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 ran into

surprised to see Brandon there. He paused for a moment, then broke into a wide grin. "Brandon? What brings you here

on the shoulder before turning to Sophia with a smile. "You two have already met, I assume?

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

going to introduce you two earlier, but

"You should have

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,

cleared his throat, slightly

at President Poe,

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

dared to have a

help but ask, glancing

to President Poe

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.

Sophia was speechless.

amused look. "Make sure to thank him

nodded cheerfully. "I'll be sure to pass that

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

taken

greeted him, "Hello, President

Sophia?" President Poe was

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

he might not have

was a bit face-blind; a change of hairstyle could completely throw him off. He just never connected the dots between the Sophia in front of him and the Sophia

smile. "President, shouldn't you

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

brought, revealing the science

Poe frowned

explained

President Poe was still confused, turning to Brandon. "If she's

explain it all

center's design competition at the university, he might

of each other's existence,

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

eye."

made it possible," Sophia politely

good eye to recognize them, President Poe. Here's to you." He raised his glass in a toast, while his other

think young ladies should feel pressured to drink at events

raised his own glass, clinking it against Brandon's

the conversation naturally drifted back to

Poe was absorbedChapter

"Hey, Auntie."

out of the private room, she answered the

"Sophia, are you busy?"

came through the

discussing work with a client," Sophia replied

working? What's up with that man? He brings you back

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

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

first time Amanda had

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 was defending him at every

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

shifted 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 make it for lunch. Just calling to let you

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

to worry," Amanda

you

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 followed Sophia from the moment

at the doorway, he felt

President Poe, reviewing some

up at Brandon, noting

attention on Sophia. He couldn't resist

sucha

eye afraid

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

his head with a chuckle,

go check on

he got

the phone, Amanda continued to

her assistant urged

the

hung up

in relief, turning

s

was narrow and bustling with people.

to her forehead, her brows knitting together

pain.

They went that way,

and angry shouts echoed through

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

the red coat was sobbing,

in the white parka kept dragging her

over something, pulling the girl in the

red

scrambled to her feet, quickly covering her friend's mouth with her hand, then crouched down to lift

barely move, and not knowing how to carry someone properly, she stumbled through the snow, only to have the

the other tightly as they rolled down a small slope, finally coming to a halt when

coat scrambled to her

pain and the urge 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,

angry footsteps

was paralyzed with fear,

to get up,

when she saw a small cabin not too far

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 her mom, dad, and big brother would be. They would recognize the bracelet. She promised to wait for her

draw attention in the snow, the girl

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

girl in the white parka urged her to go, warning that the bad guys would

summoning the

girl in the white parka watched her friend disappear into

one with the snow, until she was

gone, clutching the exchanged red coat tightly. She was cold, scared, hungry, and

turned from bright to dark, and then dark to

came.

Her friend didn't return.

brother never came for her

on Marian's wrist, tears streaming down her cheeks

images flashed through her mind like a movie on

her forget

watched Sophia with growing alarm. She knew it was the

had been classmates for two

bracelet countless times, and while she often seemed momentarily lost when spotting it,

sight of Sophia crying silently, staring