The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Just then, Marian, who had just finished a meeting and was heading downstairs for lunch with a friend, was tickled by Theresa's

child-like logic.

Stepping out of the elevator, she was instantly drawn to the little girl perched on the sofa. Overhearing their conversation and

struck by Theresa's earnest, forlorn look, she couldn’t help but chuckle and play along, “Exactly, sitting isn’t playing.”

Hearing a voice, Theresa instinctively turned to see a pretty stranger approaching, and though a bit shy, she greeted her politely,

“Hello.”

Marian was delighted by her courteous and sweet demeanor and couldn't resist squatting down to pat her head, “Hello, little one.”

Looking over at Grace, she burst out with a compliment, “You're raising her right, she’s such a good girl.”

Thrilled, Grace modestly replied, “It’s all thanks to her mom.”

Marian wasn’t surprised - the cutie pie didn’t look like Grace.

Marian sat next to Theresa. She noticed the cloth bag next to her and reached out to move it aside, not expecting the little girl to

suddenly panic, “Don’t throw it away.”

She said, scrambling to retrieve it.

Startled by her urgency, Marian asked, “What's wrong?”

Grace quickly stepped in, “Oh, that’s her milk bottle bag - she treasures it.”

Marian, taken aback by her reaction, realized just how much the bag meant to Theresa.

Marian was surprised: "Really? Kiddo, aren't you just the cutest?"

She couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch Theresa's cheek.

Theresa was tickled by her exaggerated expressions and actions that she managed a stiff smile.

Grace noticed that Theresa seemed to be having a good twith Marian, who was clearly coming from work with her company

badge and all. Feeling reassured, she pulled out her phone to check it.

After letting go of Theresa's cheek, Marian chuckled and said, "Con, lettake a look at your precious baby bottle."

As she spoke, she lifted the cover of Theresa's bottle bag and immediately noticed a piece of paper inside, "What's this?"

Curious, she pulled it out.

Theresa looked on nervously, too scared to ask for it back, worried that it might be rude.

Before Marian had a chance to unfold the paper, Daniel's confused voice cfrom behind, "Marian? What are you doing here?"

Caught red-handed slacking off from work, Marian quickly stashed the paper on the seat next to her and turned to face Daniel

stepping out of the turnstile: "Hello, Mr. Crawley."

Theresa instinctively looked at Daniel. She remembered him.

The last tshe was hanging out at HandsUnkie's office, it was after this grandpa showed up that HandsUnkie handed

her off to a pretty sister.

She remembered him being a bit scary.

The scare he gave her last tmade her shrink back instinctively the moment she saw him, nervously calling out to Grace,

"Grace."

Grace, who had been sneakily playing with her phone, had already turned around at the sound of Daniel's voice, quickly pocketed

her phone, stood up, and picked up Theresa, whispering soothingly, "I'm right here."

That's when Daniel noticed Theresa. He recognized her as the little girl he had taken from Brandon's office last time, the slittle

girl Yvonne suspected was Brandon's illegitimate daughter. His brow furrowed, and he couldn't help but glance at Marian.

Worried about a misunderstanding, Marian forced a laugh and explained, "I saw it was almost lunchtime, and a friend of mine just

cover to see me, so | made plans to eat nearby. | just cdownstairs and saw this little girl, thought she was adorable, and

couldn't resist coming over to talk to her."

Pretending to glance at the wall clock in the lobby, she added, "Um, Mr. Crawley, I'm going to head out, my friend is probably

waiting."

With that, she made a quick getaway.

She wasn't scared of Patricia, but she was a bit wary of Brandon's dad, who always seemed to serious and could fly off the handle

at any moment.

Daniel watched her dash off, then turned his scrutinizing gaze to Theresa and Grace.

"Who allowed you here?" His tone was less than friendly, with an aura of authority, "This is an office building, not sshopping

mall, don't you know that?"

Theresa immediately started crying, tears streaming down her face, but she was too scared to cry out loud, instead just clinging to

Grace's neck tighter.

Grace, trying to keep a smile, apologized profusely, "I'm so sorry, she got tired from walking and wanted to rest a bit. | saw there

were seats here, so we just cto sit for a moment. We'll leave right now."

As she spoke, she picked up Theresa's bottle bag and made to leave with her in arms.

Although Theresa was scared and crying, she struggled fiercely to get down from Grace's embrace, sobbing and shaking her head,

"l don't wanna go, | don't wanna leave."

Grace was in a bind, trying to comfort Theresa while stealing glances at Daniel. Luckily, Daniel's attention had shifted away from

them; he was at the front desk, asking about something.

Grace took the opportunity to coax Theresa, "Theresa, sweetie, let's go hfor now."

But Theresa only struggled more, "I don't wanna leave, gotta wait for HandsUnkie."

She cried harder, desperately trying to get down from Grace, afraid that Grace would forcibly take her away.

This was the first tGrace saw Theresa so upset and was a bit at a loss. Fearing that Daniel might finish his business and see

them still there, she anxiously called Sophia, "Sophia, | took Theresa out for a bit, and we passed by the Starlight building on our

way back. Theresa wanted to cin for a look, and she seemed really keen, so | brought her in to sit for a while. But now the

company folks are shooing us away, and she refuses to leave, making quite a fuss. | can't seem to calm her down. Maybe you

could talk to her, she listens to you."

Sophia, busy in her office, felt her heart skip a beat when she heard they were at the Starlight building. Hearing that they were

being kicked out and Theresa refused to leave, crying and making a scene, her heart clenched, especially as she could clearly hear

Theresa's suppressed and plaintive plea through the phone, "Grace, don't go." She almost cried too, but managed to stay

collected, "Wait fora bit, I'm coming down now."

Sophia hung up, pushed away from the keyboard, stood up, and left the office.

Cindy, seeing Sophia leave, also stood up and said, "Director, are you going for lunch? I'll join you."

She grabbed her meal card from the desk, ready to follow.

Sophia, anxious to get downstairs, her mind full of the image of Theresa crying pitifully, didn't really pay attention to what Cindy

said, absentmindedly murmured an "Mhm" and hurried out the door, jogging to the elevator and pressing the button.

Fortunately, not many people were using the elevator at that time, and the doors opened right away. Sophia stepped in and quickly

pressed the button to close the elevator doors.

By the tCindy followed out of the office, the elevator had already descended to the first floor.

"Why did she rush off like that?" Cindy was puzzled, and even more so when she saw the elevator stop at the first floor, but she

still pressed the elevator button.

Hearing that Sophia was coming down, Grace felt a huge weight lift off her chest.

She hadn't realized Sophia worked in the sbuilding. Holding Theresa, she whispered soothingly, "Theresa, don't cry, mommy's

coming down to see you now."

The little girl, struggling through her tears, instantly stopped crying when she heard her mom was coming and couldn't help but

eagerly look towards Grace with her big, tear-filled eyes.

Daniel, after giving instructions to the receptionists, turned around to find Grace and Theresa still there and his brows furrow once

again, "Why are you guys still hanging around here? This is an office building, not a playground. Don't you have any common

sense?"

Just as Sophia stepped out of the elevator, she caught sight of Daniel with his stern face, scolding away, causing her to frown

deeply.

Daniel, oblivious to Sophia behind him, just glanced at Theresa, who's clutching Grace's clothes tightly.

The tears Theresa had just managed to stop well up again at the sight of Daniel's stern face, but too scared to make a sound, she

just pouted miserably, letting the tears pool in her eyes and clung to Grace's clothes in fear.

Daniel couldn’t stand to see kids cry, and his expression quickly turned to one of disgust.

"So annoying."

After grumbling in distaste, Daniel looked up to the security at the door: "What's going on with you guys? Letting people bring kids

to the office during work hours, all this sobbing and causing a ruckus, what a scene! What would clients think if they saw this? Get

them out of here, now."

"There's no need to trouble the security guard." Sophia's cool voice cut in as she stepped past Daniel, taking Theresa from Grace's

arms and holding her close.

At the sight of Sophia, Theresa's pent-up tears broke through the dam, and with a loud "wah", she let it all out, unable to hold back

any longer, burying herself into Sophia's embrace, crying so hard she could hardly catch her breath.

Sophia felt like she's about to cry herself, her heart aching as she gently patted Theresa's back and softly comforted her: "Don't be

scared, Theresa, I'm right here."

Daniel's suspicious gaze shifted to Sophia, "Who is this kid?"

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