The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"Just givea sec."

Sophia whispered, flinging the clothes into the dryer. She fumbled with her phone to set it on silent before reluctantly hitting the

answer button.

The moment the video connected, Theresa's surprised and smiling face popped up on the screen.

"Mommy."

Theresa cheerfully called out to her.

Sophia flashed a smile back at her and looked up around the room. Brandon was still busy, not paying attention to them.

Theresa, noticing Sophia wasn't looking at the camera, leaned in curiously, "Mommy, what are you looking at?"

Sophia couldn't hear her with the phone on mute, but she could make a fair guess from Theresa's expressions and lip movements.

"Nothing much." Sophia said with a smile, her voice hushed as she turned sideways, whispering into the phone, "I'm swamped with

work right now, can't chat. I'll call you back tomorrow, okay?"

The sugary coaxing tone at the end made Brandon pause in his movements; the sweet, cajoling voice felt like a tease to his ears.

In all the years he'd known Sophia, from the flirty high school days to the close-knit two years of marriage, she had never spoken

to him with such a soft, cooing tone.

He couldn't help but look up at her.

Sophia stood on the balcony, half-turned to the room, a gentle smile on her lips, her demeanor tender, her eyes even carrying a

hint of indulgence and a coquettish charm he hadn't seen in ages.

The face of Ivan flashed in Brandon's mind, only to be quickly dismissed. He had seen Sophia interact with Ivan a few times -

always polite and distant, no different from how she treated him.

Then the face of Augus popped up. That sunny, handsome, witty, slightly cheeky guy from the design department of Star-Dempsey

Architects?

Brandon remembered how he cover to chit-chat with Sophia at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new company, clearly

hitting on her.

And since he was from the sschool and major as Sophia, that meant he was Susan's junior as well.

Sophia noticed Brandon's gaze and glanced back at him. Brandon's eyes shifted to the phone in her hand.

Instinctively, Sophia tilted her phone slightly, a subtle move that Brandon caught. The last gleam of light from her phone screen

vanished with that tilt.

Brandon looked at her. Sophia said somewhat awkwardly into the phone, "Gotta hang up now. I'll hit you back later, 'kay?"

Still that soft, enticing tone, which to Brandon sounded like she was putting on the charm.

After hanging up, Sophia steadied her nerves and walked back inside.

"Dinner's ready," Brandon said, passing her the tableware.

"Thanks."

Sophia murmured her thanks, adjusting the towel wrapped around her. She still felt a bit awkward in such a casual get-up in front

of Brandon.

As if he hadn't noticed, Brandon handed her the take-out box and casually asked, "Was Susan alone just now?"

At his question, Sophia hesitated before nodding, "Yeah."

Brandon gave her a look, saying nothing. Over the years, he knew Sophia wasn't good at lying. Her hesitation said it all.

Sophia knew Brandon wasn't convinced. Her grip on the tableware faltered, but since Brandon didn't press, she didn't elaborate.

Brandon pushed the beef curry towards her, "Your favorite. Eat up."

Clearly, he wasn't going to probe further.

"Thanks." Sophia said softly, picking up a piece to eat, trying to lighten the mood, "Where'd you order from?"

"The hotel staff sent it over."

Sophia just went, "Okay."

The atmosphere still felt a bit tense.

Brandon glanced at her, remembering the sparkle in her eyes during the video call, feeling a mix of emotions - happy for her

current well-being, yet also feeling dismal. It was an expression he hadn't seen in their two years of marriage.

She was doing well after the divorce. Her decision was the right one.

"Sophia," he looked up at her, calling her name.

"Hmm?" Sophia looked at him, puzzled.

"Do you ever regret the divorce?" He asked.

Sophia hesitated, but shook her head, "No."

Brandon smiled, but it faded quickly.

"You're doing well now," he said, not questioning, but affirming.

Sophia's lips tightened slightly, yet she nodded, "Yeah."

Brandon's smile lingered this time, but seeing his smile made Sophia feel an inexplicable sadness.

"How about you?" she hesitated, "You doing okay?"

"I'm doing pretty good," Brandon said.

Sophia also smiled, not continuing the conversation.

"Do you ever regret getting married?" Brandon looked at her and asked.

Sophia hesitated, then looked at him and honestly nodded, "I have."

That day, at Zachary's son's company ribbon-cutting, when she heard Don say Patricia wasn't Brandon's biological mother, she was

hurt, followed by regret.

This was important to her; it meant Brandon never really saw her as family, and never planned to go the distance with her. Even

though he later explained and she felt somewhat relieved, it wasn't complete.

Brandon's smile turned bittersweet with her nod, but he just smiled and stayed silent. Sophia felt a pang of sadness at his

expression.

"But even if | had to do it all over again, I'd still say yes to marrying you," Sophia said, her lips pressed as she spoke softly.

Brandon looked at her, "Sophia, thank you."

It was the first the had ever thanked her so earnestly.

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