The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"What's in the fridge?"

Brandon asked, already making his way to the fridge as he spoke.

"There's nothing in it."

Before she could finish speaking, Brandon had already flung open the fridge door.

The empty fridge brought silence upon them both.

The fridge was empty and clean, with not even the power plugged in.

Brandon glanced at the unplugged cord still hanging on a hook at the back of the fridge and then turned to Sophia.

Sophia sheepishly explained, "I've just moved in not long ago, and work has been crazy, so | haven't had a chance to shop for

household items."

As she finished speaking, Brandon frowned and his gaze shifted to the equally barren and clean kitchen, devoid of even the basics

like oil, salt, soy sauce, pots, and pans.

The place looked uninhabited.

Brandon looked up at the balcony, no laundry hanging, not even a towel in sight.

Sophia's gaze followed his to the balcony, and her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she looked at Brandon.

His eyes had moved on to the bedroom.

The kitchen door was adjacent to the main bedroom.

The bedroom door was open.

From his angle, he could see a corner of the bed, which had been simply made with a mattress and sheets.

Sophia also noticed where his gaze had landed. She didn't dare to relax, and she nervously watched Brandon.

She had been too busy with work lately and hadn't had tto furnish the place, other than throwing a mattress on the bed.

Nothing else.

Not even a broom or a trash can.

Brandon had obviously noticed too.

His gaze left the barren bedroom and swept over the empty living room and balcony before pausing on the takeout on the dining

table and finally resting on her, "Not even a trash can?"

"I just moved back in these past few days and have been pulling all-nighters on a design project. Haven't had tto shop yet."

Sophia's voice was tinged with unease.

Brandon gave her a look but didn't say anything.

Sophia didn't know if it was the pressure from Brandon or her own nerves, but her brain felt like it was running on fumes, the

dizziness getting stronger.

She was struggling to keep it together.

"Why don't you take a seat," Sophia suggested softly, trying to change the subject, "I'll pour you a glass of..."

She trailed off again.

There was no water dispenser in the house not even a cup.

She glanced awkwardly at Brandon.

Brandon's face showed a knowing look, clearly guessing that she had nothing to offer.

Sophia tugged at her lips in embarrassment, unable to continue speaking. She resigned herself to whatever Brandon might think

and turned to head toward the sofa to sit down and catch her breath, only to be hit by a sudden wave of dizziness that made her

sway.

Instinctively reaching out to steady herself against the wall, her hand was caught by a dry, warm palm, and another warm hand

supported her lower back.

"What's going on? | thought you just had a cold."

Brandon's deep voice rang out.

Sophia instinctively gripped Brandon's hand and closed her eyes to steady herself.

"It's nothing," she said softly, "Just a bit of poor rest and insufficient blood flow to the brain, makinga little dizzy. The doctor

said it's not serious, just need to rest, don't worry."

Brandon didn't reply, instead helping her sit down on the sofa. He looked at her pale face and couldn't help frowning again.

"Letsee the test results."

He said, reaching for her bag on one end of the sofa and pulling out the medical report.

The results were all normal, except for slight anemia.

"Rest here for a bit," Brandon suggested, helping her to lie down on the sofa. He glanced at the sofa, which lacked any blankets or

covers.

He got up and went back to the bedroom.

The bedroom was as bare as the rest of the place, with just a neatly made bed.

There were no bottles or jars of cosmetics on the dressing table either.

Brandon frowned, his gaze pausing briefly on the suitcase in the corner, the furrow in his brow deepening.

But he didn't dawdle. He grabbed a thin blanket from the bed and cout, gently covering Sophia with it before looking at her.

"I'm going to run down to the supermarket to grab sstuff. Will you be okay here by yourself?"

His voice softened, and Sophia was suddenly reminded of the way he looked after her when they lost their first child - that tender

care.

Sophia's emotions were a mix of things.

She nodded lightly.

Brandon flashed her a shallow smile before standing up, picking up the takeout from the table, and neatly placing it in the delivery

bag. He grabbed the keys from the entryway and left.

The complex had a convenience store.

Brandon headed straight there and returned shortly with a heap of purchases.

He'd brought back everything from pots and pans to oil, salt, soy sauce, as well as eggs, sgreens, beef, and even a few boxes

of cherries and strawberries.

"I'll whip up squick tomato and beef pasta," Brandon said, looking at Sophia, who was resting with her eyes closed on the

sofa.

Sophia nodded gently, not speaking.

Brandon carried all the bags into the kitchen.

He made the pasta quickly, and soon, a bowl of beef pasta was ready.

When he brought the pasta out from the kitchen, Sophia hadn't opened her eyes, and he wasn't sure if she had fallen asleep.

Concerned, he approached her.

Seeing her breathing evenly, he didn't wake her.

Her phone on the sofa buzzed with a new message just then.

Brandon glanced at the phone, his gaze freezing.

The message was her flight confirmation for Wye City the next day.

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