The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 696

"That was ages ago," Susan said without a second thought. "The day Sophia left for her studies abroad, she ran into Ivan at the airport. She was already feeling queasy before boarding, and it was Ivan who stayed by her side."

Brandon was silent. Another twist of fate, it seemed.

He knew Sophia and Ivan had gone abroad together. Patricia had been at the airport too and snapped a photo of them, sending it his way. Brandon

remembered the look in Ivan's eyes in that photo, a look of admiration, the kind a man has for a woman.

At the time, he hadn't known the nature of Sophia and Ivan's relationship, but to avoid Patricia making a fuss, he told her that Ivan was someone he had arranged to accompany Sophia. And that was the end of that conversation.

Brandon had wanted to believe they were just friends, coincidentally on the same flight. But even that thought didn't ease his mind.

He had rushed to the airport, and seeing them queue up for boarding, he felt a surge of anger that he barely managed to suppress. He turned away, expressionless, forcing himself to cool down.

During the short walk from the second-floor terminal to the airport parking lot, images of Sophia and Ivan together played over and over in his mind. He imagined all kinds of scenarios about their relationship, his mind almost cracking under the pressure of these thoughts, yet he forcibly calmed himself down at the brink of losing reason.

He hadn't realized how much space Sophia occupied in his heart. He knew her well enough to trust she wouldn't cheat, but seeing her leave with another man was a blow. He kept telling himself that she had made her choice, and he had to respect it. They were divorced, after all. Who she chose to be with was no longer his concern.

In an act of stubborn self-persuasion, he deleted all her contacts and tried to remove her from his life completely. He thought that day was the end, that from then on, they would live separate lives.

But he didn't realize that he was the only one clinging to the past. He couldn't bear the thought of her with another man and, using a business trip as an excuse, flew to Wye City to find her.

It was later, through a report from Kent, that he learned Ivan and Sophia were college classmates, hadn't been in touch for years, but coincidentally ended up in the same graduate program and on the same flight to Wye City. Fate seemed determined to keep their paths intertwined.

Susan noticed the grim look on Brandon's face and asked, "Does this bother you?" She was worried she might have said something wrong that would cause trouble for Sophia. She chuckled awkwardly. "It's no big deal, right? They just happened to meet at the airport. Sophia was having a rough time with morning sickness and Ivan happened to be there to help."

Ivan's help that bothered him; he was grateful for that. What unsettled him was the persistent thread

from before, he wouldn't worry. But now, she's forgotten the past. Her trust and reliance on him were built on that forgetfulness. Brandon feared what would happen if she remembered. What if Ivan was

thought I put my foot in it. But don't worry. Sophia went

just gave her

now, but

Ivan's relationship with Sophia like in Wye City? Did they

Sophia didn't give him a chance. Remember when she was hospitalized, thinking about ending the pregnancy? She decided against it but didn't tell anyone except me and Grace. So, theoretically, no one else knew about the pregnancy. You and Ivan are

glanced at her. "I meant how often they

the pregnancy, so she kept her distance from everyone. She'd arrive just in time for classes and leave right after. Ivan barely had any chance to interact with

a silent look, skepticism clear in his eyes.

falling for each other is what you

taken aback by the unexpected comment. Wasn't she trying to

out of the bathroom. Seeing the serious look on one face and the confused look on

replied, not daring to tell her that Brandon was trying to dig into her past with Ivan, to avoid causing any friction

her, saying, "No big deal, just talking about your time with Ivan back in Wye

that

looked puzzled. "Why

have something going on?" Sophia couldn't help but look at Susan, her

waved her hands in denial. "Don't look at me like that. I've never said there was anything between you two. I've always made it clear

didn't have feelings for him,

one calling Ivan Daddy' would be Theresa bond nurtured from the womb

glance at Brandon. "But

there are quite a few young ladies in the office

face turned serious. "That's great. When you send out wedding invites, make sure to send