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?"

door at another

reserved private

there. He paused for a moment, then broke into a wide grin.

on the shoulder before turning to Sophia with a smile. "You two have already met, I assume? No

head with a smile. "No

going to introduce you two earlier, but I know how busy Brandon is with

should have

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

his throat,

at President

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

out you dared to have

help but ask, glancing at Brandon, surprised by the

to President

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

Sophia was speechless.

President Poe an amused look. "Make sure

nodded cheerfully. "I'll

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

Poe was taken aback. "She's

and greeted him,

President Poe was still in

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

so he might not have

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

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

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

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

Poe frowned in

explained apologetically.

President Poe was still confused, turning to Brandon. "If she's your wife, why did you ask me

Brandon said. "I'll explain it all to you

design competition at the university, he might never have known Sophia

unaware of each other's

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

eye."

appreciation that made it possible," Sophia

in a toast, while his other hand gently placed a freshly poured cup of warm tea into

grinned, "Absolutely, I don't think young ladies

his own glass, clinking it against Brandon's

they settled back into their seats, the conversation naturally

President Poe was

"Hey, Auntie."

as Sophia stepped out of the private room,

"Sophia, are you busy?"

came through the

I'm discussing work with

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 without a word, and then you're

to work. It's not even that exhausting, just a bit

him," Amanda said with a hint of displeasure. "A man who drags you away against your will, who knows what he's really like?

wasn't the first time Amanda had expressed

difficult to communicate with Amanda 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

reach an understanding with Amanda, Sophia opted to change the subject. "So, Auntie,

as expected. "Oh, we were supposed to have lunch today, right? Harvey has something urgent, and I need to go over there, so I can't

relief.

to worry,"

"If you need anything,

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 of Brandon's sight without noticing.

notice. His eyes

he felt a bit more at ease but his gaze

President Poe, reviewing some

plans, occasionally glanced up at

attention on Sophia. He couldn't

sucha

afraid

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

his head with a chuckle,

check on

got

Amanda continued to give Sophia some random

assistant urged her

up the

Sophia hung up

turning to

s

was narrow and bustling with people.

instinctively reached up to her forehead,

pain.

went that way, go find

the crunching footsteps and angry shouts echoed

girl dressed in a pale white parka was pulling another girl clad in a bright red coat, both running for

in the red coat was sobbing, saying

parka kept dragging her along, desperate

tripped over something, pulling the girl

the red coat

with

carry someone properly, she stumbled through the snow, only to have the red coat girl's foot catch

to a halt when her knee slammed into a protruding rock. The pain made

coat scrambled to her

to cry, the girl in the white parka bit her lip to hold back her tears. She tried to stand, using the rock for support, but the

of angry footsteps and shouts continued to echo

in the red coat was paralyzed with fear, ng closer

parka struggled to get

up when she saw a small cabin not too far

it to the girl in the red coat. She told her to run to the cabin, where her mom, dad, and big

red coat wouldn't draw attention in the snow, the

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

her to go, warning that the bad guys would

coat nodded, summoning the courage to

watched her friend disappear

one with the snow, until she was

cold, scared, hungry, and exhausted, but she

sky turned from bright to dark, and then dark to

came.

Her friend didn't return.

parents, and big brother never came for her

emerald bracelet on Marian's wrist, tears streaming down her cheeks

mind like a movie on fast

her completely, making her forget

with growing alarm. She knew it was the bracelet that

been classmates for two years and colleagues

while she often seemed momentarily lost when

crying silently, staring at the bracelet, was profoundly