminiscent daze.

"Daddy?" Theresa called out, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Brandon snapped back to reality, offering her a reassuring smile as his gaze drifted past her shoulder to the long table behind her.

On that table was an album, holding a picture of Sophia from when she first joined the company.

He had seen that photo on the wall at Star Dempsey Architects two months ago, and had since gotten the negative from HR, developed and printed it out.

He didn't have a picture of Sophia on his phone. Neither did Sophia on hers.

She wasn't into taking photos, so her phone gallery was devoid of selfies, even though it was filled with lots of moments capturing Theresa.

In the photo, Sophia was sitting at her desk, smiling quietly and gently, obviously taken spontaneously when the HR came by for a shoot. She wasn't showy, but her youth and beauty shone through her calm and gentle gaze.

volumes, as soft and serene as ever. It was as if she was smiling right at him through the photo, and Brandon couldn't help but smile back, though his throat tightened with a sudden wave of

was bustling in the kitchen,

called out, her

looked up at the sound and saw Kent and Susan walking in. She greeted

in

much quieter. But as before, his goofy faces didn't seem to

him with her big, round eyes, a faint smile on her face, her expression showing a maturity and calmness

like this made Brandon's heart twinge, but he said nothing, simply stroking

take you shopping for new clothes for

Theresa nodded, "Yes."

was getting dirty and couldn't help but reach out to touch it, "Your

Theresa's smile vanished, and she clutched the teddy tighter, shaking

crouched down and hugged her, whispering soothingly, "We won't wash it;

relaxed a bit at his words, and gazing at her distressfully, Susan didn't

with a grin, "Let's go; we'll start with

about to

Theresa nodded blankly, "Yeah."

from her first New Year,

out with their moms, picking out new outfits and prepping for the holiday. Whether

didn't want Theresa to

went out playing with other kids, seeing them buzzing with holiday prep yet she hadn't prepared a thing, so she

determined to fill in and complete

they were abroad. When Christmas arrived, even though Theresa was too young to understand, and despite Sophia's

and holiday outfits

a taste of the

gone, she worried Brandon might neglect it, so she