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?"

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

it turns out you dared to have a high school romance."

"Are we even dating?" Sophia couldn't help but ask, glancing at Brandon, surprised by the revelation.

Brandon looked at her, then turned back to President Poe with a grin. "President, you're spreading rumors now."

President Poe laughed heartily. "Not dating? Really? Your 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 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. That's how he nipped your little romance in the bud."

Sophia was speechless.

Brandon gave President Poe an amused look. "Make sure to thank him for me, will you?"

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

Brandon smiled, then suddenly pulled Sophia closer, turning to President Poe. "Let me formally introduce you: my girlfriend, and wife, Sophia."

President Poe was taken aback. "She's Sophia?"

Sophia shyly smiled and greeted him, "Hello, President Poe."

"Really, Sophia?" President Poe was still in shock.

He wasn't one to

to keep up with

he might not have recognized her from there.

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 front of him and the Sophia

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

Poe admitted, still a bit bewildered. He turned to Sophia, "Weren't you called Arlene

worried he was mistaken and flipped open the folder he brought, revealing the science

frowned

Arlene before," Sophia explained apologetically. "But I'm

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

story," Brandon said. "I'll explain it all to you another time.

hadn't been for the science center's design competition at the university, he might never have known

unaware of each other's existence, drifting further

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

eye."

made it possible,"

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

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

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

naturally drifted

President Poe was

"Hey, Auntie."

stepped out of the private room, she

"Sophia, are you busy?"

voice came through the

I'm discussing work with a client," Sophia

frowned, "You haven't fully recovered yet, so why are you working? What's up

really good to me. It's my choice to work. It's not even that exhausting, just

displeasure. "A man who drags you away against your will, who knows what he's really like?

time Amanda had expressed

a problem, no amount of

to reach an understanding with Amanda, Sophia opted to

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

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

no need to worry," Amanda said, not offering

didn't press further. "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

His eyes

she stopped at the doorway, he felt a bit more at ease but his

President Poe, reviewing some

up

attention on Sophia. He couldn't resist teasing,

sucha

afraid

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

his head with a chuckle, apologizing to President

check on

that, he got up

continued to give Sophia some

assistant urged her

the call. After

Sophia hung

relief, turning to head

s

bustling with people. As Sophia

up to her forehead, her

pain.

went

crunching footsteps and

another girl clad in a bright red coat, both running

coat was sobbing, saying she

girl in the white parka kept dragging her along, desperate

tripped over something, pulling the girl in the white parka

in the red

the white parka scrambled to her feet, quickly covering her friend's mouth with her

with their similar sizes, she could barely move, and not knowing how to carry someone properly, she stumbled through the snow, only to have the red coat girl's foot catch on a dried-out tree branch,

girl in the white parka hugged the other tightly as they 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 least their fall had

scrambled to her feet, looking helplessly at

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

them, the sound of angry footsteps

paralyzed

parka struggled to

up when she saw a small cabin not too

the girl in the red coat. She told her to run to the cabin, where her mom, dad, and big brother would be. They

wouldn't draw attention in the snow,

and changing into the

the white parka urged her to go,

coat nodded, summoning the

white parka watched

the snow, until she was

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

as the sky turned from bright to dark, and then dark

came.

Her friend didn't return.

grandparents, parents, and big brother never came

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

images flashed through her mind

completely, making her forget

growing alarm. She knew it was the bracelet that

classmates for two years and colleagues

the bracelet countless times, and while she often seemed momentarily

staring at the

a nearby room, catching sight of SophiaChapter

voice was sharp and loud, immediately drawing everyone's

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

choked, "I wanted you to take it to my parents,

turned razor-sharp, fixing

at Sophia, her eyes widening in alarm, staring at Sophia, who looked bewildered and

didn't remember. She couldn't even recognize the bracelet,

Sophia had amnesia? How

shouldn't say things so casually. I've had this bracelet for as long as I can remember. How could it

certainty that slowly

glanced at the bracelet on Marian's

called her Sophia, so she knew her, and

those chaotic images in her mind

girl in the white

on Marian's hand. But in the next second,

Brandon's voice came softly

One hand was gripping Marian's arm through her clothes, and the other had already pulled the bracelet

turned pale

Brandon's previous threats to her life

at her coolly. "What really

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

pale. "I don't know. I've had the bracelet for as long

all, so

looked at her coldly. "You're

her face pale and tears streaming down as she shook her head desperately. "It's been with me since I

more and

who had

restaurant, hadn't seen her return and grew worried. She came out

she saw Brandon opposite her. Her hand, which was about to move people aside, froze,

with some even pulling out their phones to record making it look as if she and Brandon were bullying Marian.

I remembered it wrong," she quickly tried to explain, reaching for the bracelet in Brandon's

"You didn't remember wrong,"

don't need to apologize. I personally designed and commissioned that bracelet. I

speaking, the onlookers who had been pointing fingers at the two of them suddenly grew quiet, turning their attention to Marian, who

crying with tears like raindrops on flowers, shaking her head desperately. "I really don't know. It's been with me since I can remember. I truly thought it was mine." Brandon's lips curled with a cold indifference, long accustomed to her easily spun

Kris's background like the

a bit of a wild child, leveraging family connections to get into college. It wasn't until after graduation that he decided to buckle down and get involved in the

business acumen was average at best, but he used his connections with the

an extraordinary affection for

coming over, once he learned she was stuck dealing with legal issues and couldn't leave the country, he secretly made his way over,

unwillingness to abandon Marian to draw

he

the man with the intense, hawk-like gaze, Brandon's lips curled into a cold

Compared to Kris's composure,

was the look of a predator who had finally

put her finger on

had never met before. This was Kris's first time in the country, so in theory, Brandon shouldn't know him at

But Brandon's eyes...

loosened instinctively, as if wanting to distance herself

her before turning his attention back

"Kris?"

question, yet his tone was full

Sophia, and began

you folks picking on a young lady in broad daylight-got

as he stood protectively in

escaping him. "Picking

shifted past

and

and clear it up? Are we really bullying

avoiding Brandon's piercing

to back her up, she couldn't muster the courage to

for the bracelet's origin

one's bullying anyone," Marian said softly, her head bowed. "Sophia and I are classmates and colleagues. There must

taken aback by the claim of being classmates

you remember? We were in grad school together, and we