The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"Yeah, he's really sweet on Theresa," Grace said, "And Theresa's pretty into him too, but his dad, the way he looks at people,

sheesh."

Grace couldn't help but shake her head with disdain before she continued.

"Theresa was all excited at first, but it was only after his dad showed up that she started fussing to go home, wouldn't stay there

no matter what. At the beginning, she was about to leave with Mr. Crawley, her eyes all teary and stuff, but when Mr. Crawley

dropped us back, she wasn't clinging to him like before. She's just a kid, but she's got such a sensitive soul, you know?"

Sophia took a glance at Theresa in the room.

The little girl was asleep, her face peaceful and content, showing none of the hurt that was there when they first saw her.

But the hurt look she had earlier was like a thorn in Sophia's heart, pricking her from the inside.

Clearly, Theresa took after her with that extra sensitivity.

She might be too young to understand why, but just like Sophia, she was pretty sensitive to vibes.

When it was just her and Brandon, she looked up to Brandon as a father figure, thinking he was all hers, but when his family

members caround, like Yvonne and Anna before, and Daniel this time, it gave her this sinking feeling that her daddy wasn't

really hers, that she was left out of his world.

Her age didn't let her articulate these feelings, but her sadness and sense of loss said it all.

"Thanks, Grace."

As Sophia shifted her gaze away from Theresa, she quietly thanked Grace.

Grace, a bit embarrassed by the thanks, waved her hand dismissively and laughed, "What are you thankingfor? It's the least |

could do."

Sophia just smiled and didn't say more.

In the dead of night, the bustling West district was slowly dozing off.

The river snaking through the city was lined with quiet, twinkling lights.

A gusty wind blew, causing the curtains on the balcony to flutter.

Brandon sat at the balcony bar, arms crossed over his chest, leaning back against the marble bar top, staring at the winding river

view, his handsface almost expressionless.

He remembered Theresa rummaging through his desk at noon, her confusion turning to delight upon seeing Sophia's design

proposal.

He hadn't quite made out what she was saying then, the words of kids that age aren't too clear.

The urgency with which she wanted to grab the design proposal from Kent kept replaying in his mind.

Brandon first met Theresa in Wye City when she stumbled and fell at his feet, not crying but looking up at him with big, bewildered

eyes.

It was in that restaurant that he had run into Sophia after a long time.

Now, half a world away, in another unexpected meeting, her neighborhood turned out to be the sas Sophia's.

Turning his gaze back from the river view, Brandon half-turned to glance at the liquor and glasses on the bar.

He picked up a glass, took the bottle, poured himself half a glass, raised it, watching the dark liquid sway slowly, but he didn't

drink.

Kent, noticing Brandon fixated on the glass, couldn't help but call out to him, "Mr. Crawley?"

Brandon lazily looked up. "You haven't left yet?"

"Just finished up with work."

Kent stood up from the sofa and walked over to the bar, leaning on it before he couldn't resist glancing at Brandon. "You've seemed

a bit off since this afternoon."

Brandon had been off ever since he brought Theresa back this afternoon.

He seemed distracted all afternoon, lost in thought, occasionally staring at Sophia's Zenithan-style resort design proposal on the

desk.

Kent hadn't gotten a straight answer out of him.

Brandon didn't leave the office until eight in the evening.

Kent had swrap-up work to confirm with Brandon, so he just followed him home.

At home, except for when they discussed work and Brandon was briefly engaged, he was just like now, zoning out, his expression

flickering in the light.

But like in the afternoon, Brandon didn't seem to respond.

"Finish up and head home, get srest."

His voice was light and lazy, and clearly, Brandon wasn't up for chatting, just staring into his drink.

Kent made an "OK" gesture with his hand and didn't push further.

"I'll head out then, you should get ssleep too."

Brandon gave him a nod, his gaze returning to the glass in his hand. All sorts of fragmented images crossed his mind. Sophia

emerging from the operating room at the hospital, the slim and pretty Sophia in the group photo, the yellowed ‘termination of

pregnancy’ discharge summary, and Sophia crying inconsolably when he asked her harshly if she had really cut ties...

Different versions of Sophia mingled in his thoughts, converging into the excitement and joy Theresa had shown him.

As his Adam's apple bobbed, Brandon set down the glass with a thud and got up to head to his room.

The next day, a well-rested Sophia was back at work as usual. As soon as she arrived at the office, she ran into Marian.

"Sophia, heard you got stuck in Zion City for two days because of the storm, huh?"

Marian approached with a smile as soon as she saw Sophia, "Two days off work, must have been pretty sweet, right?"

Sophia chuckled awkwardly. "It was alright."

"If only I'd gone with you guys," Marian said with a tinge of regret, "Back in my school days, | lived for those storm days. No classes

because of the storm? Pure bliss."

Sophia laughed. "Wish I'd thought to invite you along."

"No worries, next time's cool too," Marian chuckled, and upon seeing Don emerge from the office, she didn't forget to throw a line

his way, "Mr. Dempsey, right? Next tyou hit the road for a trip, countin. I'm so bored outta my skull just cooped up in the

office all day."

"Deal, I'll bring you along next time."

Don replied offhandedly, while also making sure to announce, "Alright, tto get ready for the meeting."

Marian was taken aback, "What meeting?"

Don explained, "The Zenithan-style resort project is about to kick off these days, so naturally, we're talking about that."

Then he directed Cindy, "Cindy, give Kent a ring, will ya? See if Mr. Crawley has made it downstairs yet."

Sophia was on her way back to the office when she overheard and paused for a slight moment.

Don caught that and called out to her, "Director Yearwood."

Sophia snapped out of it and gave Don an awkward smile, "I'll go prep a bit."

"Good," Don nodded, "9:10 AM, third-floor conference room. Don't miss it."

After finishing up, Don looked towards Marian, "You should head down too."

Marian was so thrilled she snapped her fingers, "Sure thing."

Don also informed the newly arrived Ivan and Augus, among others.

Sophia steadied her nerves in the office, gathered her stuff, and then picked up the meeting documents from the desk to head out.

Ivan also leaned over to grab his documents, "I'll head down with you."

With that, he followed her out.

When the two reached the elevator, Don, Marian, Cindy, and the rest were also waiting.

"Over here," Don called out with a smile, "Perfect timing, let's go down together."

Sophia nodded, "Mhm."

Just then, with a "ding," the elevator doors opened.

Sophia instinctively glanced at the elevator and her eyes lingered for a moment when she saw Brandon inside, then awkwardly

shifted her gaze away.

She remembered that ridiculous day and two nights.

Brandon gave her a look and calmly looked away.

Sophia also restrained herself from wandering eyes and followed the crowd into the elevator.

She naturally moved towards the opposite corner of the elevator, not planning on crowding anyone, but it seemed everyone else

also silently agreed on that corner, carefully keeping their distance from the big boss, as if afraid of bumping into Brandon.

With everyone's unspoken agreement to yield space, Sophia suddenly found herself squeezed right next to Brandon.

Sophia was speechless.

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