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?"

Jasper's bleary eyes half-closed as he muttered, "Are you really just pretending? Or... have you already fallen for him?"

Xavier was stunned. "Him" could only mean Justin.

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

As Xavier spoke, he discreetly took out his phone and turned on the recorder, hoping to capture Jasper's confession.

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

Chapter 700

Patricia watched Marian's silhouette fade away at the restaurant's entrance, her smile slowly vanishing with it. Once Marian was out of sight, Patricia's expression turned serious and anxious again.

She reached for her phone on the table, unlocked it, 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 to calm herself. But after only a couple of seconds, her trembling hand reached for the phone again.

With 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 screen, she steadied herself and dialed.

"Hello, could you please tell me if there's still a teacher named Wendy Cooper at your university?"

at

Brandon had just arrived in their reserved private room when they

for a moment, then broke

he walked over and gave Brandon a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning to

with a smile.

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

chuckled, "You should have

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

his

looked at President Poe, puzzled.

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

you dared to

even dating?" Sophia couldn't help but

to President Poe with a grin. "President, you're

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

Sophia was speechless.

"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

taken aback.

greeted him,

President Poe was still

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

might 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

you have

still a bit bewildered. He turned to Sophia,

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

Poe frowned

explained apologetically.

still confused, turning to Brandon. "If she's your wife, why did you ask me for her

said. "I'll explain it all to you another time. In

for the science center's design competition at the university, he might never have

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

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

eye."

was your appreciation that made

in, "Sophia's talents are undeniable, but it also takes 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, "Sophia's not feeling her best, so

"Absolutely, I don't think young ladies should feel pressured to drink at

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

into their seats, the conversation naturally

President Poe was absorbedChapter

"Hey, Auntie."

Sophia stepped out of the private room,

"Sophia, are you busy?"

familiar voice came through

work with a client," Sophia replied

"You haven't fully recovered yet, so why are you working? What's up with that man? He brings you back without a word, and then you're off to

Brandon. "He's been really good to me. It's my choice to work. It's not even that exhausting, just a bit

against your will, who knows what he's really like? Don't just believe everything he

first time Amanda had expressed her doubts

Brandon was a problem, no amount of explanation from Sophia would change her mind. Amanda just

Amanda, Sophia opted to change the subject. "So, Auntie, why

lunch today, right? Harvey has something urgent, and I need to go over there, so I can't make it for lunch. Just calling

sense of relief. Hearing Amanda's concerned tone, she couldn't help but ask, "Is

to worry," Amanda

press further. "If you need

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

eyes followed Sophia from the moment

When she stopped at the doorway, he felt

President Poe, reviewing some

up at Brandon, noting

on Sophia. He couldn't resist

sucha

afraid she

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

just shook his head with a chuckle, apologizing

go check

got up

the phone, Amanda continued to give Sophia some

assistant urged her

the call. After

hung up

in relief, turning to head

s

and bustling

instinctively reached up to her forehead, her brows

pain.

chase them! They went that

the frosty forest, the crunching footsteps and angry shouts echoed through the snow-covered

girl clad in a bright red coat, both

in the red coat was sobbing, saying

girl in the white parka kept dragging her along, desperate

something, pulling the girl in the white parka down

red coat burst into

her friend's mouth with

she stumbled through the snow, only to have the red

when

girl in the red coat scrambled to her feet,

hold back her tears. She tried to stand,

angry footsteps

the red coat was paralyzed with fear, ng

in the white parka struggled to get up, but it was no

eyes lit up when she saw

bracelet from her wrist-a string of emerald beads-and handed it to the girl in the red coat. She told her to run to the cabin, where

attention in the snow, the girl in the white

in the red coat hesitated, taking the bracelet and changing into the white

the white parka urged her to go, warning that

the girl in the red coat nodded, summoning the courage to

the white parka watched her

the snow, until she was

was cold, scared, hungry, and exhausted, but she didn't dare close her eyes of move, terrified of

sky turned from bright to dark, and then dark to light again,

came.

Her friend didn't return.

big brother never came for

stared vacantly at the emerald bracelet on Marian's wrist, tears

mind like a movie on fast

making her

watched Sophia with growing alarm. She knew it

been classmates for two years

and while she often seemed momentarily lost when spotting

silently, staring