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

not have recognized her from

familiar with Sophia and Brandon's achievements as students. Still, 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

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

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

revealing the science center

Poe frowned in

was Arlene before," Sophia explained

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

all

it hadn't 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 apart in their separate

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

eye."

that made it possible," Sophia

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

"Absolutely, I don't think young ladies should feel pressured to

clinking it against Brandon's and Sophia's before taking a

settled back into their seats, the conversation naturally drifted back to the design plans

Poe

"Hey, Auntie."

as Sophia stepped out of the private room,

"Sophia, are you busy?"

voice came through

discussing work with a client," Sophia

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

work. It's not even that exhausting, just a bit of paperwork that I can finish in half an hour.

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

Amanda had expressed her

this matter. She appeared easygoing, but she was strong-willed. Once she decided Brandon was a problem, no amount of explanation from

to change the subject. "So, Auntie, why did you

and I need to go

we can reschedule," Sophia replied, feeling a slight sense of relief.

fine, no need to worry,"

Sophia didn't press further. "If you

but the restaurant was

His eyes followed Sophia from the moment

the doorway, he felt a bit more at ease but his gaze never

President Poe, reviewing some

glanced up

He

sucha

afraid she

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

shook his head with a chuckle, apologizing to

check on

he got up and

continued to give

assistant

up the call. After

Sophia hung

in relief, turning to

s

hallway was narrow and bustling with

up to her forehead, her brows

pain.

chase them! They went

the frosty forest, the crunching footsteps and angry shouts echoed through the snow-covered

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

the red coat was

in the white parka kept dragging her

tripped over something,

girl in the red coat

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

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

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

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, but the pain was too much, and the tears flowed freely as she

the sound of angry footsteps and shouts continued

in the red coat was paralyzed with fear, ng

the white parka struggled to get up,

when she saw a small cabin not too

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

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

taking the bracelet and

her to go, warning that the bad

in the red coat nodded, summoning the

the white parka watched her friend disappear into the

with the snow, until she was out of

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 moment they came

turned from bright to dark,

came.

Her friend didn't return.

parents, and big brother never came

vacantly at the emerald bracelet on Marian's wrist,

flashed through her mind like

her completely, making her forget everything around

She knew it was the

had been classmates for two years and colleagues for

seemed momentarily lost when

of Sophia crying silently, staring at the

emerged from a nearby room, catching sight of SophiaChapter

voice was sharp and loud, immediately drawing everyone's attention

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

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

eyes suddenly turned razor-sharp, fixing

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

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

had amnesia?

Marian tried calling her name, "You shouldn't say things so casually. I've had this bracelet for as long

tone was so sure yet confused, a certainty that slowly

bracelet on Marian's wrist

so she knew her, and they were probably

were so close, and if those chaotic images in her mind were real, why would she let the bracelet

sadness and despair of the girl in the white puffer

hint of self-doubt, and unconsciously loosened her grip on Marian's hand. But in the

it's yours," Brandon's

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

face turned pale

to her life loomed over her

looked at her coolly.

it brought that suffocating feeling of near-death

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

all, so many years had passed. If

looked at

she shook her head desperately. "It's been with me since I can remember. I

attracted more and more

had

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

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

as if she and Brandon were bullying Marian. Worried about

reaching for the bracelet in Brandon's

"You didn't remember wrong,"

and commissioned that bracelet. I have the receipts,

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

been with me since I can remember. I truly thought it was mine." Brandon's lips curled with a cold indifference,

knew Kris's background like the back

overseas and was always a bit of a wild child, leveraging family connections to get into college. It wasn't until after graduation that

used his connections with the underground scene to run

an extraordinary

tried her best to stop him from coming over, once he learned she was stuck dealing with legal issues

abandon Marian to draw him

he bet

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

Compared to Kris's composure, Marian, standing just

predator who had finally

couldn't quite put her finger on why she felt this

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

But Brandon's eyes...

as if wanting to distance

at her before turning his

"Kris?"

said his name with a question, yet his tone was full

at the woman behind him, Sophia, and began to piece together

you folks picking on a young lady in broad

as he stood protectively in front of

smirked, a cold laugh escaping him. "Picking on

shifted past

and

up? Are we really bullying you, or is your conscience

mumbled, avoiding Brandon's

she couldn't muster the courage to boldly claim she was being

the bracelet's origin kept her from making

her head bowed. "Sophia and I are classmates and colleagues. There must be

aback by the claim of being classmates

remember? We were in grad