The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 622

Kent just told me how Brandon's been holed up in Sophia's tiny studio for a full day and night, not eating or drinking anything since he saw that body bloated like a giant pickle. Today, he forced himself to go to West District High for the science museum donation in Sophia's name. I didn't realize he wasn't just putting on a brave face – he's completely lost his marbles.

I saw the same worry in Kent's eyes.

I gestured to Kent with a crooked finger, signaling him to pass me his phone.

Kent handed me the phone, looking anxious.

Without hesitation, I put it on speaker.

"Brandon, it's me, Don," I softened my voice without even realizing it, "Are you still at school? I'll come find you..."

"Let Kent take the call," Brandon cut me off sharp and cold.

Through the icy tone, I could faintly hear the sound of a car door opening.

I wanted to say more, but Kent stopped me with a raised hand and spoke in a calming tone, "Mr. Crawley, alright. I'll get on it right away."

"I want results within an hour!"

Brandon was about to hang up when Kent quickly said, "Okay, Mr. Crawley. Are you at the school right now? I'll come to you."

"Just handle your business."

With that, Brandon hung up.

Listening to the dial tone, Kent and I exchanged worried glances.

"Didn't you say Brandon was invited to speak at the school centennial celebration?" I glanced at my watch, "He should be on stage right about now, but why does it sound like he's in a car?"

Kent's brows knitted together. "I'll call President Poe and see what's up."

While talking, Kent was already dialing President Poe's number.

The call was answered quickly.

"President Poe, is Mr. Crawley with you by any chance?" Kent asked tactfully.

President Poe had just finished dealing with a situation and was contemplating whether to step out to check on Brandon. Receiving Kent's call, he quickly replied, "Good timing, I was about to reach out to you. Something happened when Brandon was speaking on stage; he just dropped the mic and bolted, plowing through the crowd like a madman, demanding to see the security footage. He looked totally off. I had security take him to the surveillance room, but I'm not sure how he's doing now, and I can't leave at the moment. If you can, please come and check on him."

Kent and I looked at each other, our faces changing – had he really lost it?

We both grew more somber.

In the little footage he found, the elusive figure was almost non-existent.

Finally, in a video from a shop facing the street, Brandon caught a glimpse of the slender figure with a mask walking by, but it was just a fleeting image, not clear enough to identify the person, only the direction they went.

Brandon looked toward the direction where the figure disappeared – right across was the West District Sky Center Mall, owned by Starlight Group.

Hoping she had entered the mall rather than just crossed the street, he dashed toward it and straight to the surveillance room.

Staff were on duty in the room. Seeing Brandon barge in, they instinctively stood to shoo him away.

Brandon didn't utter a word, just flashed his ID – 'Starlight Group CEO, Executive Director Brandon' – and without a pause, headed straight to the computer monitoring the school's nearest entrance, Number 3.

The employee, who was about to stop Brandon, changed his demeanor at the sight of the ID and respectfully called out, "Mr. Crawley."

Brandon was in no mood for pleasantries, quickly took the mouse, and began scanning the footage. No luck – no matter how slowly he moved the progress bar, the delicate figure was nowhere to be seen.

He checked other entrances too, with no success.

Frustration etched on his face, Brandon pushed the mouse away and turned to leave, about to call Kent to press for street surveillance when Marian Barlow, looking anxious, rushed by with a tall man.

They were heading upstairs in a hurry, Marian anxious, "Are you saying that on the night Sophia had an accident, The Royal Marine's cruise ship made a brief stop at Zion City's docks?"