The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 585

Watching the young couples strolling affectionately around the mall, Brandon seemed a bit spaced out.

Maybe Theresa wasn't too keen on this vibe either. The place was crawling with kiddos being held by their moms or carried for a shopping spree.

Brandon couldn't help but notice Theresa's face shift from calm to envy and then to loss. That was exactly why he was reluctant to bring her out.

But like Susan said, this was an inevitable part of Theresa's future. Whether she was heading out or off to school, she was gonna be surrounded by kids with their moms. He couldn't keep her in a bubble just because he was scared of her feeling down.

Susan caught the look of longing and sadness on Theresa's little face, too. She tried to cheer her up with a grin, “Sweetie, let's go score you some fancy threads.”

She kept it light and playful, really trying to lift her spirits. Theresa glanced at Susan but hesitated and shook her head, turning back to look at Brandon.

Brandon cracked a smile at her, “How about we go pick out some New Year's paintings first? It's the festive season, and we gotta deck out the place. I'm clueless about this stuff. Wanna give your daddy a hand?”

The gloom that was hanging over Theresa instantly lifted, and she nodded eagerly, “Okay!”

She wriggled out of Brandon's arms and tugged at his hand towards the supermarket.

Susan, seeing a bit of life come back into Theresa's face, felt a twinge of relief. Gotta hand it to Brandon, he was her real deal dad, and just like Sophia, he had a knack for tuning into Theresa's every whim.

At the thought of Sophia, a wave of sadness hit Susan. This was supposed to be their first New Year as a family of three, but.

That sadness made her heart ache for Theresa even more. No dad before, and now no mom. Kent caught the sorrowful look Susan had for Theresa and nudged her with his elbow, “Come on. Adults need time to adjust, kids even more so.”

“I just feel for her, you know?” Susan murmured, not snapping back at him this time, but heading over to catch up with Theresa.

Theresa got all serious about picking out the decorations, totally wrapped up in helping Brandon choose the right New Year's paintings. Her little face began to show signs of busyness and anticipation, asking Brandon for approval on various pieces, totally engrossed in the activity.

Brandon wasn't really into the whole New Year's decor thing, but as Theresa laid out her vision for the place, his heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

He remembered his first year married to Sophia, how she'd been just like Theresa, asking his opinion on every little detail around the house. Back then, he just wasn't into it and would simply nod and say, “Sure, whatever you decide.”

That indifference slowly snuffed out the spark in her eyes. He even recalled the details of the outings with Theresa after he'd recognized her as his daughter.

Every time, he'd respond to Theresa's excitement and anticipation with gentle patience. Occasionally, when he looked up, he'd catch Sophia staring at them, a mix of motherly pride and a hint of subtle loss in her eyes.

The loss in her eyes probably stemmed from remembering his past indifference towards her. The same scenes, but with such a different attitude, must have made Sophia feel unimportant, like only the child mattered.

Sophia must have been hurting and feeling lost.

"We always seemed so close, yet there was always this mountain range between us, impossible to bridge.

But those had never happened between him and Sophia while they were communicating. She was the one who deserved this kind of openness the most.

Brandon couldn't imagine how she coped with the repeated hope and disappointment time and time again.

The more he compared and reminisced, the redder his eyes got, even his Adam's apple quivered as he fought to keep his emotions in check.

Theresa, not understanding Brandon's inner turmoil, reassured him in her childlike voice, "It's okay; mom's fine. She won't be mad at you."

Her words, meant to comfort, cut deep into Brandon's heart. He held Theresa tight, without uttering a single word.

Susan looked at Brandon with a whirlwind of emotions. Her words dredged up all the unworthiness of Sophia, stirring up a mix of anger and resentment towards Brandon. Yet, seeing him like this, she couldn’t bring herself to lash out at him, all while feeling a surge of frustration with nowhere to vent.

"You're just realizing this now? What's the point when she's already gone?" Susan couldn’t help but roar at Brandon, her eyes welling up with tears as she did so. Remembering the disappointment, sadness, and grievances Sophia had faced after marrying Brandon made her heartache for her once more.

Seeing Brandon already in such agony, Kent quickly grabbed Susan and whispered to calm her down, "Let it be; Mr. Crawley is already in a bad place."

"He deserves it!" Susan spat out bitterly. But at her core, she wasn’t heartless. After venting, she couldn’t help but worry and sneak a glance at Brandon, afraid that the provocation might push him over the edge. Since Sophia’s accident, he had been in an abnormal state, tense as a tightly wound string.

She feared that if the string ever snapped, Brandon would be gone too.