The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"Who's the hottie?" the girl with short hair asked, puzzled, as she excitedly clung to an arm, looking around cluelessly, "Where at?"

"Over there, over there, the guy in the suit... walking with the principal," the long-haired girl who first spotted Brandon exclaimed,

pointing at the slowly retreating figure of Brandon. She was thrilled and excited, but didn't dare to speak too loudly, afraid of being

overheard.

Brandon's aloof aura was intimidating enough to keep her from acting rashly.

The others were taken aback by her over-the-top reaction, each of them involuntarily following the direction of her finger to take a

gander.

"Whoa, you're right," the short-haired girl couldn't help but whisper excitedly, "Holy smokes, look at that face, that body, that vibe,

it's just too much. Who is he? Why is he walking with the principal? He couldn't be an alumnus, could he? From which year..."

Curiosity was bubbling up like popcorn popping.

Zack, the guy in the group, also couldn't help but look up in Brandon's direction, snorting dismissively, "Pssh, he's just a dude,

what's the big deal? Look at you all gawking."

While speaking, he couldn't help but steal a glance at the girl they called "Tina."

Tina was also curiously eyeing Brandon, her eyes filled with admiration and the dazzle of spotting a handsguy, her attention

clearly not on Zack.

Sophia, who was initially focused on finding the right angle to snap a photo of them, didn't expect everyone to turn their heads as

if they'd seen the eighth wonder of the world. She too followed their gaze and immediately spotted Brandon walking through the

crowded area with President Poe and others.

Sophia paused for a moment with her phone mid-air.

She recognized him.

She had seen him from a distance at the school a couple of days ago when she clooking for inspiration, surrounded by school

officials like the star he was.

Just like that day, he was the brightest presence in the crowd, still exuding that unapproachable and aloof aura.

Boys and girls chatting and taking pictures along the way couldn't help but point out the hunk to each other.

After all, good looks are always a scarcemodity, especially when ites to a well-proportioned, stand-offish elite man.

Zack, clearly not pleased with his friends ogling a stranger, teased them to snap out of it, "Alright, alright, get a grip. He's just a

decent-looking guy.e on, let's get this photo done. The ceremony's about to start."

While saying this, he patted their shoulders to bring their attention back and then looked at Sophia with an apologetic smile, "Sorry

about that, can you please take our picture now?"

Sophia nodded slightly, refocused, and crouched down a bit to take a few snaps for them before handing the phone back to the

girl.

"Thanks, sis," the girl eagerly checked the photos they'd just taken, clearly pleased, and couldn't help but express her gratitude

again, "These look great, thanks a bunch!"

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"No problem," Sophia replied politely and turned to leave.

As Brandon, who was casually listening to President Poe describe the school, hesitated mid-step and subconsciously looked back at

the crowd.

"What's up?" the faculty advisor standing next to Brandon asked, confused, but only saw Brandon frown slightly, his eyes scanning

the sea of faces before a faint self-mocking smile flickered across his lips.

His unusual reaction prompted President Poe and the faculty advisor to exchange glances and scan the crowd as well, but they

didn't notice anything amiss.

"It's nothing," Brandon replied coolly, turning left with the group towards the academic buildings.

At the stime, Sophia was making her way in the opposite direction through the bustling crowd, heading for the school gates to

grab slunch.

She had arrived at the hotel around eleven and hadn't eaten yet; her stomach was starting to grumble.

Meanwhile, Ivan Evert was also weaving through the crowd, letting his gaze search among the faces.

He had just received news that Sophia was at West district secondary school.

Perhaps selfishly, he didn't want Sophia to be seen by Brandon, nor did he want her to see Brandon.

That day, in his attempt to stop Brandon, he had missed his chance to follow Sophia.

By the the left the school, she had vanished.

Security footage from nearby businesses showed her taking the small path along the school wall, but that stretch had no cameras,

making it a challenge for him to trace Sophia's whereabouts.

Today, he had finally found out which hotel she was staying at, only to learn from the detective agency that she had taken a taxi

out early in the morning, and her destination was West district secondary school. But that was all they knew - she had gotten off at

West district secondary school and entered the premises.

So Ivan thought he'de and take a look.

Finding someone in a vast crowd isn't easy, but Ivan still wanted to try his luck.

He knew Sophia was an alumna of West district secondary, but judging by her reaction that day, she seemed not to recognize him.

If she had amnesia, why would she return to her old middle school?

As he searched through the crowd, Ivan couldn't help but frown and ponder.

On stage, the sound checks were beginning, and the host was calling for homeroom teachers toanize their students to take

their seats.

Homeroom teachers began waving their class flags, signaling their students to gather.

The once chaotic and crowded playground and pathways suddenly becorderly and clear.

Students followed their homeroom teachers back to their seating areas.

Guests began to take their seats.

Alumni wandering around also moved to an open area behind the seating to watch.

Ivan's search area instantly shrank.

He scanned the onlookers several times, but couldn't spot Sophia.

He couldn't help but cross over to the guest area, but still, Sophia was nowhere to be found among the guests.

Ivan's brow furrowed, and he returned to search among the standing onlookers.

Brandon, arranged by President Poe and the others, took his seat.

He was placed in the front row.

These past few days, with the police finding a woman's body in the sea, he had been listless and lacking energy.

But the science museum was donated in Sophia's name, so he had to be hands-on.

This was the only thing he could do for her.

The celebration was already in full swing, and President Poe took the stage to speak at the invitation of the host.

Brandon was seated in the audience, his body facing the stage, but his gaze had long since drifted past it, landing on the teaching

building nestled among the trees in the distance. His mind was miles away.

The familiar sights, the memories fading into the past, Sophia from their student days, the Sophia he reunited with at alumni

gatherings years later, Sophia after marriage, and the Sophia he saw post-divorce—all these versions of her collided in his mind,

finally morphing into the cold body covered with a white sheet in the ue. Brandon's nose tingled, his hand covered it as he

subtly turned his head away, and his eyes couldn't help but redden.

"What's up?" The grade director next to him, quick to sense the change in Brandon's mood, asked with concern.

Brandon shook his head slightly, "I'm gonna step out for a sec."

He started to get up.

"You're up to speak soon, maybe do that first?" the grade director suggested warmly, glancing at President Poe who had started to

introduce Brandon and the science museum project.

Brandon glanced towards the stage and gave a small nod, "Yeah."

After praising the school's notable alumni for their support, President Poe proudly introduced Brandon and his generous donation to

the science museum project, inviting him up to speak.

A round of hearty applause broke out from the audience, especially when Brandon made his way to the stage. His striking good

looks and charm amped up the applause, making it even louder and more sustained.

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Ivan had been scanning the crowd for Sophia, but when he saw Brandon take the stage, he paused, his brow furrowed, and his

expression suddenly filled with anxiety.

Sophia, after having a leisurely lunch outside, strolled back to the school without much hurry.

Her main goal was to personally thank President Poe and bid farewell; checking out the centennial celebration was just a bonus, so

she wasn't rushing.

To her surprise, as soon as she entered the school gates, the security guard stopped her.

"Sorry, miss, we've got a ton of visitors today for the celebration, and for safety reasons, we gotta limit the crowd for now. No more

entry," the guard explained apologetically to Sophia.

Sophia was taken aback but understanding.

She smiled lightly, "Okay, thanks."

She nodded politely and turned to leave. As she did, she couldn't help but glance towards the stage, catching sight of that aloof

man she had bumped into a couple of times, now surrounded by President Poe and others.

Brandon had just taken the mic from President Poe with one hand, took a deep breath to steady his emotions, and then calmly

looked out at the audience, "Hey everyone, I'm Brandon, and I'm thrilled to be here for West district high's centennial celebration."

As the words "I'm Brandon" reached her ears, Sophia's movement paused, and she instinctively looked towards the man on the

stage.

The nearby security guard couldn't help but urge her, "Miss?"

Sophia turned back to the guard with an apologetic smile, "Sorry about that."

She then headed towards the exit.

Brandon, holding the mic, let his gaze drift across the neatly seated audience and then towards the crowd standing at the back.

Just as he was about to look away, he caught a glimpse of Sophia at the school entrance, her profile as she turned away. His face

changed in an instant, and he threw the mic down on the lectern with a "snap," suddenly jumped off the stage, and bolted through

the crowd towards the school entrance.

The place was instantly abuzz, everyone shocked by Brandon's sudden move.

"What's going on?"

"What happened?"

"What's up with him?"

The crowd murmured, all looking baffled.

President Poe, who had just taken a seat, stood up abruptly, just as clueless about what was happening.

"What's all this?" he asked urgently.

But no one could answer him; they all just saw Brandon, looking mad as a hatter, rushing towards the school entrance.