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

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

you have kept

Poe admitted, still a bit bewildered. He turned to Sophia,

mistaken and flipped open the folder he brought, revealing the science center design proposal. But the designer's name

Poe frowned

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

to Brandon. "If she's your wife, why did

a long story," Brandon said. "I'll explain it all to you another time. In any case,

was genuinely grateful if it hadn't been for the science center's design competition

unaware of each other's existence, drifting further apart in their

Sophia. "It's all

eye."

that made it possible," Sophia

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

don't think young ladies

his own glass, clinking it against Brandon's and

seats, the conversation naturally drifted back to the design plans for the science

President Poe was

"Hey, Auntie."

out of the

"Sophia, are you busy?"

came through the

discussing work with a client,"

other end, Amanda frowned, "You haven't fully recovered yet, so why are you working? What's up with that man? He brings you back without a

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,

with a hint of displeasure. "A man who drags you away against your will, who knows what he's really like? Don't just believe

time Amanda had expressed her doubts

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

reach an understanding with Amanda, Sophia opted to change the

were supposed to have lunch today, right? Harvey has something urgent, and I need to

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

no need to worry," Amanda said, not

further. "If you

could see her but the restaurant was busy and as she

however, did notice. His eyes followed Sophia from

up the phone. When she stopped at the doorway, he felt a bit

President Poe, reviewing some

up at

attention on Sophia. He couldn't resist

sucha

afraid she

off"

sŵnovels

IMS

a chuckle, apologizing

check

that, he got up

to give Sophia some

assistant

up the call. After

Sophia hung up

relief, turning to head

s

was narrow and bustling with people. As Sophia

to her forehead, her brows

pain.

them! They went that way, go find

the crunching footsteps and angry shouts echoed

little girl dressed in a pale white parka was pulling another girl clad in a bright

girl in the red coat was sobbing,

girl in the white parka kept dragging her

red coat tripped over something, pulling

red coat burst

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

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, sending them both tumbling to the

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

red coat scrambled to her feet, looking

her lip to hold back her tears. She tried to stand, using the rock for support, but

of angry footsteps and shouts continued to echo

paralyzed with

in the white parka struggled to get up, but it

lit up when she

off a bracelet from 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

in the snow, the girl in the white parka switched

hesitated, taking the bracelet and changing into

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

nodded, summoning the courage to sprint down

watched her

snow, until she

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

bright to dark, and then dark to light again,

came.

Her friend didn't return.

grandparents, parents, and big brother never came for her

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

flashed through her mind like a movie on fast

her forget everything

growing alarm. She knew it was the bracelet that triggered

two years and colleagues

seemed momentarily lost when spotting it, she

of Sophia crying silently, staring at the bracelet,

room, catching

was sharp and loud,

her senses a bit, her expression showing a hint of bewilderment,

wanted you to take it to my parents, but you left with it and never came

turned razor-sharp,

in alarm, staring at Sophia, who looked bewildered and unsure but could accurately recount what

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

hadn't Patricia just told her not long ago that Sophia had amnesia? How could she remember something that only the two

I've had this bracelet for as long

sure yet confused, a certainty that slowly pulled Sophia's rationality back from the

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

so she knew her,

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

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

of self-doubt, and unconsciously loosened her grip on Marian's hand. But in the next second, the arm she had released was suddenly gripped by

it, it's yours," Brandon's voice

realized when Brandon had come to her side. One hand was gripping Marian's arm through her clothes, and the

face turned

Brandon's previous threats to

looked at her coolly. "What really

it brought that suffocating feeling of

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

could remember. After all, so many years had

just looked at her

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

attracted more and more

who had been

the restaurant, hadn't seen her return and grew

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

pulling out their phones to record making it look as if she and Brandon were bullying

it wrong," she quickly tried to explain, reaching for the bracelet in Brandon's hand to return it to Marian. "I'm

"You didn't remember wrong,"

apologize. I personally designed and commissioned that bracelet. I have the receipts, and your name engraved

pointing fingers at the two of them

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 lies. He didn't even urge her, just watched her expressionlessly as she

knew Kris's background like the back of

adopted just like Marian. He grew up overseas and was always a bit of a wild child, leveraging family connections to get into college. It wasn't until after graduation that he decided to buckle

best, but he used his connections with the underground scene to run the company successfully in the local

extraordinary

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

on Kris's unwillingness to abandon Marian to draw him

he bet

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

to him. Compared to Kris's composure, Marian,

was the look of a predator who had

quite put her finger on

This was Kris's first time in the country, so in theory, Brandon shouldn't

But Brandon's eyes...

as

a dismissive glance at her before turning his attention back

"Kris?"

his name with a question, yet his tone was

up Brandon, glanced at the woman behind him, Sophia, and began to piece

a young lady in

he stood protectively in front of

escaping

gaze shifted

and

up? Are

Marian mumbled, avoiding Brandon's piercing

couldn't muster

bracelet's origin

"Sophia and I are classmates and colleagues. There must be

taken aback by the claim of being classmates and

We were in grad school together,