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?"

and continued, "You're surprised too, huh? You seemed like such a

to have a high

Sophia couldn't help but ask,

looked at her, then turned back to President Poe with a grin. "President,

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

Sophia was speechless.

President Poe an amused look. "Make

cheerfully. "I'll

suddenly pulled Sophia closer, turning to President Poe. "Let me formally

taken aback.

shyly smiled and greeted him, "Hello, President

Sophia?" President Poe was

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

so he might not have recognized

hairstyle could completely

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

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

he brought, revealing the science

Poe frowned in

before," Sophia explained

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

it all to you another time. In any case, thank

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

have remained unaware of each other's existence, drifting further apart

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 it possible," Sophia politely

as he joined 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,

I don't think young ladies should feel pressured to drink

glass, clinking it against Brandon's

seats, the conversation naturally drifted back to the design

Poe

"Hey, Auntie."

stepped out of the private room, she answered

"Sophia, are you busy?"

came through

discussing work with

working? What's up with that man? He brings you back without a word, and then

like that. 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 exhausting, just a bit of paperwork that

drags you away against your will, who knows what he's

wasn't the first time Amanda had expressed her doubts

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

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

attention 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

we can reschedule," Sophia replied, feeling a slight sense of relief. Hearing Amanda's concerned tone,

fine, no need to worry," Amanda said, not

press further. "If you need anything,

room, leaning on the railing. Initially, she positioned herself where Brandon could see her but

eyes

felt a bit more at ease but his gaze

President Poe, reviewing some

plans, occasionally glanced up at

on Sophia. He

sucha

eye afraid

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

shook his head with a chuckle,

check on

got

continued to give

her assistant urged

up the call. After

hung up

in relief, turning

s

narrow and bustling

to her forehead, her brows

pain.

They went

frosty forest, the crunching footsteps and angry shouts echoed through

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

was sobbing, saying she couldn't run

parka kept

tripped over something, pulling the girl

red coat burst into

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

how to carry someone properly, she stumbled through the snow, only

rolled down a small slope, finally coming to a halt when her knee slammed into a protruding rock. The pain made tears spring to her eyes instantly, but at

in the red coat scrambled to her feet, looking helplessly at her

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

sound of angry footsteps and shouts continued to

girl in the red coat was paralyzed with fear, ng closer to her

parka struggled to get up,

when she saw a small cabin not too far

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

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

bracelet and changing into the white parka but was too scared to

in the white parka urged her to go, warning

the girl in the red coat nodded, summoning the

girl in the white parka watched her friend

one with the snow, until she was

She was cold, scared, hungry, and exhausted, but she didn't dare close her eyes of move, terrified of missing the moment they

turned from bright to dark, and then dark to

came.

Her friend didn't return.

grandparents, parents, and big brother never came

Marian's wrist, tears streaming down her cheeks without her even

images flashed through her mind like a movie

making her

Sophia with growing alarm. She knew it

two

seemed momentarily lost when spotting it, she had never reacted so intensely

Sophia crying silently, staring at

from a nearby room, catching sight of SophiaChapter

sharp and loud, immediately drawing everyone's

to her senses a bit, her expression showing a hint of bewilderment, but she didn't loosen her grip on Marian's hand

was supposed to be for you," Sophia's voice was still choked, "I wanted you to

turned razor-sharp, fixing on

Sophia, her eyes widening in alarm, staring at Sophia, who looked bewildered and unsure but could accurately recount

long, and Sophia clearly didn't remember. She couldn't even recognize the bracelet, so

that Sophia had amnesia? How could she remember something that only the two

had this bracelet for as long as I can remember. How could

certainty that slowly pulled Sophia's rationality back from the chaotic

glanced at the bracelet on Marian's wrist and then back

Sophia, so she knew her, and they

so close, and if those chaotic images in her mind were real, why would

sadness and despair of the girl in the white puffer coat from

her grip on Marian's hand. But in the

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

gripping Marian's arm through her

turned pale

threats to her

looked at her coolly. "What really happened back

voice wasn't loud, yet it brought that suffocating

"I don't know. I've had the

the bracelet had been with her since she could remember. After all, so many years had passed.

just looked at her

Marian lost control, her face pale and tears streaming down as she shook her head desperately. "It's been with me since I can remember. I always thought it

breakdown attracted more and

had

her return and grew worried. She came

approached but stopped abruptly when she saw Brandon opposite her. Her hand, which was about to move people aside, froze, hesitating