The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 548

"Stop your waterworks." He whispered softly. After a quick glance outside the door, he took a moment before turning back to her, "I'm really sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you earlier. This whole mess is my fault, and you're totally caught in the crossfire."

Marian bawled even louder, looking utterly wronged. Martin handed her some tissues, "Dry those tears, will ya?"

Pausing briefly, Marian silently took the tissues and blew her nose with a vengeance.

"You know how much Yolanda meant to us." Martin continued, "And to end up like this is really hitting us hard."

He trailed off, voice faltering.

Sniffling again, Marian finally spoke up hoarsely, “I get it. It’s just hard to swallow this turn of events, plus Sophia's my classmate and colleague. It's just a lot.”

Her voice choked up, and she couldn't finish.

Martin fell silent for a while, and then asked, "What's your game plan now?"

Marian hesitated, her eyes fleeting towards Louis with a look of reluctance, and then in a low voice she began, "I guess I'll move out."

Martin nodded, "Might be for the best; give us all some space to process this."

Marian seemed taken aback by his quick agreement, giving him a subconscious glance.

Martin met her gaze, "I'll find you a place nearby. You can crash there for a while. Until everyone settles down a bit, you can..."

He didn't finish his thought.

Marian just nodded quietly, "Okay.”

She didn’t push back on it. Most of the time, she was all about being sweet and understanding the bigger picture.

Martin turned to Gerald, Rachel and Louis, "Dad, Mom, Grandpa, I'm gonna have Marian stay somewhere else for a bit."

Louis looked up briefly, offering neither a nod nor a word. He was a bundle of raw emotions, feeling under the weather, and without a word, he got up and retreated to his room.

Marian's face was etched with disappointment. Martin gave her a reassuring look. She received it with her eyes, managing a weak smile in response.

Martin returned a half-hearted smile, but as his eyelids drooped again, the smile in his eyes faded, replaced by a cold emptiness.

Familiar warmth flooded his eyes again. Brandon’s throat tightened; he carefully put away the necklace, and looked back out at the endless river. His other hand released the handbrake, about to start the car when his phone rang.

Almost without thinking, Brandon snatched the phone and hit the answer button.

"Hello?"

It had become a reflex for him lately.

"Hi, am I speaking with a relative of Ms. Sophia Yearwood?" A young woman's voice came through.

"Yeah, I am." Brandon's voice tightened, his grip on the phone involuntary, "Who's this?"

"Hi there, I work at the DIY craft store. Ms. Yearwood made something last week and hasn't come to pick it up. We couldn't reach her by phone, so we're trying to contact you. Could you come to pick it up, please?" She spoke politely.

Brandon's flicker of hope burst like a bubble.

"Sure, I'll be right there," he said softly, hanging up.