The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

The front desk had turned to her and Brandon. "Ladies and gentlemen, could you please show your ID?"

Brandon passed over his ID, then turned to Sophia.

Sophia hesitated a bit.

"Maybe | should check online to see if there are any hotel rooms available nearby," she said tentatively.

Brandon didn't push her. "You check."

Sophia whipped out her phone, opened the app, and searched. It turned out all the nearby hotels were booked solid.

There was one room available 8 kilometers away, but the weather outside was nasty, with strong winds and heavy rain.

Sophia tried calling to ask, and indeed, there was one room left.

After hanging up, Sophia looked at Brandon uncertainly. "There's a hotel 8 kilometers away with a room. Maybe | should just stay

there."

"You cwith me, it's my duty to ensure your safety," Brandon said to her calmly. "I can't let you go stay in a hotel so far away all

by yourself."

He glanced outside the door. "The weather's not fit for driving now."

Sophia still hesitated, her eyes flicking to the remaining room - just a double room.

A twin room would have been more convenient, a double room always felt a bit awkward.

"Lady?"

Seeing Sophia's hesitation, the receptionist looked at her and Brandon, puzzled.

She had assumed they were a couple or married.

Brandon simply extended his hand toward Sophia. "ID, please."

When it cto safety, Brandon was always firm.

Two years ago, when Sophia was found to be pregnant in Wye City, Brandon had adopted the stough stance to prevent her

from living alone.

Sophia had no choice.

"Whoosh whoosh." The howling wind and pouring rain made it impossible for her to make it to the next hotel smoothly.

Even getting a cab would have been unlikely.

Finally, Sophia hesitantly handed her ID over to Brandon.

The front desk quickly completed the registration, handing back the IDs and room cards to both of them.

"Here are your IDs and room cards, please keep them safe. Your room is on the first floor of the building in the back, just turn right

out the door, and there are umbrellas at the entrance."

The receptionist smiled and pointed them in the right direction.

Sophia followed the receptionist's direction and glanced towards the back door.

The hotel, with a homestay vibe, featured rooms with a distinctive design style - independent shell-shaped rooms, each with its

own entrance, like a large tribal area.

Brandon took the IDs and room cards. "Thanks."

After speaking, he and Sophia headed towards the back door.

There were long-handled umbrellas by the door.

The umbrella was big, but the storm outside was violent, with raindrops being blown all over the place.

Initially, Sophia and Brandon walked side by side, but as the wind brought the raindrops down, Brandon wrapped his arm around

Sophia's shoulder, sheltering her entirely under his arm.

Sophia was a bit stiff and couldn't help but look at Brandon.

Brandon was protecting her through the storm, his face calm as he looked ahead, as if embracing her was just an instinctive

protective gesture.

Sophia didn't fidget, allowing Brandon to hold her as they made their way through the storm.

When they reached the door of their room, their clothes were wet to varying degrees.

Brandon unlocked the door.

The room wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy, decorated in a cozy cream style, with good sound insulation to boot.

Once the door was closed, the storm was instantly shut out.

The only downside was that the room had just one 1.8-meter-wide bed and a single curved sofa.

Sophia, although having been Brandon's wife for two years, still felt uneasy when the glaring double bed caught her eye, and she

turned her gaze away.

"You go freshen up first."

Brandon noticed her clothes, wet at the hem and shoulders, and told her.

Sophia nodded but also felt troubled.

It was a last-minute business trip, and no one had planned to stay overnight, which meant no one had packed a change of clothes.

With the storm raging outside, there was no way to have anything delivered either.

Brandon realized this as well.

He took a bathrobe from the wardrobe, glanced at it, not entirely assured, then decided to call the front desk. "Could you send up

two brand-new robes and towels, please?"

It wasn't long before housekeeping delivered the items.

Brandon washed the bathrobe under the tap, then tossed it into the room's dryer, before turning to Sophia. "Get out of your wet

clothes. Don't catch a cold."

"It's okay."

Sophia instinctively declined, "It'll dry soon."

Brandon glanced at her jeans, soaked up to the thigh. "That's not going to dry anytsoon."

While talking, he picked up a hair dryer and lifted the wet chiffon fabric off her shoulder, aiming the dryer at the damp area.

Sophia felt uncomfortable and turned to take the hair dryer. "Letdo it."

Brandon's wrist lifted slightly, dodging her reaching hand. "Don't move."

Sophia had no choice but to stand still.

Her top was made of thin chiffon fabric, which dried quickly.

But the rain had soaked through her outerwear and into her bra, leaving an uncomfortably damp and sticky feeling.

Sophia carefully refrained from moving, not wanting Brandon to notice and avoid the awkwardness.

But when he let go of the fabric on her shoulder, through her slightly open neckline, Brandon still saw the darker dampness on the

black bra strap.

The black thin straps against her pale skin created a stark contrast.

Sophia's shoulders and collarbones were delicately beautiful, her complexion was fair, and the black bra straps made her slender

shoulders seem even more enticing.

Sfamiliar and intense memories surfaced clearly.

Brandon turned his head away.

Sophia, puzzled, turned to look at him.

Brandon looked at her. "Is the inside wet, too?"

Sophia didn't know what to say.

Brandon's fingers, resting on her clothes, twitched.

It seemed as though sparks flew in the air because of that gesture.

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