The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 44

"Maybe," Sophia's voice trailed off as she tilted her head away, "Just had a bit more time to brace myself, I guess."

Her calm words somehow managed to ignite a fierce glint in Brandon's eyes.

With a flick of his long fingers, he pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"You have been prepping for this for over half a year, huh?" he asked, his voice eerily calm yet frightening.

He hadn't forgotten the day she got the acceptance call from Apex Engineering University. When he asked how long she'd been preparing, she'd said six months.

Sophia gave a small nod, silently agreeing.

Brandon didn't reply, just stared at her expressionlessly, his Adam's apple bobbing violently with his emotions.

He didn't utter a word, just watched her with that same blank expression.

Sophia had no clue why Brandon was suddenly raking up the past.

It wasn't like she had kept their divorce a secret from him, nor had she bolted. Right from the start, she'd been upfront about wanting a divorce, and he'd agreed without probing for reasons or needing an explanation. Just a simple "okay" had ended their marriage, more decisively than she could have managed. Even when they bumped into each other in their neighborhood later, and he found out she'd been considering divorce for six months, he'd been the one to coolly say "take care" before walking away, clean and swift, without dragging his feet. Even on the day she left at the airport, him upstairs, her downstairs, his gaze was calm and distant, with no signs of lingering attachment or care. Now, barely a month later, she didn't understand why Brandon was suddenly bringing up old times.

Was it because of the baby?

Her hand instinctively touched her still-flat belly, and Sophia realized that all the changes seemed to start after he learned of her pregnancy.

Brandon noticed where her hand rested and glanced at her.

"It's not about the kid," he said, his gaze pausing on her chin which he had been holding, before releasing her.

"Sorry," he said, returning to his usual composed self.

"It's okay," Sophia replied softly, her gaze lowered, not looking at him.

"You should go back to your room and rest. I'll call you when dinner's ready," Brandon said, smoothing her tousled hair.

Sophia just nodded obediently, "Okay."

Brandon watched her go back to her room, only looking away after the door closed.

The lingering light of the sunset poured through the window.

Sophia stood there, gazing at the still unfamiliar street outside.

Brandon's breath from just a moment ago still clung to her lips.

His slightly labored breathing and anger also seemed to echo in her ears.

She found Brandon a bit hard to read, actually. He was usually so composed and steady that it was rare to see him show emotion like this. She didn't quite understand his sudden mood swing.

This wasn't the Brandon she knew.

But she wasn't presumptuous enough to think that Brandon began to love her.

They didn't have that kind of emotional foundation.

Her hand drifted to her belly again.

Sophia had a hunch that Brandon's change of heart began with the knowledge of the child's existence.

He had always liked kids and naturally wouldn't want his child to grow up in a broken home.

At that moment, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp video call.

It was Susan.

Sophia hit the answer button.

"Still up?" Sophia asked, glancing at the time. It was well past midnight back home.

Susan yawned, "Sleep? No time for that, I've been swamped. Just finished discussing a contract."

Sophia frowned, "What contract is keeping you up so late?"

"It's the deal with Brandon's Starlight Hotel joining our business district." Susan began to vent before catching herself, remembering she wasn't supposed to bring Brandon up around Sophia. She clamped her mouth shut and gave herself a playful slap on the lips. She hadn't forgotten what Sophia had told her about not wanting to hear about Brandon's whereabouts.

Sophia chuckled at her friend's frustration, "It's fine, keep going."

And then she inquired, "Haven't you sealed that project deal yet?"

Susan replied, "It's not that easy. We've been haggling over the contract for days, going back and forth with amendments. Brandon is a tough cookie, no, it's their legal department that's the pain in the neck."

After complaining, she couldn't help but pout at Sophia, "I was thinking of asking Brandon for a fast track, you know, to discuss and make changes directly, so it's easier for everyone. But I have no idea where he's disappeared to. I've been to their office a bunch of times and can't find him. Even that Kent guy won't spill the beans, just says Brandon's on a business trip with no return date. At this rate, your baby will be born by the time we finalize this contract."

Then she looked at Sophia with concern, "Oh right, how's your morning sickness been these past few days? I've been so busy I forgot to ask."

"I'm fine, don't worry about me," Sophia reassured quickly, "It's you I'm worried about, staying up so late. Take care of yourself."

"I'm young, I'll be fine," Susan yawned as she stood up, "Tomorrow I'll try to get hold of that Kent again, see if I can catch Brandon at work. Their legal team is too domineering, and ours isn't just for show. I feel like I'm being ground down in the middle here."

"Let's eat," he said.

Sophia nodded. "Okay."

She turned off her phone and joined him.

The dinner was already spread out on the table.

Brandon ladled some soup for Sophia and passed it to her. She instinctively stood up to take it. "I've got it."

Brandon avoided her reaching hand.

"I've got this."

He managed to place the soup bowl in front of her without letting her touch it, then served her a bowl of rice.

"Thanks," Sophia said politely.

Brandon didn't reply, just served himself some soup and sat down opposite her.

Sophia could clearly sense the tense atmosphere that had started in the car that afternoon was still there. She opened her mouth to speak, but upon seeing Brandon's overly composed face, she fell silent again and started sipping her soup with a spoon.

Brandon, too, was quiet, sipping his soup.

Sophia wasn't used to this kind of cold-war atmosphere.

After a while, she looked up at him. "Did anything bad happen today? Or did I do or say something wrong?"

Brandon looked at her. "It's not about you. It's on me."

Sophia shook her head slightly, absentmindedly stirring her soup, then looked at him. "Is it because I mentioned Yolanda. It seems like all your mood changes started with her. If you don't like it, I won't bring her up ever again. But don't shut me out like this. It makes me unsure how to interact with you."

Brandon's grip on his spoon tightened slightly, then he looked at her calmly. "I really don't like hearing about Yolanda. Don't mention her again."

Sophia nodded. "Okay."

But her compliance didn't soothe Brandon's irritation. The atmosphere remained tense.

Sophia glanced at him, slightly puzzled. "Is there something else?"

Brandon looked at her, and just when she thought he would default to his usual "it's nothing," he spoke slowly. "Where exactly do we not match up?"

Sophia was overwhelmed for a moment.