The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Brandon was already on his feet.

"Sorry, Mr. Temple, gotta jet—got stuff to handle. Enjoy your meal."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he was pushing back his chair and turning to leave.

Gavin's heart skipped a beat and he quickly stood up, calling out to Brandon, "Mr. Crawley, let's talk this out."

As he moved to grab Brandon, Kent, quick as a flash, intercepted him.

"Mr. Temple, Mr. Crawley's got a full plate right now."

Gavin, blocked by Kent, was stopped dead in his tracks, forced to watch helplessly as Brandon pushed the door open and left the

private room.

"Kent, what's the deal here?"

Unable to get a hold of Brandon for sstraight talk, Gavin had no choice but to turn to Kent, clueless as to why Brandon had

suddenly bailed on the deal.

"Well. Mr. Temple, this contract between our companies is a two-way street, strictly speaking. It's the Starlight Group throwing the

Horizon Group a lifeline here. Don't get it twisted about who owes who a favor."

Kent kept it light with a smile, maintaining the pleasantries.

But he didn't make it crystal clear.

Gavin's last remark seemed casual, but it was pretty obvious he was paving the way for his daughter. He implied that he approved

the contract on account of his daughter taking a shine to Brandon, hoping Brandon would appreciate the gesture for his daughter's

sake.

But Gavin didn't seem to consider who Brandon was. Not to mention that Brandon hadn't even taken a second look at Gavin's

daughter, even if he had, he wouldn't need to bank any favors from Tia.

The current situation was basically the Starlight Group doing the Horizon Group a solid. If Brandon hadn't been swayed by a bit of

college nostalgia, he wouldn't have bothered with the project at all.

Gavin's attempt at subtle manipulation had backfired, making it seem like he was the one doing Brandon a favor for his daughter's

sake.

Gavin's smile started to falter at Kent's explanation.

Without further ado, Kent excused himself, "Mr. Temple, I'll be taking off, too. We'll catch up later."

Without waiting for Gavin to respond, he grabbed the unsigned contract from the table, tore it up completely with a swift cross of

his hands, and left.

Downstairs, Kent spotted Brandon waiting in the car, his expression serene.

"Mr. Crawley, are you just going to drop the project like that?"

Once in the car, Kent couldn't help but ask.

Even though he had a pretty good idea of the reasons, it seemed a shfor Brandon to let go of the project after investing so

much effort and tinto it.

Brandon was not the type to easily give up on something he'd put his mind and tinto.

"No."

His answer was short and to the point, leaving no room for debate.

As he spoke, Brandon was already starting the engine.

"It just seems like a waste to let it go," Kent mused, wondering if this was Brandon's way of keeping his distance from Sophia—or

any woman, for that matter.

Brandon glanced at him but offered no explanation.

"Back to West district tomorrow."

"Okay."

Kent nodded, checking the time—it was still early.

He remembered he had yet to catch up with Susan after coming all this way, so he shot her a Whatmessage. [Ms. Cooper,

how about dinner tonight?]

Brandon turned to give him a look.

Quick to clarify, Kent laughed, "Susan. I'm asking Susan out."

"Just thought I'd follow through on our plan since I'm in town and heading back tomorrow. Gotta ask her out."

He added, then turned to Brandon, "Mr. Crawley, wanna join?"

"No."

Brandon was about to say "no need" when, for sreason, he suddenly remembered the bonfire party at Star-Dempsey

Architects a while back. He'd turned around to find Sophia staring at him in a daze while on a video call with Susan.

The backdrop of Susan's video seemed a bit staged.

Sophia's absent-minded gaze was off.

Just a call with Susan, and Brandon couldn't figure out why Sophia was looking at him with such a complicated expression.

A memory flickered in his eyes, accompanied by the recollection of finding Sophia's room empty when she was sick, and the flight

information to Wye City for the next day.

Something flashed through his mind, but it slipped away before he could grasp it.

He turned to look at Kent, who felt perplexed under his gaze.

"Mr. Crawley, what's up?" Kent asked.

Brandon slowly shook his head, "Nothing. Just ask Susan out."

Kent was taken aback, but Brandon had already shifted his focus back to the road, his expression as calm as ever.

It seemed like a whim.

Kent couldn't quite figure out Brandon's mood. Seeing no reply from Susan, he decided to call her directly.

After a long wait, the call was finally picked up.

"l can't make it."

The call had barely started when Susan's straightforward refusal cthrough the speaker.

An expected rejection.

Kent turned to look at Brandon.

Brandon glanced at Kent's phone, "Ms. Cooper, can't make it tonight?"

There was a moment of surprise on the other end, followed by a cautious voice, "Brandon?"

Brandon said, "It's me."

Susan chuckled awkwardly, "Mr. Crawley, long tno see."

"Indeed. Long time. Can you make it for dinner tonight, Ms. Cooper?"

Susan sounded troubled. "Mr. Crawley, I've got to work late these next couple of days. | don't think | can make it."

"What about tomorrow night?"

"Working late then, too."

"Weekends as well? You sure are busy, Ms. Cooper.”

“You employers sure do oppress us workers."

Brandon's lips quirked up in a smirk but it faded quickly, "Ms. Cooper, are you really swamped, or are you just not in the city?"

Susan kept silent.

"Ms. Cooper?"

On the other end of the line, Susan chuckled, "Of course I'm in the city."

"So, Ms. Cooper, are you able to shoot over your location?"

Susan didn't say anything.

"If you don't want to spill the beans on your exact spot, just the city will do."

Susan still kept silent.

"Is it a bad tfor you, Ms. Cooper?"

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMwWLHIOfiflO&1

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMyWL11I01F1081

mMMwWLIIOfiflO&1