The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"Jasper, you're back," Justin greeted with a faint smile. Even so, his grip on Alyssa only tightened, showing no sign of letting her go. His eyes gleamed with an

intense possessiveness.

Alyssa's heart skipped a beat. As she looked into Jasper's deep, distant eyes, tears welled up quietly. At that moment, she felt her entanglement with Justin was nothing short of disgraceful.

Nevertheless, having come this far with her act, she knew all her efforts would be in vain if she gave up now. So, she had no choice but to keep playing her part.

Instead of pulling away from Justin, she even curved her lips slightly in a faint smile.

"Hi, Mr. Jasper."

Mr. Jasper?

Jasper's expression darkened. His fists clenched, his eyes unreadable.

"W-What are you two up to?" he asked hoarsely.

Justin's eyes twinkled slightly as he maintained his calm, elegant smile. "I hosted a guest at Seaview Manor tonight. We happened to discuss a business partnership, so I invited Lyse over for dinner as well.

"We just finished, and I was about to send her home. If I'd known you were coming tonight, I would've asked you to join us."

"Join us?" Jasper forced a cold smirk. "If I were around, you probably wouldn't have the appetite to eat. Besides, wouldn't I have ruined the mood for you and Ms. Alyssa?"

His icy, mocking words pierced Alyssa's heart. Her gaze faltered.

"Jasper, you're much more adorable now than before. At the very least, you've developed a sense of humor."

Justin brushed past Jasper casually, still holding Alyssa by the hand. "It's getting late. I'd better send Lyse home so she can rest. We'll chat another time."

As Alyssa passed Jasper, her silky dark hair brushed lightly against his shoulder, carrying a familiar scent that lingered in the air.

His heart thudded violently, and he parted his lips slightly. He couldn't help turning around, only to see the frail Justin, who was always afraid of the cold, removing his wool coat and draping it gently over Alyssa's shoulders by the door.

For some reason, Jasper's heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. He stared fixedly at Alyssa's back, waiting. Waiting for her-the woman who had always hated Justin-to refuse his kind gesture.

But instead, she lifted her alluring face toward Justin and smiled sweetly. "Thank you," she said.

"No worries. The night breeze is chilly. I wouldn't want you to catch a cold."

Jasper watched helplessly as the two left together, Justin's arm casually resting around the small of Alyssa's back.

To Jasper, Justin's gentlemanly gestures were nothing but a blatant claim of ownership. He clenched his jaw so hard he could taste the tang of blood at the back of his throat as his chest rose and fell heavily.

Seaview Manor was cloaked in silence in the dead of night.

After everything that had happened, the place no longer felt like a home. It was more like an extravagant yet desolate palace—a stage for power struggles.

Xavier hurried through the dim, empty corridor, its creepy atmosphere resembling that of a horror movie set. No timid soul would dare linger here for long.

Fortunately, Xavier wasn't afraid of ghosts. He'd met people far more terrifying than any ghost.

"Mr. Beckett, are you in there? It's me!"

He knocked urgently. After a moment, a muffled voice came from within. "Come in..."

Xavier pushed the door open and froze in shock. Empty bottles of red

wine, whiskey, and other spirits

littered the coffee table or

One even

rolled to a stop at his feet.

The room was dimly lit by a single floor lamp. Jasper sat slumped on the floor,

leaning against the couch, chugging red wine straight from the bottle.

"Mr. Beckett, what are you doing? You shouldn't be drinking like this-not in your current condition!"

Frightened and frustrated, Xavier

ет

rushed over, snatching the empty bottle from Jasper's hand. With all his strength, he helped him sit upright on the couch.

"Dr. Lovelace warned you repeatedly. The medication he developed can keep your condition stable, but you must not overdrink or let your emotions spiral!

"If your central nervous system is thrown off again and the medicine loses its

effect, not even God can save you! Is this really what you want?"

I just wanted a drink.

closed his eyes wearily,

drink? It looks like you've finished every drop in your wine cabinet! At this rate, you'll be reaching for the white

water, then found two tablets and

Julien's medication supply was

had to contact him

spiraled out of control.

"What happened, Mr. Beckett? Why

my chest... feels

Jasper thumped his fist

his hand. "What happened? Did that bastard

to take your

muttered, "Are you really just pretending? Or... have you already fallen for

stunned. "Him" could only

Beckett, to be honest, deep down, you've never moved on from Madam Alyssa... You still care about her, don't you? You

and turned on the recorder, hoping to capture

the end, all he recorded was Jasper's soft snores-he had already passed out drunk on

Chapter 700

silhouette fade away at the restaurant's entrance, her smile slowly vanishing with it. Once Marian was

and was about to open an app when she hesitated, as if it were something dangerous. She tossed the phone back onto the table, taking deep breaths

a few more deep breaths, she nervously opened the search engine and typed in the phone number for YUCN University. Seeing the numbers pop up on the

please tell me if there's still a teacher

door at another

Brandon had just arrived in their reserved private room

for a moment, then broke

shoulder before turning to

with a smile. "No need,

President Poe said with a chuckle. "I was going to introduce you two earlier, but I know how

"You should have

meet a girl? Just the other day, the former principal and your class advisor were chatting about you.

cleared his

at President

to sit and continued, "You're surprised too, huh? You seemed like such

out you dared to have a

but ask, glancing at Brandon, surprised

President Poe with

night classes together. He was so worried you two would get too involved and neglect your studies. But he didn't want to talk to you directly and risk upsetting you, so he lost sleep over it for days. In the end, he had no choice but to separate you two in class-one east, one

Sophia was speechless.

look. "Make sure to thank him for me, will

sarcasm, nodded cheerfully. "I'll be sure to

suddenly pulled Sophia closer, turning to President Poe. "Let me formally introduce you: my girlfriend,

taken aback. "She's

and greeted him, "Hello,

Poe was

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

not

students. Still, he hadn't personally taught them and was a bit face-blind; a change of hairstyle could completely throw him off. He just never connected the dots between the Sophia in

shouldn't you have kept a

remember faces," President Poe admitted, still a bit bewildered. He turned to Sophia, "Weren't you called

was mistaken and flipped open the folder he brought, revealing the science center design proposal. But the designer's

Poe frowned in

Arlene before," Sophia explained apologetically. "But I'm

turning to Brandon. "If she's your wife, why

explain it all to you

grateful if it hadn't been for the science center's design competition at the university, he might never have known Sophia was still

have remained unaware of each other's existence, drifting

with a laugh, turning to Sophia. "It's all thanks to Sophia's talent that her work stood out and

eye."

your appreciation that made it possible,"

you." He raised his glass in a toast, while his other hand gently placed a freshly poured cup of warm tea into Sophia's hand. Smiling, he

I don't think young ladies should feel

own glass, clinking it against Brandon's and

they settled back into their seats, the conversation naturally drifted back to the design plans for

President Poe

"Hey, Auntie."

stepped out of the private room,

"Sophia, are you busy?"

voice came through

with a

What's up with that

to work. It's not even that exhausting, just a bit of paperwork that I can