The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 440

Sophia turned around at the sound, and saw Yvonne holding a lunchbox. She flashed a polite smile her way.

Yvonne looked puzzled as she glanced behind Sophia, "Sophia, what brings you here?"

"Just had some errands to run, happened to pass by." Sophia replied, taking a brief look at the lunchbox in her hand. After a moment's hesitation, she turned to Yvonne and asked, "Is your dad feeling any better?"

"It's hit or miss." Yvonne answered, "Has his good days and bad days."

Pointing towards the hospital ward, she said, "He's inside. Wanna pop up for a visit?"

Sophia shook her head, "No need."

Yvonne nodded, not pushing it.

The offer to visit was just small talk anyway - she was secretly freaking out about the possibility of Sophia actually going up; the memory of Aaron sending her dad into the ER just days ago still gave her the heebie-jeebies.

"I better head up then; he's waiting on his lunch," Yvonne said, bidding farewell to Sophia.

"Yeah, go on."

"Alright, catch you later."

After saying goodbye, Yvonne left without looking back. When she got to the room, Daniel was awake, looking all droopy as he propped himself up in the hospital bed.

The ongoing illness and bed-ridden state had taken a toll on his complexion and his temper had seen better days. He couldn't help but grouse when he saw Yvonne dragging her feet in, "Why's it take an age to bring a simple meal?"

Yvonne, understanding his condition, didn't sass back, patiently calming him, "Got held up, left the house late today."

Patricia, feeling sorry for Yvonne getting the short end of the stick, couldn't help but chime in to Daniel, "Cool it, will ya? She's not flying solo; she's got a little one at home to mind. Can't always be snappy. Be thankful your daughter's even bringing you food, and there you are picking nits. Haven't seen you this fussy with Brandon. The guy's always up to his eyeballs in work, barely seen him here."

Daniel clammed up with a sour face, and Patricia turned to dish up his food.

"Okay" was all Yvonne could muster, not daring to contradict.

"Have you seen her lately?" Daniel repeated his earlier question.

Yvonne, unsure what he was getting at and not wanting to mention the encounter with Sophia outside the hospital for fear of upsetting him, carefully asked, "Dad, why are you asking all of a sudden? Is something up?"

"I've been thinking, can't just leave things between her and your brother unresolved." Daniel stated, looking at Yvonne, "Get her to come to the hospital. I want to talk to her. Just don't tell your brother."

"That doesn't seem like a great idea." Yvonne hesitated, "You're not even well yet. Just focus on getting better, why bother with all this?"

"How can I not?" Daniel countered, "I don't even know if I'll make it out of here alive. If I don't deal with it now, who will when I'm gone?"

"Stop spouting nonsense," Patricia interjected, stopping him from uttering continuously the words that might bring ill fortune.

Daniel remained silent, his face like thunder.