The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"She just left, not even a few minutes ago."

As he finished speaking, he saw Brandon's brow furrow slightly and his eyes turn towards him. "Why would she clock out so early

all of a sudden?"

Caught off guard by the question, Don responded.

"Well, it was tto punch out."

"She's not the type to watch the clock for quitting time."

"Plus," Brandon paused, "she left before it was tto finish up, didn't she?"

Sophia was a workhorse who could really get into the zone, never one to watch the clock or duck out early.

Don was at a loss for words, as Sophia definitely wasn't one to leave work early.

Brandon's eyes had a sharp edge. "What exactly happened?"

The smile on Don's face stiffened. With everyone watching by the company's entrance, it wasn't the place for straight talk. He

hesitated, glancing at Brandon, then hesitantly looked towards Martin.

Brandon's gaze followed to Martin.

Martin subtly turned his head away. With Marian inside and all the company people watching, he didn't want to bring it up there.

Brandon didn't press further.

"I'll catch up with you guys later."

He dropped the sentence coldly and turned on his heel, his steps firm and quick.

Don watched him hit the elevator button, stepping in without a pause, his long fingers also "snap" pressing the button, the elevator

doors closing, and the car beginning its descent.

Don couldn't help but turn to Martin. "Let's get a move on and have a feast to set us on our way."

Martin glanced at him, ignoring the jest, and headed for the elevator.

Don followed suit.

Brandon rode the elevator down to the underground parking garage.

Getting into his car, he pulled out his phone to call Sophia.

After a brief ring, the call was picked up.

"Hello?" Her voice soft and listless, not sounding overly enthusiastic.

"Where are you at right now?"

Brandon asked, his other hand already fastening the seatbelt and starting the engine.

"I'm on my way home," Sophia said softly, "Is something up?"

Brandon didn't answer her question, just softly asked, "Whereabouts are you?"

Sophia wasn't too keen on saying.

She was in a funk and couldn't pin down why.

Perhaps it was Martin's suggestion to submit her design project under Marian, which was Yolanda's name, to Louis that had stirred

up sunpleasant memories, dragging her back to the gloomy days before her divorce, reminding her of the times Brandon and

Daniel discussed Yolanda in the study.

Daniel wanted Brandon to divorce her to make room for Yolanda, Brandon mistook her for Yolanda, Martin wanted to dress up

Yolanda with her hard work.

She had already cleared the way as everyone wished, escaped that marriage, studied hard, worked hard, and finally made some

achievements. Yet, two years later, all her efforts were still paving the way for Yolanda.

Sophia couldn't describe her feelings. It seemed like her efforts, even her existence, were just for another woman.

Love was like this, marriage was like this, and even her career wasn't spared.

Perhaps because of the unhappiness that surfaced, facing the tenderness in Brandon's voice on the phone, Sophia felt an

inexplicable resistance.

Brandon also sensed her off vibe, his voice dropping lower.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Nothing." Sophia's voice was faint, weary, "I'm heading home, gotta hang up."

With that, she ended the call.

The "beep beep" of the busy tone transmitted, Brandon glanced at the phone, which had reverted to the screensaver.

He pinched the phone, pondering for a moment, then looked out the car window, slowing down.

Sophia's call had been filled with the noise of the bustling traffic, not the kind of noise you'd get inside a car.

Brandon figured Sophia was standing by the road when she answered, either walking or biking home.

Driving towards Sophia's neighborhood, Brandon deliberately slowed down, scanning the bike lane and sidewalk to his right.

The clock-out traffic wasn't too heavy yet.

Around the corner, Brandon spotted Sophia walking leisurely along the tree-lined path.

Her hands casually resting on her purse's chain, her serene and pretty face looked somewhat absent-minded.

Brandon gave a soft honk.

Sophia turned her head in confusion, freezing for a moment when she saw the approaching black car, then looked towards the

slowly rolling down window.

Brandon, inside the car, also gave her a glance, then stepped out, walking towards her.

"Why are you here?" Seeing the tall figure approaching her, Sophia hesitated to ask.

"I could tell something was off in your voice," Brandon said, now standing in front of her, looking down at her.

Sophia awkwardly turned her face away. "I'm fine."

"Why are you walking home?"

Sophia said, "Just felt like taking a walk to clear my head, consider it a workout. Otherwise, sitting in the office all day isn't great for

health."

Brandon nodded, then suggested, "How about | join you for the walk?"

"No need," Sophia instinctively refused, glancing at his car parked by the roadside, "Plus, your car might get towed if it stays

there."

"It's fine."

Brandon said, pulling out his phone, he dialed Kent, asking him to send someone to move the car, then hung up and turned to her.

"Let's walk."

Sophia hesitated, then gave a slight nod.

The way back wasn't too long or too short.

They walked side by side, the setting sun filtering through the trees, casting long shadows of the two on the ground.

Sophia was silent, so Brandon quietly accompanied her, not speaking to break her reverie.

Sophia couldn't help but glance at him; his deep-set profile was calm and handsin the sunset like a painting.

She remembered it had been a long while since she had taken a walk with Brandon like this.

Back in their student days, they had shared such moments.

Neither of them were boarders, living not far from school. So after classes, they would often wait for each other, intentionally or

not.

Sometimes they'd bike together, other times they'd just walk, under the ssunset, along the river, with the sound of bicycle

bells scattering along the way.

They didn't chat much, nor were they big on PDA, but that riverside path drenched in sunset glow and tinkling bells held all her

girlish dreams and youthful memories.

Fast forward through reunions, marriage and to divorce, they never set foot on that path again. Those strolls were a thing of the

early days of their marriage, back when she was pregnant and Brandon was more attentive, making sure to take her for a gentle

walk every day.

But that child wasn't meant to be theirs. They lost it at three months. She took several months to recover, and Brandon's work

started to ramp up. Gradually, opportunities like that becfew and far between.

Now, after so many years, they were aimlessly ambling together again, and Sophia's feelings were a bit of a jumble.

"Brandon."

After walking in silence for a while, Sophia finally spoke up softly, "You were so hung up on Yolanda before. Now that she's back,

why did you suddenly let her go?"

Brandon turned to look at her.

Sophia wasn't looking at him, just calmly watching the path under her feet.

"There's no Yolanda anymore."

Brandon said it calmly, but his gaze was fixed on her.

"This world no longer has Yolanda."

He spoke slowly, each word heavy with a touch of melancholy.

Sophia didn't quite catch it and instinctively looked up at him.

He had said this to her before.

When the paternity test results cout, when he took her to school.

Back then, Marian was surrounded by the jubilant Frost family, and she smiled and congratulated him.

He had looked at her with a near-cruel calmness and said, "There's no Yolanda in this world anymore." "I've lost her, and she's

never coming back."

When this memory was stirred up again by Yolanda, Sophia still felt an inexplicable ache in her heart, not because Brandon was

pining for another woman, but out of sympathy for him.

"I'm sorry."

Before she could fully understand this feeling of sympathy, Sophia had already apologized to him, her voice soft and guilt-ridden.

"It's okay."

Brandon's lips barely moved, his body already turned towards her, his eyes downcast, silent for a long time.

In his gaze, Sophia saw a faint regret and nostalgia.

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