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?"

half-closed as he muttered, "Are you really just pretending? Or... have you already

was stunned. "Him" could

you've never moved on from Madam Alyssa... You

his phone and turned on the recorder,

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

Chapter 700

vanishing with it.

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 to calm herself. But after only a couple of seconds, her trembling

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

tell me if there's still a teacher named Wendy Cooper

door at another

and Brandon had just arrived in their reserved

Brandon there. He paused for a moment, then broke into

walked over and gave Brandon a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning to Sophia with a smile. "You two have already met,

her head with a smile. "No need, we've

President Poe said with a chuckle. "I was going to introduce you two

chuckled, "You should have introduced

looked at him in surprise, teasing, "Did I hear 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 said you're one of the most outstanding students but also the one they worry about the most. Apparently, a few of you have been openly dating, including you and the top student, someone

his

looked at President Poe, puzzled.

Poe, who gestured for them to sit and continued, "You're surprised too, huh?

dared to

we even dating?" Sophia couldn't help but ask, glancing at

to President Poe with a

laughed heartily. "Not dating? Really? Your advisor said he used to see you waiting at the school gate every day, walking home together, attending 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 west, one in front, one in back. That's how he

Sophia was speechless.

Poe an amused look. "Make

the sarcasm, nodded cheerfully.

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

Poe was taken aback.

smiled and greeted him,

Sophia?" President Poe was still

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

might not have

a change of hairstyle could completely throw him off. He

a smile. "President, shouldn't you have kept

remember faces," President Poe admitted, still a bit bewildered. He turned to

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

frowned

explained

confused, turning to Brandon. "If she's

said. "I'll explain it all to

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

might have remained unaware of each other's existence, drifting further apart in their separate

Sophia. "It's all thanks to

eye."

appreciation that made it possible," Sophia

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, "Sophia's not

young ladies should feel pressured to drink at events like

he raised his own glass, clinking it against Brandon's and Sophia's before taking a

the conversation naturally drifted back to the design plans for

Poe

"Hey, Auntie."

soon as Sophia stepped out of the private room, she

"Sophia, are you busy?"

voice came through

with a client," Sophia replied

end, Amanda frowned, "You haven't fully recovered yet, so why are you working? What's up with

It's not his fault," Sophia quickly defended Brandon. "He's been really good to me. It's my choice to work. It's not even that

of displeasure. "A man who drags you away against your will, who knows what he's really like? Don't just believe everything he says. Keep your

wasn't the first time Amanda had expressed her doubts

on this matter. She appeared easygoing, but she was strong-willed. Once she decided Brandon was a problem, no amount of explanation from Sophia would change her mind. Amanda just assumed Sophia was charmed by his looks and was

Amanda, Sophia opted to

something urgent, and I need to go over there,

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

need to worry," Amanda said, not offering further

"If you need anything, just let

talking, 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 as she unconsciously stepped aside to let people pass, she gradually moved out

did notice. His eyes followed

at the doorway, he felt a bit more at ease but his

President Poe, reviewing some

occasionally glanced up

on Sophia. He

sucha

afraid

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

with a chuckle, apologizing to President Poe,

go check on

that, he got up

the phone, Amanda continued to give

assistant urged

up the

Sophia hung

in relief, turning to

s

was narrow and bustling with people. As Sophia triChapter

her forehead,

pain.

them! They went that

footsteps and angry shouts

dressed in a pale white parka was pulling another girl clad in a bright red

girl in the red coat was sobbing, saying she couldn't