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?"

Next door at another restaurant

Sophia and Brandon had just arrived in their reserved private room when they ran into President Poe.

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

As he spoke, he walked over and gave Brandon a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning to Sophia with a smile. "You two have already met, I assume? No introductions needed?"

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

"Good to hear," President Poe said with a chuckle. "I was going to introduce you two earlier, but I know how busy Brandon is with work. I didn't want to impose."

Brandon chuckled, "You should have introduced us sooner, President."

President Poe 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 named Sophia, I think."

Brandon cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed.

Sophia looked at President Poe, puzzled. "What?"

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

out you dared to have a

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

her, then turned back to President

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

Sophia was speechless.

"Make sure

Poe, missing the sarcasm, nodded cheerfully. "I'll be sure to pass that

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

taken aback. "She's

shyly smiled and greeted him, "Hello,

Sophia?" President Poe was still

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

so he might not have recognized

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

you have kept a

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

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

frowned in

explained apologetically. "But

Brandon. "If she's your

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

been for the science center's design competition at the university, he might never have known Sophia was still

remained unaware of each other's existence, drifting further

credit for that," President Poe responded with a laugh, turning to Sophia.

eye."

your appreciation that made it possible," Sophia politely

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

I don't think young ladies should feel

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

naturally drifted back to the

President Poe was

"Hey, Auntie."

Sophia stepped out of the private room, she

"Sophia, are you busy?"

familiar voice came through

with a client," Sophia

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

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

hint of displeasure. "A man who drags you away against your will, who knows

first time Amanda

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

an understanding with 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

a slight sense of relief. Hearing Amanda's concerned tone,

to worry," Amanda

further. "If you need anything, just let

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

eyes followed Sophia from the moment

he felt a bit more at ease but his gaze never

President Poe, reviewing some

occasionally glanced up

on Sophia. He couldn't

sucha

eye afraid

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

a chuckle, apologizing

check

he got up and

Amanda continued to give Sophia

her assistant

up the

hung

relief, turning to head

s

and bustling with

her forehead, her

pain.

chase them! They went

forest, the crunching footsteps and

in a pale white parka was pulling another girl clad

the red coat was sobbing,

parka kept dragging her along,

coat tripped over something, pulling the girl in the

red coat

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

carry someone properly, she stumbled through the snow, only to have the red

a small slope, finally coming to a halt when her knee slammed into a

girl in the red coat scrambled to her

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, but the pain was too much, and the tears

of angry footsteps and

red coat was paralyzed with

to get up, but it was no

around, terrified, and her eyes lit up when she saw a small cabin not too

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

sure the bright red coat wouldn't draw attention in the snow, the girl in the

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

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

coat nodded, summoning the courage to sprint down towards

watched her friend disappear

the snow, until she was out

her eyes fixed on the direction her friend had gone, clutching the exchanged red coat tightly. She was cold, scared, hungry, and exhausted, but she didn't dare close her eyes of move, terrified of missing the

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

came.

Her friend didn't return.

and big brother never came for her

Marian's wrist, tears streaming down

images flashed through her mind like

making her forget

She knew

two

often seemed momentarily lost when spotting it, she had never

silently, staring at

room,

voice was sharp and loud,

expression showing a hint of bewilderment, but she didn't loosen her

was still choked, "I wanted you to take it to

turned razor-sharp, fixing on

still looking at Sophia, her eyes widening in alarm, staring at Sophia, who looked

each other for so long, and Sophia clearly didn't remember. She couldn't even recognize

that Sophia had amnesia? How

her name, "You shouldn't say things so casually. I've had this bracelet

tone was so sure yet confused, a certainty that slowly pulled

on Marian's wrist and

she knew her, and

images in her mind were real, why

the girl in the white puffer coat from her jumbled

and unconsciously loosened her grip on Marian's hand. But in the next second, the arm she had released was suddenly

doubt it, it's yours," Brandon's

turned her head. She hadn't realized when Brandon had come to her side. One hand was gripping Marian's arm through her clothes,

face turned pale

previous threats to her life loomed

coolly. "What really happened

loud, yet it brought that suffocating feeling of near-death

frantically, her face pale. "I don't know. I've had the bracelet for as long as I

been with her since she could remember. After all,

looked at

her face pale and tears streaming down as she shook her

more and

had been

her return and grew worried. She came out

in the crowd. She quickly approached but stopped abruptly when she saw Brandon opposite her. Her hand, which was about to