The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Marian watched Brandon walk away, feeling a mix of heartbreak and defiance. She wanted to stop him but didn't dare to make a

move, so all she could do was watch him leave helplessly.

Driving back to the hotel alone, she had a face like thunder the entire ride. Just as she got to the hotel entrance, she bumped into

Dennis, who had just returned from outside.

Seeing Marian's sour face, Dennis couldn't help but ask, "What's up? Who's messed with my little princess?"

He went to put an arm around Marian, but she subtly dodged and pouted, "Nobody."

Her face, however, told a completely different story.

Dennis glanced at her and said, "Don't tell'nobody'; you're pouting so much you could hang a wine bottle on that lip."

He pushed open the door and went inside as he spoke.

Marian couldn't help but steal a glance at him.

Dennis seemed calm, not at all like his stormy, brooding self from when he got the news about the construction crew needing a

switch-up the night before.

Marian wasn't sure if he had sorted the issue out.

She hadn't heard anything from Augus about the problem being fixed.

But having known Dennis for a decade or two, she could read him well enough. He was always steady, never the type to wear his

emotions on his sleeve or fly off the handle, even if things weren't sorted.

So she just couldn't get a read on her dad.

"Dad."

Arter following Dennis inside, Marian couldn't help but call out to him, looking a bit hesitant.

"What is it?"

Dennis looked puzzled, "Spit it out, what's with the hesitation?"

"What were you out for?"

Marian asked tentatively, not daring to be too direct.

She didn't want Dennis to know she was onto something at this point.

"Just swork stuff," Dennis replied.

"Is it about last night's thing?" Marian probed, immediately adding to avoid suspicion, "You seemed upset last night, is there a

problem at work? Do you need any help?"

"No need, you couldn't help," Dennis said, shutting her down.

"Is it all sorted then?" Marian probed again.

"It's not that easy," Dennis sighed and turned to grab a bottle from the liquor cabinet.

Guess that meant it was not sorted.

Marian pondered, looking anxious as she watched Dennis, her own plans disrupted by the Starlight Group suddenly changing

construction crews, just like her dad's.

Dennis was opening the bottle when he seemed to remember something, suddenly looking up at Marian.

"What's up?" Marian felt a bit weird under his gaze.

"I've heard the Frost and Crawley families are tight. You're with the Frosts now; how are you getting on with the Crawley elders?"

Dennis inquired.

A lightbulb went off for Marian, and she felt a surge of excitement, but she kept it under wraps and asked innocently, "Alright, |

guess. Why?"

"I was just thinking." Dennis paused as if he was about to say something then stopped, "Never mind, just asking."

He didn't want to drag Marian into something as serious as a matter of life and death.

Marian just went "Oh" and, playing it smart, didn't press further. She even had dinner with Dennis, only leaving the hotel later,

claiming she had work to do. Then she headed to a health supplement shop, picked up spricey goodies, and took them over to

Daniel and Patricia's place.

Daniel and Patricia were playing with their dog and watching TV, having just finished dinner not long before.

When the doorbell rang, Daniel instructed the nanny to open the door.

Marian entered with her high-end gifts following the nanny.

"Good evening, Mr. Crawley, Mrs. Crawley," Marian greeted warmly, "Have you had dinner?"

"We've eaten," Patricia welcomed Marian enthusiastically, teasing her for bringing gifts when she could have just shown up.

Patricia had a soft spot for the well-spoken and beautiful Marian, especially since she had timely rushed Daniel to the hospital when

he had a stroke, saving his life.

For that alone, Patricia would never dream of giving Marian the cold shoulder.

"It's nothing much. | was just thinking about Mr. Crawley needing to boost his nutrition after getting out of the hospital," Marian

said coquettishly, hugging Patricia's arm as if they were family, then turned to Daniel, "Mr. Crawley, are you feeling better? |

wanted to cto pick you up from the hospital, but | thought it might not be appropriate, so | didn't. Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, your concern means a lot," Daniel replied with a smile. Maybe it was the contrast between Marian and Sophia at the

cafeteria the other day, but now Daniel always found Marian's sweetness a bit peculiar.

Still grateful for her saving his life, Daniel didn't hold it against her, assuming she was just a bit spoiled. He warmly invited her to

sit down.

Marian joined them, making light conversation, and quite "accidentally" steered the conversation toward the Zenithan-style resort

project.

Although Daniel had lost control over his company, the Zenithan-style resort project was his baby, something he had pushed

forward himself, so he was particularly concerned about it.

"lI wonder how it's doing. I've been hospitalized and haven't had the chance to keep track of the progress," Daniel remarked with a

sigh when the resort project cup.

"It's going well, Mr. Crawley, you don't need to worry," Marian reassured him with a smile, "My colleagues just visited the site

recently, and they say a lot has been built. The whole project is moving along smoothly, although..."

"What's up with that?" Daniel asked her, confused.

"Oh, | heard sspooky stuff going on with the main hall. Apparently, there's this pillar that just can't seem to set properly.

They've brought in two different survey teams and no dice, they can't figure out what's wrong. So now everyone's whispering

about ssupernatural shenanigans," Marian explained, frowning. "I heard they even put together a crack team of builders and

called in a geomancer to pick an auspicious day to pour the concrete. But for sreason, the higher-ups decided to swap out the

crew last minute. Now the pour's definitely off schedule, which means missing out on that sweet spot timing."

Daniel's brow furrowed instantly. "Swapping out the team at the eleventh hour? Who's causing this ruckus?"

"Changing the team is the least of our worries," Patricia chimed in anxiously. "The real issue is missing the lucky day. With all this

weirdness afoot, kicking off work on a random day could jinx the whole project and the company."

Her and Daniel were from the old school, a bit superstitious, you could say.

Patricia was a firm believer in all things about jinx.

And Daniel, well, he was even more so, his frown deepening by the second.

"It might not necessarily cause a delay," Marian said with a reassuring smile. "Plus, this is all just hearsay, the info might not even

be solid. Mr. and Mrs. Crawley, don't sweat it too much, gotta take care of yourselves."

Daniel nodded, murmuring a noncommittal "hm," clearly not soothed by Marian's words, his mind stewing over the situation.

Seeing it was getting late, Marian didn't linger, offering a few more words of comfort before heading off.

After leaving the company, Brandon rang Kent. "Dennis has been hanging around West district these past few days. Dig into it, will

you?"

Kent, still on the road, acknowledged with a nod. "Sure thing."

Then, remembering what Sophia had just brought up about Augus, he quickly briefed Brandon.

Brandon's brow twitched slightly, but he didn't show his hand.

Kent, not face-to-face with Brandon and unsure of his state, cautiously called out, "Mr. Crawley?"

"Sophia told you?" Brandon finally spoke up.

Kent nodded slightly. "Yeah."

A moment of silence from Brandon.

"There's something else," Kent couldn't help but add, "About that incident in the garage earlier—Sophia saw it."

Brandon fell silent.

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMwWLHIOfiflO&1

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMyWL11I01F1081

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMwWLHIOfiflO&1

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMyWL11I01F1081

mMMwWLIIOfiflO&1