The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 441

Patricia was fretting that Daniel would just wind up getting all worked up again if Sophia came over, and Brandon had warned them more than once not to bother Daniel. She couldn't help but give him a piece of advice.

"Yvonne's got a point, you know. Just chill and focus on getting better. Don't sweat the small stuff. Once you're back on your feet, you'll have all the time in the world. No need to rush it."

"But by then, my words won't pack the same punch." Daniel cut her off, "You know what Brandon's like."

"So you know what he's like, and you still wanna poke the bear? How many times has he warned you not to go behind his back to contact Sophia, and you still have the guts to..."

Patricia's words were left hanging as Daniel interrupted her again, "He's already swiped my shares, what's left to lose?"

Patricia was speechless.

"Anyway, I'm just living on borrowed time here, half-dead and stuck in this bed. Might as well make myself useful while I can, before I snooze off for good."

Daniel looked at Yvonne, "You handle it."

"Uh?" Yvonne hesitated, still trying to reason with him, "Dad, your health should come first."

"I know my own body." Daniel said, cutting her off with authority, "Just arrange it, and make sure your brother doesn't find out."

Yvonne turned to Patricia with a plea for help in her eyes.

Patricia just shook her head helplessly, signaling there was nothing she could do.

Yvonne pouted in frustration, feeling a headache coming on, but she didn't dare disobey.

She tried to send Sophia a message, only to see the system's "You are not her contact" response. That was when she realized Sophia must have deleted her at some point.

Staring at that message for a good while, Yvonne finally called Sophia's old number.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service," the polite voice of customer service came through, and Yvonne turned to Daniel, "Dad, I don't have her contact."

She thought Daniel would drop the idea, but instead, he tossed his phone at her, "Her number's in there."

Yvonne was at a loss for words.

Sophia left the hospital and strolled home.

The sky was slowly darkening. As the streetlights began to glow, neon signs flickered, and the streets buzzed with life.

Sophia's heart wasn't relaxed or joyful. The significance of Yolanda to Brandon, her family, his family - they were all chasms that couldn't be crossed.

Yvonne didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed, "Okay, I'll let my dad know."

Then she couldn't help but add cautiously, "Could you not mention this to my brother?"

Sophia nodded gently, "Sure."

"Thanks, Sophia. I won't keep you then," Yvonne said her thanks and hung up.

Sophia's lips curled into a forced smile; listening to the busy tone, she took a while to finally react.

She let out a long sigh and looked up, only to unexpectedly catch sight of Brandon standing across the street.

He was there, not knowing since when, clad in a sharp black coat, watching her quietly from a not too distant space.

Sophia's phone slid slowly from her ear as the smile on her lips also faded.

"Why are you here?" She asked softly, tucking her phone away.

"Waiting for you," Brandon said, taking steps towards her.