The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

The moment Theresa stepped out of her room, she caught Brandon glued to the balcony view.

Eager to show off her beloved toys to Brandon, she bolted back to her room, rummaged through her storage locker, and dumped

all her toys willy-nilly into a huge sack. Then, huffing and puffing, she dragged the hefty sack towards the living room.

Spotting Brandon still camping out by the balcony, she gasped for air and called out, “Sir!”

Brandon turned around to see a pint-sized kid struggling to lug a sack that was nearly as tall and way bulkier than her. He couldn't

help but crack a smile, turned around, and went over to lend a hand.

Theresa plopped down on the floor cushion, and with gusto started to dig through the sack. She pulled out toy after toy, eagerly

explaining each one to Brandon and showing him how to play.

Her serious little face made Brandon take another look at her. His gaze drifted from her cute, pretty profile to her hair, which had

stayed put in braids without a single hair out of place. The braids had loosened up a bit after a night of frolicking, but she was still

picture-perfect.

His hand resting on his knee twitched, but he ultimately decided not to fiddle with her hair.

Curious, he asked, "Who did your braids, Theresa?"

"Mummy," she beamed, her excitement bubbling up again at the mention of her mom. "My mom, she can do like a ton of really

really pretty hairstyles."

While she spoke, she couldn't help but gesture enthusiastically to Brandon, her eyes and heart full of admiration and love for her

mom.

Brandon couldn't help but smile too, softening his voice as he looked at her excited and proud little face, "Your mom's pretty

talented, huh?"

Theresa nodded vigorously, "Yeah, my mom's super awesome."

When Brandon saw her pride, the smile in his eyes deepened, and he reached out to smooth her slightly disheveled braids.

Theresa also couldn't help but smile shyly.

Lost in her bashful look, Brandon paused his hand in her hair, his fingertips lightly twirling a strand. His eyes held a thoughtful

glint, but he simply let his fingers gently caress the hair, with no further move.

The moment Theresa settled down, sleepiness hit her like a freight train.

After a night of excitement, her tiny body was running on empty, and she couldn't help but rub her eyes relentlessly.

"Getting sleepy, Theresa?" Brandon asked softly.

The little girl, barely able to keep her eyes open, stubbornly shook her head, denying her drowsiness.

Scooping her up, Brandon suggested, "How about you go to sleep now, and | will cto visit another day, okay?"

Theresa pondered for a second, then nodded, but curiously asked, "What if you can't find me?"

As she yawned and rubbed her eyes, he reassured her, "I will give you my phone number. If you ever miss me, just givea call,

and you won't have to worry about not finding me, okay?"

"Okay," Theresa brightened, her eyes wide with excitement.

Pulling out his phone, Brandon asked, "Whose number should you have?"

Without a second thought, she chirped, "Mama's."

She grabbed Brandon's phone, ready to dial.

"Do you know how to read, Theresa?" he inquired.

"lI know." Theresa counted, her little fingers carefully pressing a sequence of buttons on Brandon's phone with deliberate precision.

Brandon glanced at the unfamiliar number on the screen, simple and easy to remember.

He looked at Theresa, who was carefully avoiding touching the screen with her other hand, and she assured him earnestly, "It's

done now."

"Okay."

Brandon softly acknowledged, glanced at the number, and dialed it, bringing the phone to his ear.

The call went through, but no one picked up.

Seeing no response, Theresa turned to Grace and suggested, "Then, call Grace."

Grace stepped forward with a smile, "Mr. Crawley, maybe | should save your number instead. Theresa's mom is usually at work,

and she spends more twith me."

He nodded, handing her a business card, "My contact info is on there."

"Thank you, Mr. Crawley," Grace said, accepting the card with a smile.

"No problem," Brandon replied nonchalantly, his eyes on Theresa who was now struggling to keep her eyes open, he gently

reminded her, "In the future, if someone likeasks for your phone number, you can't just give it out, okay?"

Theresa, a bit dazed, nodded, "Okay."

"And don't go off with strangers or invite them home, got it?"

She nodded again, half understanding, vaguely recalling her mom's advice that it was okay to go out with this handsuncle,

but not with others.

She wanted to tell him that her mom said it was okay to go out with him, but her sleep-addled brain couldn't string together that

long a sentence. Murmuring an "mm-hmm," she drifted off in Brandon's arms.

Brandon carried her back to her room, gently laid her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her. After watching her peaceful

sleeping face for a moment, he stood up to leave.

On his way out, he glanced around the room, taking in the simple, childlike decor.

Exiting Theresa's room, he found Grace tidying up the toys that had spilled from the burlap sack.

The once messy floor was now spotless, clearly, she had a knack for childcare and housework.

Grace saw him coming out and politely asked, "Theresa asleep?"

"Yup."

He checked his watch, "I should be heading back now."

"Thank you for tonight, Mr. Crawley," Grace said, rising to see him out.

"It's nothing," he replied coolly, then seemingly offhandedly asked, "Does Theresa always go off with strangers like that?"

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