The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"I'm heading out," she murmured under her breath.

Brandon didn't utter a word, his hand frozen in mid-air after she pushed it away, his gaze complex as he watched her.

Sophia's eyes were downcast, avoiding his gaze.

She didn't dare look at him. This version of Brandon would just make her heartache and go all mushy.

She turned and shoved open the car door.

Brandon watched her, his hand twitched but ultimately didn't reach out, silently observing as she got out of the car.

He didn't stop her, nor did he dare to.

Sophia had told him many times to let her go, but never as bluntly and thoroughly as this time.

So blunt that he felt like a total jerk, unworthy of bothering her.

Maybe Sophia was right.

He didn't care for her enough, failing to notice her needs, her grievances.

During those two years of marriage, he took her company for granted.

He relished her quiet presence, her companionship, but never pondered what she got out of the marriage.

She was smart, hardworking, had her own career and wealth. The money she earned was more than enough to satisfy her material

desires. So, she didn't need marriage for material pleasure, let alone to climb social ladders.

She never chased after such superficial things.

They married because of a child, but that child didn't stay.

Over the following year, he considered her health and insisted on not having kids.

Although that child did briefly return after the divorce.

Thinking back to rushing to the hospital two years ago, seeing pale-faced Sophia on the bed and those words "termination of

pregnancy" on the yellowed hospital report, Brandon pressed his lips tightly together, and he slightly turned his head away.

He didn't want to touch on this topic.

Even though Sophia made that decision without his consent, Brandon knew he had no right to blher.

So for Sophia, this marriage brought nothing but the shackles of being a Crawley daughter-in-law, with no added happiness or

confidence, only forced to endure the discrimination and constraints of an unequal status.

So her choice to end the marriage, to stop walking that path with him, to start anew, wasn't wrong at all.

Brandon knew he should let go. When she spoke so frankly about why she needed him to release her, he should've just honored

their agreement—no clinging, no disturbance, just wishing each other well.

Wishing each other well.

The familiar spasms in his stomach surged again.

They say the stomach was an emotional organ. Every emotion in the heart could manifest as a physical response in the gut.

Brandon raised his hand to press against his stomach, glanced in the direction Sophia left, but her figure was no longer in sight.

Her departures were always decisive and without a second look back nor would she ever glance back.

Brandon somberly withdrew his gaze and started the car's engine.

Sophia took the stairs up.

Around the corner of the lobby on the first floor, she saw Brandon's car slowly leaving the company gate.

Her steps didn't falter as she numbly watched the black sedan turn a corner and gradually disappear, her mind replaying Brandon's

hand suspended in mid-air and his handsface watching her with a complex expression.

She always felt that their marriage was simply a matter of incompatibility between her and Brandon.

Their marriage wasn't born of love, nor was it about coercion. It was a result of unilateral wishes.

So there was nothing wrong with Brandon being engrossed in his work after their wedding or not caring about her; she just wasn't

the one he truly wanted.

And yet, he happened to be the one she wanted, creating this imbalance.

That was why she never blamed Brandon, nor did she hate him. Even when she saw his lonely and vulnerable side, she couldn't

help feeling sorry for him.

Fortunately, she could now rationally control these emotions.

She didn't stop or look back, just moved forward numbly.

Behind her, the black sedan grew smaller in the distance.

One to the left, one to the right.

When she returned to the office, Cindy was already anxiously waiting. "Did that guy bother you with anything?"

Don was also in the office. He couldn't help but look behind her as she walked in and, not seeing Brandon, he frowned slightly,

putting down his work and standing up to approach Sophia.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his usual casual demeanor replaced with a more serious tone, concern barely concealed in his eyes.

Sophia offered him a smile. "I'm fine."

Don also smiled, his gaze drifting towards the elevator, not spotting Brandon, his concern deepening.

Cindy, oblivious to his worries and seeing Sophia seemingly fine, breathed a sigh of relief. "Then let's go. We're off to see the

house."

Sophia nodded slightly, shut down her computer, and left with Cindy.

Don lost interest in work, shut down his computer, and pulled out his phone to call Brandon.

"Where are you at?"

Brandon was aimlessly driving. "Just driving. What's up?"

"Where are you headed? I'll join you."

"No need."

Brandon hung up on Don.

Cindy and Sophia went to view a house, and as soon as they arrived at the neighborhood, Cindy noticed Sophia's distraction. She

seemed absent-minded during the viewing, not really listening to the agent, often staring into space, her expression vacant.

"What's up with you?"

Seizing a moment when the agent stepped away to take a call, Cindy asked her softly, "You seem off tonight."

Sophia looked at her. "It's nothing."

But Cindy wasn't easily brushed off. "Is it because of that older guy this afternoon?"

Sophia shook her head gently. "No."

"Then, is it about Mr. Crawley?"

Sophia turned to her.

Cindy gave an awkward smile. "I just feel like Mr. Crawley is, well, kinda different around you. Right after you left on opening day,

Mr. Crawley calledinto the office and asked about you."

Sophia paused, looking at her. "What did he ask you?"

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