The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 214

Sophia was zoning out, staring at Brandon on the security feed, lips pressed together in a tight line, staying silent.

Theresa, noticing Sophia lost in her phone, couldn't help but stretch her neck curiously towards the screen.

Worried that Theresa might get spooked by Brandon's icy glare on the monitor, Sophia quickly pressed her phone down.

She didn't want Theresa to get the wrong idea about Brandon.

Theresa didn't get a glimpse and wasn't bummed out, just puzzled as her gaze drifted from Sophia's phone pressed against her chest to the bustling crowd, where she spotted Ivan.

"Uncle Ivan!"

She blurted out unexpectedly.

Sophia's heart skipped a beat at the shout, and she instinctively looked up. Seeing Ivan coming with the crowd, her racing heart began to calm down.

Ivan noticed her too, flashed a smile and a wave, then turned his attention to Theresa, who was still eagerly looking at him, and greeted her as well.

Theresa sweetly replied, "Hi, Uncle Ivan."

Sophia managed a strained smile, "What a coincidence."

Susan, seated by the window, awkwardly chimed in, "Uh, Ivan did ask me which flight we were taking."

Ivan jumped in, "I specifically booked this flight."

Sophia was at a loss for words for a moment, her smile faltering almost as quickly as it appeared.

Ivan didn't mind.

"I'm gonna head over there," he said.

Sophia nodded slightly, "Mhm."

Her focus shifted back to the phone she was pressing against her chest. Her hand hesitated, contemplating shutting it off, but paused as her finger touched the power button.

Sophia picked up her phone again.

On the screen, Brandon was still staring coldly at the security camera, his handsome face expressionless and his hand knocking on the door, seemingly determined not to stop until she responded.

With a slight press of her lips, Sophia finally, hesitantly, dialed him back.

Before the first ring could finish, the call was answered.

"Where are you?"

His opening line was cool and brief, devoid of any pleasantries.

"I'm out," Sophia replied softly. "Did you need me for something?"

"Where?"

Still just two icy words.

Sophia pursed her lips slightly, her voice soft, "At the airport."

"Which airport?"

"West district airport."

"What are you doing at the airport?"

"I've been under a lot of stress lately, just needed to get away."

"Alone?"

Sophia hesitated, "Not exactly."

"Who's with you?"

Sophia's lips tightened, her voice dropping, "Ivan is here too."

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

Just when Sophia thought Brandon might hang up, he spoke calmly, "Turn on the video."

"Okay." Her voice was soft and tentative.

Sophia unbuckled her seatbelt, stood up, and walked a few rows back, switching the call to video.

Brandon's chiseled face appeared in the video, looking much calmer now.

He glanced behind her, "On the plane?"

"If we were going to get back together, we wouldn't have divorced in the first place," Sophia said, her voice faint as she leaned back exhaustedly in her seat.

Theresa, sensitive as ever, couldn't help but take her hand, worriedly calling out, "Mom?"

Sophia looked at her, eyes slightly reddened.

But she still gave her a comforting smile, "I'm okay."

Then she leaned in and hugged her gently.

Brandon drove home at breakneck speed, the car racing as wildly as the emotions clashing in his chest, his heart aching like his breath might stop at any moment.

His usually clear mind was numb, filled with the image of Ivan standing behind Sophia and her silent response when asked if they were together.

The messy images clouded his judgment, and all he could feel was the pain in his chest.

The accelerating throttle mirrored the chaotic surge in his chest, with no outlet for release.

In his nearly out-of-control speed, Brandon was pulled over by a cop.

The car window rolled down at the officer's signal.

The cop's face, reddened by the sun, appeared in Brandon's field of vision, and his foggy brain slowly regained a trace of clarity.

"Sorry," he muttered an apology.

"Are you okay?"

The officer, noticing Brandon's off demeanor, couldn't help but ask with concern, while still extending the breathalyzer toward him for an alcohol test.

No drunk driving, no buzzed driving, nothing out of the ordinary.

The traffic cop breathed a sigh of relief, and while writing up the ticket, he said to him, "Buddy, there ain't no hurdle too high that can't be cleared. Just take things easy, will ya? And when you're behind the wheel, keep your eyes peeled and slow it down. Speeding like that is playing with fire."

Brandon nodded lightly, "Thanks."

He reached out and took the ticket the officer handed over.

His very first ticket in life.