The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 677

Sophia played dumb to their puzzled looks, politely nodded at them and then gestured towards the house behind her, "He's in there getting the kiddo cleaned up, I'll holler for him for ya."

Without waiting for Daniel and Patricia's response, she spun around and headed into the house, leaving the door ajar as she went straight to find Brandon.

Daniel and Patricia followed suit, stepping inside.

Both were momentarily distracted by Sophia's remark about "him inside getting the kiddo cleaned up," simultaneously furrowing their brows in confusion.

"Why's a grown man like Brandon gotta babysit bath time?" Daniel was the first to chime in. "That's woman's work. The guy's slammed with work all day, and now he's gotta come home and play bath time? Gimme a break."

"Exactly," Patricia chimed in, also frowning, "He's a big shot CEO, and he's home doing what a woman should be doing? If word gets out, it's gonna be a laughing stock. Ain't there a nanny in the house? And even if the kid doesn't want one, isn't there a mom?"

Her mention of "mom" jogged Daniel's memory.

They were there to suss out if Sophia was the real deal, and Patricia's words were inadvertently treating the Sophia before them as if she was the genuine article.

He coughed slightly, a nudge for Patricia to watch her words.

If this woman really was Sophia, he wasn't too keen on hearing Patricia trash-talk her.

Patricia glanced at him, reluctantly shut her trap, and followed Daniel into the house.

Brandon was running hot water to bathe Theresa. The "whoosh" of the water momentarily muffled the sound of the phone call at the door.

Not quite at ease, Brandon pressed the showerhead into Theresa's tub to check what was happening outside.

Sophia had just come in and gave him a puzzled look at his actions, then pointed to the living room behind her, "Your folks are here for you."

Brandon: "......"

His reaction made Sophia spell it out: "They say they're your parents."

"Did they give you a hard time?" Brandon asked, turning off the tap with a "click." Sophia shook her head, "Nope."

Then she added, "You go handle them, I got Theresa's bath."

her in a bit," Brandon said, standing up. "You and Theresa head back to

nor did she plan on hiding in her room. She was set on giving Theresa

Brandon's hand was already on her shoulder, gently nudging her towards the master bedroom while telling Theresa, "Theresa, go with

obediently bobbed her

ushered Sophia and Theresa into the master bedroom and closed the

already inside, scrutinizing the

would you live in a

have any house he wanted, and she couldn't fathom why he'd settle for such a modest place, not even 200 square

less-than-impressive house when he spotted Brandon

mind, just motioned for them to leave with a

Patricia were taken aback and

"Brandon."

his tone soft with a hint of

said nothing, stepped closer, pointed towards the door with one arm and used the

face soured at the

feeling guilty

had mellowed

about being unceremoniously ushered out

conciliatory smile while he

"Your mom and I just thought, with Sophia back and

were happy for you guys

finally pushing the dawdling couple out the door, reaching for the monitor switch to turn off the video surveillance at the door. He partially closed the door and then faced Daniel, "I don't care what your reasons are for coming here, but enough is enough. You've already played a part in killing her once; if you have even an ounce of remorse for her,

"I'm genuinely happy she's back for you both, and I won't stand in your way again. It's just, she seems like a different person since she got back, and I was worried you might be getting duped, so I

Brandon, lowering his voice, "Her original name is Arlene, she's Harvey Ferber's foster

and his brow furrowed

thought he sniffed

his hands on our Aurora Wharf, but he never could crack that nut. Then, just a few months after Sophia's mishap, out: pops a so-called sister from his

in agreement, "Totally, it's

and asked, "Where did

had Manney dig around through a detective

from Daniel's hands, unwrapping the string