The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Kent just toldhow Brandon's been holed up in Sophia's tiny stufor a full day and night, not eating or drinking anything since

he saw that body bloated like a giant pickle. Today, he forced himself to go to West District High for the science museum donation

in Sophia's name. | didn't realize he wasn't just putting on a brave face - he'spletely lost his marbles.

| saw the sworry in Kent's eyes.

| gestured to Kent with a crooked finger, signaling him to passhis phone.

Kent handedthe phone, looking anxious.

Without hesitation, | put it on speaker.

"Brandon, it's me, Don," | softened my voice without even realizing it, "Are you still at school? I'lle find you..."

"Let Kent take the call," Brandon cutoff sharp and cold.

Through the icy tone, | could faintly hear the sound of a car door opening.

| wanted to say more, but Kent stoppedwith a raised hand and spoke in a calming tone, "Mr. Crawley, alright. I'll get on it right

away."

"l want results within an hour!"

Brandon was about to hang up when Kent quickly said, "Okay, Mr. Crawley. Are you at the school right now? I'lle to you."

"Just handle your business."

With that, Brandon hung up.

Listening to the dial tone, Kent and | exchanged worried glances.

"Didn't you say Brandon was invited to speak at the school centennial celebration?" | glanced at my watch, "He should be on stage

right about now, but why does it sound like he's in a car?"

Kent's brows knitted together. "I'll call President Poe and see what's up."

While talking, Kent was already dialing President Poe's number.

The call was answered quickly.

"President Poe, is Mr. Crawley with you by any chance?" Kent asked tactfully.

President Poe had just finished dealing with a situation and was contemplating whether to step out to check on Brandon. Receiving

Kent's call, he quickly replied, "Good timing, | was about to reach out to you. Something happened when Brandon was speaking on

stage; he just dropped the mic and bolted, plowing through the crowd like a madman, demanding to see the security footage. He

looked totally off. | had security take him to the surveillance room, but I'm not sure how he's doing now, and | can't leave at the

moment. If you can, pleasee and check on him."

Kent and | looked at each other, our faces changing - had he really lost it?

We both grew more somber.

Kentposed himself and politely thanked President Poe, "Thank you, President Poe. Sorry for the trouble today. | apologize on

behalf of Mr. Crawley; he's had sissues these past few days and might not be in the best state.”

"It's fine, just hurry over," Poe said amidst the noise, unable to say much more. "Stay in touch if you need anything."

After hanging up, Kent and | stood up, instinctively grabbing our coats in sync.

"Let's go find Brandon."

"Let's go find Mr. Crawley."

Even our words echoed each other, our minds overwhelmed by the possibility that Brandon might have snapped because of

Sophia's passing.

Brandon left the school's surveillance room and headed to his car. As he was about to get in, he glanced at the shops across the

street.

After a brief hesitation, he closed the car door and walked toward the businesses.

He went from one to another, asking for surveillance footage, offering to pay to see it.

The shopkeepers were obliging, and those with cameras let Brandon take a look.

The school's security cameras had timestamps, so Brandon could easily track possible sightings of Sophia by the tshe left the

school gates.

But not many shops had cameras, and those that did only covered a small area by their entrances.

In the little footage he found, the elusive figure was almost non-existent.

Finally, in a video from a shop facing the street, Brandon caught a glimpse of the slender figure with a mask walking by, but it was

just a fleeting image, not clear enough to identify the person, only the direction they went.

Brandon looked toward the direction where the figure disappeared - right across was the West District Sky Center Mall, owned by

Starlight Group.

Hoping she had entered the mall rather than just crossed the street, he dashed toward it and straight to the surveillance room.

Staff were on duty in the room. Seeing Brandon barge in, they instinctively stood to shoo him away.

Brandon didn't utter a word, just flashed his ID - 'Starlight Group CEO, Executive Director Brandon' - and without a pause, headed

straight to theputer monitoring the school's nearest entrance, Number 3.

The employee, who was about to stop Brandon, changed his demeanor at the sight of the ID and respectfully called out, "Mr.

Crawley."

Brandon was in no mood for pleasantries, quickly took the mouse, and began scanning the footage. No luck - no matter how slowly

he moved the progress bar, the delicate figure was nowhere to be seen.

He checked other entrances too, with no success.

Frustration etched on his face, Brandon pushed the mouse away and turned to leave, about to call Kent to press for street

surveillance when Marian Barlow, looking anxious, rushed by with a tall man.

They were heading upstairs in a hurry, Marian anxious, "Are you saying that on the night Sophia had an accident, The Royal

Marine's cruise ship made a brief stop at Zion City's docks?"