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'm fine. I just wanted a drink. My chest feels tight."

Jasper closed his eyes wearily, his breath heavy with alcohol.

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

Xavier hurried to pour a glass of warm water, then found two tablets and helped Jasper swallow them.

Julien's medication supply was

already running low. Xavier knew he had to contact him soon to replenish it before Jasper's conditiono

spiraled out of control.

Concerned, Xavier asked, "What happened, Mr. Beckett? Why are you drinking like this?"

"Xavier, my chest... feels tight."

Still tipsy, Jasper thumped his fist weakly against his chest.

Worried he might hurt himself, Xavier caught his hand. "What happened? Did that bastard Justin give you trouble again? Tell me!"

"Alyssa... do you really have to take your act this far?"

as he muttered, "Are you really

"Him" could only mean

deep down, you've never moved on from Madam

discreetly took out his phone and turned on the recorder, hoping to capture

Jasper's soft snores-he had already passed out drunk on

Chapter 700

the restaurant's entrance, her smile slowly vanishing with it. Once

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

search engine and typed in the phone number for YUCN University. Seeing the

if there's still a teacher named

door at another

arrived in their reserved private room when they

for a moment, then broke into a wide grin. "Brandon? What

he spoke, he walked over and gave Brandon a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning to Sophia with a

a smile. "No need, we've

going to introduce you two earlier, but I

chuckled, "You should have introduced

that right? Brandon, the guy who lives and breathes work, actually wanted to meet a girl? Just the other day, the former principal and your class advisor were chatting about you. They

cleared his throat, slightly

looked at President Poe, puzzled.

expression amused President Poe, who gestured for them to sit and continued, "You're surprised too, huh? You seemed like such a model

you dared to

couldn't help but ask, glancing at Brandon,

at her, then turned back to President Poe with

involved and neglect your studies. But he didn't want to talk

Sophia was speechless.

amused look. "Make sure

sarcasm, nodded cheerfully. "I'll be

then suddenly pulled Sophia closer, turning to President Poe. "Let me

was taken aback. "She's

smiled and greeted him, "Hello, President

President Poe was still in

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

not

them and was a bit face-blind; a change of hairstyle could completely

"President, shouldn't you have kept a

photo, I wouldn't remember faces," President Poe admitted, still a bit

revealing the science center design proposal. But the designer's name was

Poe frowned in

Sophia explained

she's your wife, why did

all to you another

center's design

remained unaware of each other's existence,

Poe responded with a laugh, turning to Sophia. "It's all thanks to Sophia's talent

eye."

appreciation that made it possible,"

someone with a good eye to recognize them, President Poe. Here's to 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 explained to President Poe,

I don't think young ladies should feel

he raised his own glass, clinking it

the conversation naturally drifted back to the design plans for the

Poe

"Hey, Auntie."

out of

"Sophia, are you busy?"

came through the

discussing work with a

other end, Amanda frowned, "You haven't fully recovered yet, so why are you working? What's up with that man? He brings you back

really good to me. It's my choice to work.

drags you away against your will, who knows what he's really like? Don't

Amanda had expressed her

no amount of explanation from Sophia would change her mind. Amanda just assumed

opted to change the subject. "So,

have lunch today, right? Harvey has something urgent, and I need to go over there,

relief. Hearing Amanda's concerned tone, she couldn't help but

no need to worry," Amanda

didn't press further. "If you need anything, just let

Sophia stood in the hallway outside the private room, leaning on the railing. Initially, she positioned herself where Brandon could see her but the restaurant was busy and

however, did notice. His eyes followed Sophia from the

the phone. When she stopped at the doorway, he felt a bit more

President Poe, reviewing some

up at

on Sophia. He

sucha

afraid she

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

his head with a chuckle, apologizing to

go check

that, he got up and

the phone, Amanda continued to give Sophia some random

assistant urged

up the

Sophia hung up

in relief, turning to head

s

and bustling

up to her forehead,

pain.

went that way,

frosty forest, the crunching footsteps and angry

dressed in a pale white parka was pulling another girl clad

the red coat was sobbing, saying