The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Sophia was even more awkward. Although Theresa couldn't understand, Sophia didn't want to discuss it in front of her either.

Grace was also clueless about what the two were talking about, casting a curious glance at Cindy.

Cindy, who's usually pretty laid-back and not the detail-oriented type, failed to notice Sophia's embarrassment. She couldn't help

but look at Theresa with envy and blurted out, "You're too blessed, | swear. Your kid's smart, pretty, and adorable - like she's got all

the buffs stacked up. | really wanna have one too, but who knows if I'd be lucky enough to have a cute little girl like her. I'd love to

have a daughter."

Then, leaning towards Sophia, she asked, "Sophia, can you actually choose the gender too?"

Sophia, feeling awkward, put an end to the conversation. "Let's not talk about this right now."

Cindy thought Sophia was considering Theresa's feelings and apologized with hands pressed together, "Sorry, got a bit carried

away there."

"It's okay, let's just eat," Sophia said with a smile, smoothly changing the subject.

Theresa, who had been paying close attention to the conversation, finally found a moment to speak up, turning to Sophia with

confusion, "Mommy, what's a sperm bank?"

Sophia nearly choked on her food.

Cindy was also surprised, not expecting such a young child to catch on to useful information so accurately - this only made her

more determined to seek out a sperm bank to have a child.

Sophia managed to swallow the food stuck in her throat.

"It's like," Sophia searched for a vague explanation, "a scientific method."

Theresa nodded, half understanding, feeling that her mom hadn't finished her explanation and continued with puzzled eyes, "And

then?"

"How about we talk about it when you're older?" For the first time, Sophia used the 'I'll tell you when you're older’ card.

Theresa, still not quite getting it, obediently nodded and didn't push the issue further.

After dinner, with stto spare, Sophia decided to drop Theresa and Grace off at home.

On the way back, Theresa, finally alone with Sophia, snuggled into her arms and said unhappily, "Mommy, that grandpa we saw,

he's always so fierce. Does he dislike me?"

Sophia was taken aback by Theresa's question about whether Daniel disliked her - something she had tried to avoid. She didn't

want Theresa to be so sensitive to the emotions of the adult world and to feel sad about it.

But Daniel's stern demeanor towards Theresa was undeniable, and his distaste was plain to see. Sophia was surprised that Theresa

noticed such subtle emotions , and it hurt her heart.

Holding Theresa tightly, she reassured her softly, "No, sweetheart. He was just dealing with sstuff and was in a bad mood,

that's why he couldn't control his emotions. It's not about Theresa. You know, sometimes when you can't see mommy and feel

unhappy, you don't want to talk even when Grace wants to play. But you don't hate her, right?"

After thinking for a moment, Theresa nodded, "Yeah, | love Grace."

Sophia explained, "See? He doesn't dislike Theresa either. He's just not happy himself."

Theresa pondered and then said, "Then next time, I'll make grandpa happier."

Sophia just smiled and didn't encourage her, but couldn't help but teach her, "It's okay if you want to make him happy, it shows

you're kind. But it's also okay if you can't, and you shouldn't be sad about it. As long as we haven't done anything wrong, we don't

need to worry if others like or dislike us, okay?"

Theresa nodded, seemingly getting the point.

Sophia comforted her by stroking her head and dropped her off at home, bidding her farewell, "Mommy has to go back to work, I'l

chto be with you tonight, okay? Stay good at home."

Theresa nodded earnestly, "Okay. Bye, Mommy."

After a hug and a kiss, Sophia let her go and headed off to work.

Theresa watched the door close with a lingering gaze that seemed reluctant to let go.

Grace cover to hug her, "Con, let's go wash our hands," placing her milk bottle bag in the hallway.

Theresa suddenly remembered the drawing she had of her mom's, and realizing the beautiful lady took it out, she frantically

reached for the bag on tiptoes, saying in a rush, "The drawing, my mom's drawing."

Seeing her urgency, Grace quickly handed her the bag, "What are you looking for? Here's your milk bottle."

But Theresa was just frantically opening the bag, searching anxiously, nearly sticking her whole head in, muttering, "Where's my

drawing? My drawing's gone."

"What drawing?" Grace, seeing her almost in tears, quickly helped her search, "What drawing? What are you looking for?"

"Mommy's drawing." Being so young and unable to articulate clearly, Theresa just kept repeating anxiously, spilling the contents of

the bag, and didn't find it. She stood up and was about to dash out when Grace scooped her up in a hurry, comforting her, "It's

okay if the drawing's lost, mommy has plenty more."

But Theresa was still upset, struggling to get down and go look for it, so Grace had to carry her back.

Marian rushed back to work after a quick lunch with her friend, making her way to the office.

As soon as she arrived at the office lobby, she instinctively glanced at the spot where Theresa had been sitting earlier. Not seeing

anyone, she noticed a piece of paper with its corners fluttering in the wind on the seat.

She paused slightly, "Huh? The little girl left it there? Why didn't she take her stuff?"

As she mumbled, she walked to the chair, picked up the blueprint. She flipped it open, then her gaze froze, utterly captivated and

unable to look away.

"That's weird, how does such a little girl have this? Did she find it somewhere?"

Marian couldn't help but mutter to herself, flipping through the blueprint page by page, and then she couldn't resist looking

around. Theresa was nowhere in sight. "Leaving this here, does that mean she doesn't want it anymore?"

She closed the blueprint, almost tossing it aside, but something made her hesitate. She opened it again, and the more she looked,

the more she loved it. After a moment's thought, she closed it again.

Just then, Sophia arrived at the office. As soon as she entered, she saw Marian with spapers in her hand, but didn't pay much

attention, greeting her politely: "Back from lunch?"

"Yeah," Marian replied with a smile, tucking away the papers and looking over at Sophia. "You heading down for lunch too?"

Sophia nodded, "Yes."

She swiped her employee badge at the turnstile, the gates opened, and she walked through with Marian following suit.

Together, they entered the elevator.

Sophia noticed Marian fidgeting with the neatly folded paper in her hands, pinching the creases carefully and deliberately, her

expression a mix of indecision and conflict. She glanced at the paper in Marian's hands and asked, "What's up?"

Marian just smiled, "Nothing."

After the elevator doors opened, she stepped out first.

Sophia followed her out.

Back at Sophia's place, Theresa was still upset about her missing drawing.

Grace washed her hands, changed her clothes, and tucked her into bed for a nap.

Theresa tried to explain to Grace, "lI wanted to give Mommy's drawing to HandsUnkie, but it's gone."

But her urgency didn't translate into understanding for Grace. Grace hadn't seen any drawing, and all the papers on Sophia's desk

were just drafts, nothing important or confidential.

Sophia was even more cautious than her; if something was important, she would've put it away.

So Grace just assumed it was nothing important and comforted her, "It's okay if it's lost, Your mom won't scold you. C'mon, let's

take a nap."

With that, she pulled up the covers and half-forced Theresa to lie down in her arms.

Theresa tried to get up again, "But, | want to give it to HandsUnkie."

"It's fine, we can give HandsUnkie something else next time."

Grace pushed her back down as she spoke.

Grace usually napped with Theresa, and at this time, she was super sleepy. Theresa typically fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed,

so Grace thought she would do the stoday and didn't think much of it, lulling herself to sleep before Theresa.

However, Theresa lay there with her big eyes wide open, not the least bit sleepy.

"But, that drawing, it's the prettiest."

She couldn't help but turn to explain to Grace, in her mind, that drawing was as beautiful as the one in HandsUnkie's office,

and she thought HandsUnkie would definitely like it too.

All she got in response from Grace was a soft snore.

Seeing that Grace had dozed off, Theresa didn't wake her but got up on her own and clambered out of bed.

"I'll go get it back for HandsUnkie." Muttering to herself, she "pitter-pattered" towards the door, grabbing her milk bottle bag

on the way.

She'd seen her mom, godmother, and Grace open the door many times. She knew how to do it; she was just not tall enough. But

that wasn't going to stop her.

Next to the door was a little stool for changing shoes.

Theresa hefted the stool over to the door and clambered up, tip-toeing to turn the knob. Then she hopped down and dashed out,

making sure to close the door behind her.

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