The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

The shrill honk of a passing motorcycle snapped Sophia out of her daze. Instinctively, she whipped her head around, and the sight

of the speeding motorbikes made her step back onto the small path she just turned out from by instant. Her retreat made her

stumble and fall to the ground.

The biker teens seemed to still have steam to blow off; as they zoomed past, they shot a nasty look in Sophia's direction.

Brandon turned around just in tto see the bikers zooming off and couldn't help but frown. President Poe caught the scene as

well and frowned, chiming in, "Racing around the school zone is strictly off-limits. These guys are out of line, tearing it up here

every other day."

Brandon gave him a glance but didn't say a word. His gaze slowly drifted away from the bikers, now specks in the distance,

confusion flickering in his eyes.

Brandon's former homeroom teacher, already smiling, called out, "Let's head inside the school; it's freezing out here. Don't just

stand around chatting; might catch a cold."

President Poe, with a smile, picked up the thread, "Look at me, getting all carried away.e on, let's go inside and chat."

As he spoke, he gestured for Brandon to follow him into the campus.

Brandon gave the homeroom teacher, who now looked a bit old and worn, a nod and started walking towards the school gate in

response to the chorus of greetings.

As he turned, he couldn't resist looking back at the corner where Sophia had just been standing, but it was empty.

The quiet street had returned to its peaceful state. Brandon's gaze fell somberly.

Around the corner, Sophia was crouching, rubbing her knee that she'd knocked while dodging the motorbikes.

The beige beret on her head had fallen off during the shuffle, and her scarf was half-draped on the ground.

Ivan,ing out from a nearbyplex, spotted the young woman on the ground and the scattered hat and scarf. Instinctively, he

picked up the hat and asked with concern, "Hey, you alright?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Sophia replied in a soft voice, almost reflexively.

Ivan paused, hat in hand, in disbelief as he looked at Sophia. She looked up at him, confused, wearing a mask that revealed only

her eyes.

Those gentle, calm, and well-behaved clear eyes - Ivan recognized them. His hand trembled slightly holding the hat, his eyes

slightly teary, a mix of shock and uncertainty, as if he wanted to recognize her but didn't dare.

Sophia's confusion deepened as she looked at the man in front of her, who seemed to be losing control of his emotions.

Ivan's hand reached out to her, fingers trembling as if he wanted to pull down her mask. Sophia dodged as his hand almost

touched her mask and looked at the hat he was holding, asking softly, "Excuse me, could | have my hat back, please?"

She clearly saw the man's expression freeze, his eyes filled with an unsure confusion. He glanced at the hat in his hand.

"Sorry," he apologized softly, handing the hat back to Sophia.

"Thank you," she replied quietly, accepting the hat and standing up. She gave him a nod, as if to say goodbye, and turned to leave.

"Sophia," Ivan suddenly called out to her retreating figure.

The nSophia didn't mean too much for her, even though Harvey had told her that was her name.

The reality of her amnesia had stripped her of any attachment to her own name. Since she had regained consciousness, Harvey

had called her "Ms. Bright", and Amanda had called her "Arlene", further diluting her connection to the name.

Ivan saw no reaction from her, his hope dimming, but he didn't want to give up just yet. After hesitating, he took a big step forward

and lifted Sophia's mask from behind.

"What are you doing?" Sophia instinctively turned and chastised him.

Ivan's eyes filled with tears as he saw the familiar face, "You're really still alive."

Sophia just looked at him, her expression blank, her eyes strangers. This unfamiliarity brought a flash of self-doubt across lvan's

face.

"I'm Ivan," he blurted out, introducing himself.

But Sophia's eyes remained unfamiliar, showing no interest in exploring further.

She didn't say anything, just reached out for her mask and asked hesitantly, "Can | have it back, please?"

The weather in the West district was cold and windy, and she, being prone to the cold and fearing another bout of sickness, had

grown used to wearing a mask outdoors.

Her reaction only deepened lvan's confusion. He had been so sure she was Sophia, but now he was uncertain. He handed her the

mask with hesitation, still not ready to let go, and asked one last time, "Don't you remember me?"

Sophia looked puzzled but nodded, then put on her mask and headed towards the school.

Ivan hesitated briefly before following her. She entered the campus, and he followed. She went to the library, and he was right

behind her. She headed to the academic building, and he tagged along.

All the while, he was silent, watching her with eyes full of confusion and self-doubt.

Sophia did not like being followed. She had to stop and confront him, "Excuse me, can | help you with something?"

"Are you Sophia?" Ivan finally voiced the question that had been nagging him.