The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"This joke isn't funny at all," Daniel finally found his voice again, his face setting into a hard expression that reeked of irritation.

Compared to his sour mug, Brandon just nonchalantly burped from his drink and slowly turned to look at him, "Dad, you know |

never joke around."

His voice carried a listless calm, devoid of life and vigor. Yet, this very demeanor of his made Daniel feel like he couldn't lose his

cool, but it scared the daylights out of him.

After nearly thirty years of father-son relationship, he knew all too well that Brandon never messed around.

What he thought of, he'd do. The last thing Brandon lacked was follow-through.

He didn't even leave room for discussion anymore, nor did he press the issue like he used to.

"If you're just trying to pushinto accepting Sophia, I'm telling you to nip that thought in the bud," with a stern face, Daniel was

still trying to put up a fight.

Brandon just cracked a faint smile, "Why would | need to push you? She's already been driven away by you."

Brandon looked up, surveying the vast office, and let out a long sigh, "I've had and experienced everything | could in this life, no

regrets."

Daniel felt a red flag go up at those words, "What are you planning to do?"

Brandon didn’t respond, his gaze slowly drifting towards the open window, lost in thought or perhaps just zoning out.

The wind was strong up high, rushing in through the wide-open window, rustling papers all around the room.

Daniel, heart in his throat, couldn't help but keep his eyes glued to Brandon, who seemed drawn to the window, pushing himself up

from the desk and staggering towards it.

His forlorn and bleak silhouette against the window looked like he could jump at any moment.

Daniel couldn't care less about anything else and reached out to grab him, "What the heck are you doing?"

Brandon turned to look at him with a slow, lifeless smirk in his eyes and mouth. He didn't speak or resist, just glanced at him and

then back out at the sky, his eyes filled with a kind of longing.

Daniel couldn't take it and hurried to close the window.

Brandon sneered at him, "What are you afraid of? Since when did you care whether | live or die?"

Daniel kept a straight face and stayed silent. He didn't care because he knew that even if the whole world bit the dust, Brandon

wouldn't. He seemed devoid of emotions or desires; even life and death seemed irrelevant to him.

But now, he showed Daniel that he, too, might leave this world at any moment. And that was alarming.

But to compromise because of this? He couldn't.

Brandon didn't rush him, didn't even bring up Sophia, just turned and with a snap, pulled open the window again, startling Daniel

enough to block it with his body.

Brandon glanced at him but didn't argue or push him away, just looked out the window, his handsface as lifeless as ever.

Daniel's heart was in his mouth as he stared intently at Brandon.

"Dad." After a long while, Brandon finally spoke, calling him, "What's the point of living, really?"

He didn't look at Daniel, his expression still one of desolation, strangely blending with the bleakness of the winter day outside.

The question was too profound; Daniel had no answer. To him, when someone started questioning the meaning of life, it was

because they'd lost their reason to keep living.

Brandon didn't wait for an answer. He just sighed heavily and suddenly pushed Daniel away.

Daniel almost reflexively shouted through the door, "Kent!"

Kent, busy at work, was startled by the shout; he threw away the mouse in his hand and rushed in like he was sprinting a hundred

meters.

"Chairman Crawley!"

The door swung open with the force of that "Chairman Crawley", and Kent looked up to see Daniel's visibly thinner body clinging to

Brandon's waist.

"What's going on?" He asked, bewildered.

Daniel realized he might have overreacted; Brandon had only pushed him away, but hadn't made any further moves.

But he was scared he might misjudge, and if he let go, Brandon might just dive out the window, and it would be too late to grab

him.

The past few days with Brandon had been completely baffling and frightening. He loosened his grip a little but didn't dare let go

completely, his free hand trying to close the window but unable to reach.

He turned to see Kent still standing at the door and snapped, face darkened, "Aren't you going to cand close the window?"

"Ah? Okay."

Kent, still confused, cover and closed the window.

As the lock snapped shut, Daniel's heart finally settled, and he let go of Brandon. Brandon just glanced at him, unfazed, "You and

Kent go ahead and leave."

His hoarse voice still carried fatigue as he spoke.

Receiving the command, Kent quickly smiled and said to Daniel, "Chairman Crawley, let's step out."

Daniel dared not leave, his face cold as he replied, "I'm not going anywhere."

Brandon looked at him, "Don't worry. | won't jump, at least not now."

Daniel couldn't help but look at Brandon whose face was still lifeless, but he didn't seem to be lying. Yet Daniel was still uneasy.

Brandon turned his gaze to him, the corner of his mouth curling slightly, "If | really wanted to do something, do you think you could

stop me?"

Daniel's face darkened, but he couldn't react. Brandon was stating a fact.

Brandon's tone softened, "Dad, you should go and rest. Don't worry about me. | just want speace and quiet."

As his tone grew gentler, Daniel found it hard to argue.

"Well, then take care of yourself." Daniel finally nodded lightly and turned to leave with Kent, but looked back uneasily at the

window and couldn't help himself, "That window's too big; it's dangerous with the wind up here. We should get a safety net

installed."

Kent was speechless. He couldn't help but glance up at Brandon.

Brandon didn't bother to acknowledge him, having already turned his back to the door and plopped down at his desk, still

motionlessly staring out the floor-to-ceiling window. His tall figure carried a faint air of desolation and solitude.

Daniel noticed it too and let out a silent sigh, but didn't dare to make another peep and disturb him.

"We're gonna head out. Just chill for a bit. If you're really feeling down, why not take a drive, get sair? Don't coop yourself up

all day."

Daniel spoke, but didn't get a peep in response from Brandon.

Not daring to bug him further, he sighed and gently closed the door behind him before turning to Kent with a worried look, asking,

"Has Mr. Crawley ever seen a shrink?"

Kent couldn't quite grasp what Daniel was getting at and turned around with a puzzled look.

Mindful of the others in the office, Daniel lowered his voice and asked, "Does he have depression?"

If he did, Daniel was genuinely scared he might lose control and take a leap.

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