The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Louis finally caught his breath and glanced back at Sophia with concern, "Miss, are you alright?"

It was only after he finished speaking that he got a good look at Sophia's face, and he froze for a moment.

Sophia cback to her senses, "I'm fine."

Then she looked at him, "Are you okay?"

"I'm good, I'm good, just got a bit dizzy for a second there, didn't take a fall."

Louis brushed off the dust from his clothes with a chuckle, still a bit unsteady on his feet, and bent down to pick up his cane from

the ground.

"Letget that."

Sophia stopped him and bent down to pick up the cane for him, handing it to him.

Louis thanked her as he took it, but his gaze involuntarily glued itself to Sophia's face again, sizing her up with a puzzled and vexed

expression.

"Miss, have we met somewhere before?" After a while, Louis voiced the confusion in his heart.

Sophia remembered that she had locked eyes with Louis when she had entered the classroom, but at that this gaze had swept

over her and landed on Marian next to her.

She figured Louis's sense of familiarity cfrom that random eye contact two years ago.

She politely smiled and shook her head, "No, we haven't."

She didn't want to use this incident to get tangled up with Marian and the Frost family.

Louis let out a disappointed "Oh," but his eyes still couldn't help but study Sophia with confusion.

Sophia wasn't too comfortable being stared at like this.

She glanced around and then back at him, "Aren't your family members around?"

Seeing him in a hospital gown and considering his age, she was a bit worried about him being alone, "How about | walk you back to

your room?"

"No need." Louis waved his hands to refuse, "I've got family with me. | just sent him to getsfood."

Just as he said this, a short, stocky man in his sixties approached quickly with a food tray.

Louis waved at him, "Leo."

The man named Leo walked up to them and gave Sophia a puzzled look.

Louis introduced them with a grin, "This is Leo, who's been taking good care of me."

"And this is," He began to introduce Sophia, but then realized he hadn't asked for her name, and turned to Sophia, "Oh, what's your

name? You savedjust now, and | haven't even thanked you yet."

He looked at Leo as he explained, "| was feeling cooped up lying down all day and wanted to stretch my legs. Almost took a nasty

spill, but this young lady here caught me. She even took the fall for me, saving my old bones."

Upon hearing this, Leo gratefully looked at Sophia, "Miss, | really can't thank you enough."

His thanks also paused when he saw Sophia's face.

Sophia felt their reactions were both a bit odd.

She gave an awkward smile, "It was nothing, just lending a hand."

Seeing that Louis was well looked after, she felt relieved and politely said goodbye before leaving.

"Wait, leaveyour nand number first," Louis quickly called after her, "I've got to properly thank you later."

"No need."

Sophia politely declined and turned to leave.

"Grandpa."

A cool male voice cfrom behind.

Sophia paused slightly, glancing in the direction of the voice, and saw Martin walking towards Louis.

Sophia remembered him. They had met once at the Starlight Hotel in Wye City.

She was just about to enter the elevator when she nearly collided with him as he was coming out.

Martin did not notice Sophia and headed straight for Louis.

Sophia didn't linger either, suppressing the discomfort in her body as she walked towards the medical building.

Louis's gaze lingered on Sophia's retreating figure, looking perplexed.

Martin then noticed Louis's gaze, "What's up?"

Louis looked at him, "Nothing much, | almost fell just now, but luckily that young lady saved me. | wanted to thank her properly,

but she wouldn't leave her nor number."

Louis pointed towards Sophia.

Just as Sophia reached the corner, her serene profile cinto view, and Martin frowned slightly.

He remembered Sophia.

Louis looked at him puzzled, "Do you know her?"

Martin nodded, "She's Brandon's ex-wife."

Louis was shocked.

Brandon focused on work all morning, seemingly returning to his old self.

He was decisive, quick, and highly efficient.

The entire office got swept up in the high-efficiency vibe, and no one even got up when lunchtrolled around.

Kent, ever considerate, took the lead to head out for lunch, not forgetting to call out to Brandon.

"Mr. Crawley, should | grab lunch for you? Or are you heading down?"

Brandon glanced at the ton his computer, noting it was tto eat.

"No need."

He said, already standing up and heading for the elevator.

Kent quickly followed.

The employee cafeteria was located on the basement level.

Brandon didn't opt for the private elevator, taking the common one instead.

When the elevator stopped on the seventeenth floor, Kent noticed Brandon calmly glanced at the elevator doors.

The elevator was crowded with people, all Star-Dempsey Architects employees also heading down for lunch.

They were familiar faces, but Kent did not see Sophia.

Don was also at the elevator door and upon seeing Brandon and Kent inside, he lit up with a smile, "What a coincidence, you guys

are heading down for lunch too, huh?"

"Yeah."

Kent replied with a smile, shifting to the side to make room for him.

Don, along with the others, entered the elevator.

Watching the elevator doors close, Kent couldn't help but look back into the office, still not seeing Sophia.

He had dropped her off at the entrance of her neighborhood the night before and was somewhat worried, so he casually asked,

"Where's Sophia?"

Don replied, "Oh, she took the day off."

Kent saw a momentary pause in Brandon's composed face, subtle and quickly returning to normal.

With Kent standing slightly behind Brandon, his eyes fixed on Brandon's profile, he asked Don in a puzzled tone, "Why'd she

suddenly take off?"

"Seems like she's sick."

Kent noticed Brandon's brow seemed to furrow for a moment.

Right now, he didn't have the luxury to keep an eye on Brandon, as he frowned and turned to Don, "What's up with suddenly falling

sick? Is it bad?"

"I'm not sure," Don said, frowning as well, "No reply to texts, and calls go unanswered."

"But | sent someone to check it out, it's probably nothing too serious," Don reassured.

Kent remembered dropping the person off last night and everything was peachy. How could she had fallen ill out of the blue?

He couldn't help but glance at Brandon.

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and the exiting crowd blocked Kent's view of Brandon.

Brandon, keeping his cool, walked out with the crowd.

Kent had no choice but to follow.

Don also stepped out, and right as they exited the elevator, he spotted Cindy bolting towards the cafeteria and called out to her,

"Cindy."

Cindy, who was charging towards the cafeteria, cto an abrupt halt, turning to see Don and Brandon, and promptly greeted

with due respect, "Hello, Mr. Crawley, Mr. Dempsey."

"Did you check on Director Yearwood at her place? How is she?" Don inquired.

Brandon, mid-walk, paused ever so slightly, glancing at Cindy.

Cindy, looking up at Don, reported, "I did swing by her house, but no one answered the doorbell. Then | called Director Yearwood,

and she said she was at the hospital and toldto head back."

Kent couldn't help but sneak a peek at Brandon.

He caught Brandon's momentary pause, but in a flash, Brandon had moved past Cindy and headed for the cafeteria.

Kent followed suit.

Behind him, Don's voice continued, "Is she alone?"

Cindy was stumped; she had forgotten to ask.

"What's with your memory?" Don sounded a bit irritated.

"Should | call her again and ask?" Cindy's voice dropped, sounding uncertain.

Don let it slide, "Never mind, if it's serious, she'll tell us."

But she really wouldn't.

Kent thought to himself, even though he wasn't tight with Sophia, he had sinsight into her character.

Sophia wouldn't bother anyone when facing troubles, preferring to shoulder everything on her own.

Worried, Kent involuntarily looked at Brandon again.

Brandon had reached the serving area, casually picking up a tray and handing it to the lunch lady at the window, his handsome

face expressionless and detached, making it unclear if he overheard Cindy and Don's conversation.

Kent didn't dare to pry further and also grabbed a tray to get his meal, sitting down opposite Brandon.

Brandon ate in silence, his face a mask of cold indifference.

Kent could feel the chilly vibe coming off him and sneaked another glance.

He saw Brandon had only halfheartedly nibbled at his food before pausing, his eyes half-closed, lost in thought.

"Mr. Crawley?"

Kent called him tentatively.

Suddenly, Brandon slammed down his utensils with a "snap," stood up, and walked away.

"Sendher address."

He said.

Kent, Don and Cindy were all speechless.

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