The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Theresa seemed to be totally into this fresh nicknand the cozy vibes it cwith, she just couldn't help herself but to crank

up the voland holler, “Daddy.”

Still with that super careful and dead serious tone.

Brandon snuggled his cheek even closer to hers, gently caressed her hair, and grunted back in a raspy voice, “Hmm.”

Theresa, getting that sweet response, was over the moon and coos again, “Daddy.”

“Hmm.”

“Daddy,” Theresa called out once more.

“Hmm.”

“Daddy.”

With each call, Theresa's voice got crisper, her excitement grew, and her sweetness just overflew. She couldn't hide the surprise

and joy splashed all over her cute little face.

Sophia watched Theresa like this, her emotions doing somersaults.

On one hand, as a mom, she was touched by Theresa's warm embrace of her dad and shares in her happiness.

It was like Theresa's joy was all that matters, everything else faded away.

But beneath that wave of emotion, there was also her perspective as her own person.

Now that Theresa knew about her dad, had accepted him, liked him, and relished life with him around, it meaned she and Brandon

were forever intertwined.

Every decision and thought she would have about Brandon from now on would have to put Theresa's feelings first, then hers.

That also meaned from here on out, she was just a mom, and nothing more.

That harsh truth kinda stung for Sophia.

Brandon turned around and spotted that complex look in Sophia's eyes, a mix of relief and sorrow, her eyes slightly damp and her

expression a bit spaced out.

Maybe sensing his gaze, her unfocused eyes slowly met his, coming back into sharpness.

She forced a smile his way, without saying a word.

Brandon flashed a smile back.

The family of three stepped into the elevator together, heading back to Sophia's place on the eighteenth floor.

The keys Sophia used to open the door weren't the sones Brandon nabbed that day on the fifteenth floor.

Noticing the unfamiliar set of keys in her palm, Brandon's gaze lingered for a moment.

“There's a different set for hand the studio,” Sophia said softly, unlocking the door.

She was aware that Brandon left the house that day, even took the keys - there was a security cam by the door.

“To keepout?” Brandon asked, his voice calm.

Sophia hesitated for a sec, then gave a slight nod.

“You're too perceptive,” she murmured.

“Can't hold a candle to you,” Brandon said, pushing the door open.

Sophia didn't bite.

No matter how well she planned, life was always one step ahead.

Just half an hour, that was all it was.

“How did you figure out | left?”

Sophia asked him softly, mirroring his calm tone, so neutral it was like they were chatting about the weather.

To avoid rousing Brandon's suspicions, she left without even grabbing her bag.

“Gut feeling, | guess,” Brandon said, looking at her, “Or maybe, it was fate.”

Sophia looked puzzled.

“The TV just happened to be showing the groundbreaking ceremony, Cindy was so excited, she let slip about someone having a kid

via a sperm bank.”

When he said “sperm bank,” his voice got a tad heavier, the corners of his mouth turned down frostily, and there was a hint of

sarcasm as he fixed his eyes on Sophia.

Sophia's lips press together, she lowered her gaze to dodge the sharpness in his.

While the adults were deep in a convo that went over her head, Theresa caught the familiar term “sperm bank.” She remembered

the pretty lady mentioning it during lunch with mom. She had got a knack for remembering stuff she didn't get.

Consciously putting herself in the story, she couldn't help but look up at Brandon with her clear, contrasting eyes, interrupting with,

“What's that?”

Brandon kept silent.

Thinking he didn’t get her, she repeated the full question, “Sperm bank, what's that?”

Sophia instinctively looked at Brandon.

Last tTheresa asked, she didn’t know what to tell her.

Clueless Theresa also gazed expectantly at Brandon, waiting for his answer.

“It’s, uh,” Brandon thought for a sec, then softly explained, “It's a place where grown-ups can store something very important. It's

not for kids, so you don't need to worry about it.”

Satisfied with her dad’s explanation, Theresa finally lets go of her curiosity, not sure if she got it or not, but nods earnestly, “Oh, |

see. Mommy also said, when | grow up, I'll understand.”

Brandon glanced at Sophia.

“I never talked to Theresa about this,” Sophia clarified quickly, “Cindy mentioned it a few days ago during lunch, not realizing

Theresa would understand.”

Theresa chimed in, “Yeah, Cindy, she said it.”

Brandon stroke her head with a smile, reassuringly telling her, “Daddy's not upset with Mommy.”

Theresa was super stoked and nodded like there was no tomorrow, before she couldn't help but blurt out to Brandon, "Well, daddy

can't blmommy. And you can't make mommy cry. I've never made mommy cry, ya know."

She hadn't forgotten the sight of her mom crying when her dad had picked her up not so long ago.

Her innocent kid talk seriously choked up Sophia, but it also nudged her about her emotional breakdown at the airport. She was

touched but also felt a slight cringe creeping up.

Without a word, Sophia just reached out and gently stroked her head.

Brandon watched and gave a soft nod.

"I know," he said, his voice soothing and sincere.

With daddy's promise in her pocket, Theresa was over the moon and just snuggled right into Brandon's arms. She couldn't help but

turn and flash a grin at Sophia.

Sophia couldn't help but crack a smile back, noticing Theresa's eyelids were already putting up a fight - it was usually nap tby

now. So, she reached out her hand, "Mommy's gonna take you for a nap."

"I got this."

Brandon said, scooping her up to head for the room Grace had shown them last time. But just as they reached the doorway,

Theresa quickly pointed towards the room she shared with Sophia, "lI wanna sleep with mommy."

Brandon looked at Sophia for a cue.

And Sophia, suddenly at a loss for words.

Theresa's curiosity bubbled over, "Daddy, are you gonna sleep here withand mommy tonight, too?"

This was the second tshe'd asked today.

"Theresa, Daddy's got work tonight, so he can't sleep here," Sophia blurted, her heart skipping a beat before she quickly corrected

herself.

Theresa looked a bit bummed as she turned towards Brandon.

Brandon gave her a reassuring smile, "We'll move downstairs tonight, just across from mommy's office."

Sophia shot him a surprised look.

Theresa's excitement was barely contained as she whispered, "You'll be there too?"

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