The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"So, what you're saying is, we get back together?" Sophia asked him softly, looking into his eyes. "Like a normal family, give her a

complete home?"

Brandon looked back at her, silent, but his cool eyes said it all.

"lI can't do it, Brandon." Sophia spoke gently, her voice still soft and calm, not intense, "My child is only a part of my life, not my

entire life. | will give my child all my love, but | can't just give in to a life | don't want just for her."

An expected answer. Even though he saw it coming, when it ctto lay it all out on the table, Brandon still felt a sting in his

heart.

He fell silent for a moment, and then said to her, "Sophia, | don't need you to cave to anything or change anything. Your life was

what it was before, and it can stay that way. All I'm asking is for you to consider making sroom forin your life with

Theresa."

"Aren't | doing that now?" Sophia whispered in response, lifting her eyes to meet his, "Theresa recognizes you, accepts you, likes

you. You want to spend twith her, even live together - | can't say anything about that. It's your right as her dad, and you have

the choice."

"That's not the kind of 'making room' I'm after," Brandon's gaze was steady.

Sophia was taken aback, instinctively looking up at him. Brandon glanced at her, then suddenly stepped closer, dipped his head,

and kissed her hard.

Sophia's mind went blank for a moment. As she cto her senses and tried to push him away, Brandon's hands, cradling her

face, suddenly tightened, deepening the kiss.

Only when their breathing began to falter did he slowly let her go, but his lips didn't stray far from her neck.

He nipped at her slender neck which was forced to tilt back, and whispered huskily in her ear.

"Sophia, this is the kind of 'making room' | want. I'm not pushing you for marriage, not asking you to live my way. But | hope we

can give each other a chance to really get to know one another again, not just coexist politely like tenants."

Sophia didn't speak, and as she raised her hand to push him away, Brandon's lips found hers again, not giving her any tto

think.

Sophia's reasoning retreated with his deepening kiss, leaving her no space to think.

Two years of marriage had taught Brandon exactly how to use his skills and advantages to combine tenderness with assertiveness

in just the right amounts.

The significant difference in their heights and builds gave Brandon plenty of room to maneuver with ease.

He didn't even have to try hard to pin her against the wall, one hand threading through her hair to support the back of her head,

the other wrapping around her waist, kissing her deeper.

In the quiet of the night, alone together, the collision of hormones quickly sparked intense flames.

The hand around her waist was no longer content with mere propriety.

As Brandon's hand moved to tear off Sophia's clothes, she gasped for breath and pressed down on his hand.

Brandon stopped, looking down at her.

Sophia's breath was still uneven, but she spoke in a hoarse voice, "Brandon, givestime."

"Everything that happened today was beyond my expectations. All my plans went up in smoke the moment | boarded that plane; |

really need stto process it all," Her breath was ragged, her voice husky, and she didn't look at him.

Brandon replied with a hoarse "okay", his breath equally unsteady, his voice deep and slightly raspy.

Their conversation trailed off, and his kissing slowed, but he didn't move away, still holding her tightly, his lips still nibbling at her

tilted neck, casting a shadow of intimacy on the wall in the light from outside.

Sophia saw the shadow on the wall too, so intimate, like the two of them during those two years of marriage.

But it was different. Back then, it was just the two of them, her feelings intense and simple, her eyes and heart full of only this

man.

Now, there was a child between them, and those intense feelings were no longer there.

Sophia felt a bit of regret. It wasn't that she didn't love him; it was just that he wasn't as important to her anymore.

"I'll stay with you tonight." Brandon said, "Theresa can stay with Grace for now."

"No need." Sophia gently pushed him away, "You've just recognized each other, spend stwith Theresa."

"No rush." Brandon's voice was soft, "There's plenty of tfor that later."

As he spoke, his forehead rested against hers, his eyes gazing into hers, "Why didn't you let Theresa accept gifts from other men?"

The sudden change in topic startled Sophia, and she instinctively looked up at him.

"Why not let Theresa accept gifts from other men?" He asked in a different way, his voice soft and raspy.

Sophia slightly lowered her eyes, avoiding his probing gaze.

"I don't like owing people favors." She said quietly, pushing him gently, "I want to go to sleep now."

"You're lying," Brandon called her out directly.

Sophia felt awkward and pushed him again, "Il really want to sleep now. You should go back."

As soon as she finished speaking, her lips were captured by his once more.

Unlike the somewhat forceful kisses before, this tBrandon was unusually gentle and lingering.

With the long-missed tenderness, Sophia indulged for a moment, and that brief indulgence gave Brandon his chance.

That night, Brandon didn't return next door.

They spent the night in Sophia's private space, a bit indulgent and carefully respectful of one another.

In the latter half of the night, Sophia fell deeply asleep. Brandon didn't sleep; he just held her, quietly watching her sleep.

Sophia woke up hazily once and vaguely remembered him propped on one hand, gazing quietly at her, lost in thought.

She faintly remembered him whispering "sleep" before she sank back into deep sleep.

Although Brandon went to bed later than she did, he got up earlier the next day. He didn't wake her, instead leaving her a note to

sleep in, and after arranging a day off for her, he went back next door.

Grace was already preparing breakfast; Theresa was still sleeping in her room.

"Did Theresa kick up a fuss last night?" Brandon asked, noticing Grace bustling about in the kitchen.

"Nah. Theresa sleeps like a rock; once she's out, she's out till the crack of dawn. You could move her bed and she wouldn't even

bat an eyelid." Grace said, and then added a bit sheepishly, "You're up early, huh? Breakfast isn't ready yet. Maybe take a load off

for a bit?"

"No rush." Brandon replied, "I'm gonna check on Theresa in the room first."

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