The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Sophia had no clue why Brandon was thanking her, but she still flashed him a smile and said, "No biggie."

Brandon chuckled and didn't say more.

After dinner, Brandon went to freshen up, and Sophia cleaned up the dining table.

Turning around, she realized that the bathroom had frosted glass. Although it didn't reveal everything, the silhouette was cast

clearly on the glass, making it pretty obvious what someone was doing inside.

Sophia felt super awkward and couldn't bring herself to peek at the bathroom glass again.

When Brandon emerged from the shower, Sophia avoided looking at him, just bending down to tidy up the bed and whispering a

suggestion.

"Maybe | should ask the front desk to send over a couple more blankets. You're pretty tall, you take the bed."

Brandon glanced at the spacious bed, "You sleep on it."

He then grabbed his phone and called the front desk, "Hello, could you send up two quilts and ssheets?"

Soon after, the bedding was delivered.

The room had a thick carpet on the floor, which was also very clean. Brandon had the front desk send over a moisture-proof mat,

laid it on the carpet, and then added the sheets and quilts to make a makeshift bed on the floor.

Sophia felt a bit guilty seeing such a big guy like Brandon squeezed into the tiny bed on the floor.

"You go ahead and take the bed. I've always kind of liked sleeping on the floor," she told Brandon, and she wasn't completely lying.

During her student days, she mostly lived in a rented place in West district with her family.

Money was tight, so they couldn't afford much. A two-bedroom apartment was as good as it got.

Laura and Haley needed one room, Aaron Yearwood needed another, and there was no spare room for her, so they set up a little

bed for her in the living room, separated by curtains.

It wasn't a real bed, just splanks put together with sbedding on top, pretty much like the bed on the floor now; she was

used to sleep on it. But Brandon turned her down.

"No need." He turned to look at her, "Get ssleep. I'm turning off the lights."

With that, he switched off the lights and the room plunged into darkness.

Brandon slipped under the blanket and settled in comfortably. Sophia, however, couldn't bring herself to sleep on the bed. She

stood still, hesitantly looking at Brandon on the floor.

His tall frame, just curling up on the floor, seemed a bit cramped.

Brandon looked back at her, "Why aren't you sleeping yet?"

Sophia just shook her head. After a while, she spoke softly, "Maybe you should sleep on the bed too. It's too damp with this

weather, not good for your health."

Brandon looked at her, "Sophia, do you realize what you're saying?"

Sophia hesitated, and then nodded lightly.

"Or | can sleep on the floor. I'm used to it," she whispered.

"Not gonna happen," Brandon said, getting up and tossing his quilt on the bed.

"You sleep at that side," he instructed.

Sophia nodded lightly, climbed onto the bed, and lay on one side; Brandon lay down on the other side.

The sound of the mattress compressing made Sophia a tad nervous.

Unlike before, Brandon didn't pull her blanket over. He added another quilt for himself. Each had their own quilt now.

Once they lay down, Brandon turned his back and turned off the bedside lamp.

"Sleep," he said softly.

"Okay," Sophia replied softly, hugging her quilt and also turning her back.

This wasn't the first tthey shared a bed, but it was the first tthings felt so awkward between them.

Outside, the storm was getting fiercer, lashing the roof with a relentless patter. The room was silent and pitch-black. No one spoke,

just lying there, back to back.

Sophia didn't remember when she drifted off. In the middle of the night, she was jolted awake by a loud crash of glass. She opened

her eyes and immediately saw the handsface close at hand.

Sophia was momentarily stunned.

Somehow, she and Brandon had ended up under the sblanket, her entire body snuggled into his arms, her arms wrapped

tightly around his waist. Brandon's arms were also around her, holding her close.

Their eyes met as Brandon opened his.

Sophia awkwardly withdrew her hand; just as she was about to turn away, a "clang" from the balcony made her instinctively flinch.

Almost simultaneously, the hand on her back tightened, protectively pulling her into his chest.

The storm outside was wild, with gale-force winds and heavy rain hammering on the roof and windows, a cacophony threatening to

tear the roof off.

But the steady, strong heartbeat next to her ear, thumping rhythmically, chased away the fright the storm brought.

Without a word, Brandon just held her tighter. His warm breath enveloped her as he embraced her.

Sophia's hands, folded in front of her chest, felt uncertain, her mind still groggy from sleep.

She had never experienced such a powerful hurricane, nor had she been in such a house during one. The howling storm outside

made her uneasy, but Brandon's solid arms brought a long-lost sense of security, leaving Sophia in a daze, unsure if she was

dreaming or awake.

She glanced subconsciously at Brandon.

He was looking down at her, his eyes deep and tranquil, like the night sky, so calm and profound, unfathomable.

Sophia's muddled mind got lost in those deep eyes, staring blankly at him. Their locked gazes seemed to spark a connection,

drawing him closer step by step.

The unique warmth of Brandon's breath was closing in. Sophia, however, was oblivious, just blankly watching his handsface

grow larger in front of her.

Until he kissed her; tseemed to freeze in that moment, and then erupted with a fierce intensity the next.

A long-lost familiarity ignited a passion that had been lying dormant within them both.

Brandon's movements suddenly becfierce and assertive. His hand slid into her hair, cradled the back of her neck, and he

rolled over, kissing her deeply.

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