The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 283

Sophia was momentarily stunned, then looked at the elderly person with concern.

The old lady's smile was still graceful and kind, tears glistening in her eyes. She affectionately took Sophia's hand, sizing her up and down while incessantly muttering "Pretty good." If she hadn't mistaken Sophia for someone else, she didn't seem at all like she was ill.

"Madam," Sophia softened her voice, gently asking, "Did you come out here by yourself?"

A look of confusion crossed the old lady's face.

She looked around blankly, then back at Sophia, and asked, "Where is this?"

"We're at the Children's Park," Sophia said softly.

The old lady looked befuddled. "Children's Park? Where's that? Nonsense, this is clearly the textile factory."

She looked around again as if searching for something, but her grip on Sophia's hand never loosened. She kept on reminding Sophia, "Yoli, hold on tight to my hand, don't get lost, okay?"

While advising, she began to pull Sophia along.

Sophia guessed that the old lady might really have Alzheimer's and didn't dare let her wander off alone. As she let herself be pulled, she took out her phone and comforted the lady, "Alright, madam. Let's wait here for a bit. I'll call your family and have them come pick you up, okay?"

The old lady waved her hands dismissively, "No need, no need, I know the way home. Come on, Yoli, come home with me. You haven't seen us in so long, you must have given your grandpa and I quite the scare."

As she spoke, she tugged Sophia forward.

Ahead was a dead end with no exit, thick with trees and featuring an abandoned house and railway tracks, rarely visited by anyone.

Sophia wasn't sure if the old lady's memories were stuck in her youth or if she was just rambling. It was late, and the area was deserted. She didn't dare let the old lady drag her deeper into the woods, nor did she dare leave her alone.

While soothing the old lady, Sophia dialed the number she found on the sleeve of her arm.

The call went through, but nobody answered.

Sophia was puzzled and tried again, still no answer.

Reluctantly, Sophia turned to the old lady and pointed towards the park entrance where there were lights. "Madam, how about we head over there first?"

She remembered there was a police station near the park entrance.

The old lady glanced in the direction Sophia pointed and nodded, "Okay, okay."

She turned and headed towards the park entrance, still clutching Sophia's hand as if afraid she'd run away.

Though she appeared frail, her grip was strong.

Sophia's arm hurt from her tight grasp, and when she tried to pull away, the old lady, as if frightened, gripped her even tighter, gently reassuring her, "Yoli, hold on tight, don't get lost again."

Her expression was one of panic and fear.

The officer quickly handed her a tissue.

While dabbing her eyes, the old lady looked at Sophia with a satisfied expression, continuously saying, "It's good that you're back, good that you're back."

As she spoke, her grip on Sophia's hand tightened even more.

The officer looked at Sophia with confusion.

Sophia felt a bit awkward. "She seems to have mistaken me for someone she knows."

The officer nodded in understanding, "Seniors with Alzheimers sometimes really do get stuck in a past memory and can't get out of it."

Seeing the old lady's dependency on Sophia, he couldn't help but say, "Are you in a hurry? If not, maybe you could stay with her here for a bit until her family arrives."

Sophia was about to mention her daughter waiting for her when her phone rang.

She looked and saw it was a video call from Grace.

Sophia figured Theresa must have finished playing and couldn't find her, getting anxious.

Apologizing to the officer and the old lady, she said, "Sorry, I need to take this call," then turned away to answer the phone.

"Mom, where did you go?"