The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Brandon had a poker face, didn't say a word, didn't even glance back at Sophia, but his grip on her wrist was tight, showing no

signs of letting go.

Marian threw a puzzled look at Brandon and then turned to Sophia.

Sophia's expression was equally calm.

Marian noticed a slight twitch in Sophia’s wrist as if she wanted to pull away, but then she stopped.

Sophia didn't want to becthe center of attention.

She chose to compromise, turned around, and gave an awkward smile to the onlookers, then sat down where she was.

Finally, Brandon's grip on her wrist loosened.

The two hadn't exchanged a single word throughout, but the undercurrents between them made everyone exchange glances, kind

of clueless about what was going on, but the air was thick with gossip.

Don gave Brandon and Sophia a thoughtful look.

Sophia remained indifferent, lost in her thoughts as she stared at the bonfire.

The coolness on Brandon's handsface didn’t fade away.

He was silent, but his aura of gloom spread, scattering the previously lively atmosphere.

The volof everyone's conversations dropped unconsciously.

Don approached with a smile, patting Brandon on the shoulder, "What brings you here, man?"

While speaking, Don sat down next to Brandon, trying to break the ice.

Marian leaned back, looking over Sophia at Brandon, "Yeah, aren't you supposed to be Mr. Busy? Surprised to see you at something

like this."

Feeling awkward being sandwiched between the two, Sophia shifted toward the fire, giving them sspace.

Brandon glanced at her, then turned to Marian, "What are you doing here?"

Marian pointed at Don, "He invited me."

Brandon's gaze shifted to Don, calm yet icy, sending a chill down Don's spine.

"A party like this needs a crowd to get buzzing, so | called sextra folks," Don quickly explained, "No harm meant, don't

overthink it."

"Did | ask you anything? Why the panic?" Brandon's voice was calm.

Don was caught off guard.

Serious Brandon was a bit too much for him, and he couldn't help but remember the two beatings he got from Brandon when they

were kids.

The first was when they were young and foolish. He teased Yolanda for sticking to Brandon, saying they'd end up married, which

left Yolanda red-eyed with embarrassment and earned him a beating from Brandon.

The second twas when he deliberately annoyed Yolanda, took the bracelet Brandon gave her, and held it out of reach, which

resulted in the chain breaking and Yolanda, in tears, and another thrashing for Don.

Back then, he sought Yolanda's eyes for help subconsciously, and it was also Yolanda who calmed Brandon down.

Whether it was Brandon's intimidating gaze now or the deep-seated memory of those beatings, Don instinctively sought Sophia's

gaze for help with a look of total desperation.

Sophia was baffled by his plea for help.

Don himself was momentarily stunned, unsure why he instinctively turned to Sophia for help when the real deal, Yolanda, was right

there.

Brandon also noticed where Don's gaze fell, his eyelids drooping slightly, remaining silent.

Marian, who hadn't followed the entire exchange, couldn't help but chuckle, "What's the deal here? You guys look like you're talking

in riddles."

She couldn't resist nudging Sophia with her elbow, "You have any clue what they're up to?"

Sophia shook her head, not wanting to delve deeper.

Her clear stance of distancing herself from Brandon made his face grow even colder.

That was so Sophia.

He said they could only be strangers, and she made it crystal clear that's what they were.

Her nonchalance made him feel like a joke.

Brandon felt an itch in his heart that he couldn't scratch, an urge to lash out with no outlet, his blood boiling with aggression that

wanted to break free but was tightly restrained by his rationality.

It had been like this since Sophia mentioned divorce two years ago.

He was like a kite whose strings were held by Sophia; when the string loosened, the clawing feeling faded a bit, and his focus

returned to work.

When the string tightened, the gnawing feeling intensified.

Brandon loathed this lack of control, but his overpowering rationality always pulled him back from the edge.

Now was no exception.

After a deep breath, he managed to look at Sophia calmly.

"Congratulations," he finally spoke to her, the first words he'd said to her that night.

"Thank you," Sophia responded with her usual polite courtesy.

Those simple words easily stirred the violent urge Brandon had just suppressed.

It was always like this. Their conversations never escaped the bounds of politeness, dull and uninteresting.

Yet it wasn't like this during their senior year of high school.

Brandon suppressed the raging within him again, and he had no desire to becthe talk of the town.

"I've been thinking a lot about our senior year lately," Brandon said nonchalantly, "I remember we weren't like this back then."

His words made Sophia pause, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Is that so?" she responded softly, "It's been so long and | don't remember."

Brandon glanced at her, the corners of his mouth curling in a seemingly mocking smirk, "Is there anything you do remember?"

She didn't remember childhood, she didn't remember high school either.

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMwWLHIOfiflO&1

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMyWL11I01F1081

mMMwWLIIOfiflO&1