The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 643

Brandon watched the mother and daughter sobbing into a hot mess, feeling his own nose tingle and his eyes already slightly moist.

He squatted down in front of Theresa and gently embraced her, his voice hoarse as he told her, "Theresa, call her mom."

But Theresa's sobs intensified, her cries growing even more heart-wrenching, as if she was trying to cry out all the fear, terror, and grievances of the past days, unable to stop for even a second.

Sophia stood frozen, her hand still awkwardly holding out a small teddy bear in mid-air, tears streaming down like a dam had burst, falling uncontrollably while her swollen red eyes stared at the gasping Theresa, filled with panic and helplessness.

The sudden sharp pain in her heart when she first saw Theresa, as if something had fiercely gripped it, was now more agonizing than ever, paralyzing her.

Her hand, suspended in mid-air, wanted to reach out to the heartbroken Theresa, yet she feared the contact.

Theresa's loud weeping sliced through Sophia like a knife, opening a raw, bleeding wound in her chest, making even breathing a painful endeavor.

Amidst this chaos and heartache, her hand hanging by her side was gently taken by someone else.

Through her tear-blurred vision, Sophia saw Brandon.

He had freed one hand to tenderly hold hers, while the other still embraced Theresa.

His eyes were deep and tender, radiating comfort and encouragement.

Sophia looked at him with a complex expression, hesitatingly gazing at the still inconsolably weeping Theresa, her hand trembling with the teddy bear, wanting to reach out, to hug her, yet afraid of causing more hurt.

She was deeply upset, her mind still a blank slate.

She couldn't find a single trace of memory related to Theresa.

Her silent tears turned into choked sobs of sadness and self-reproach.

Her trembling hand hadn't yet touched Theresa when the little girl suddenly broke free from Brandon's embrace and hurled herself into Sophia's arms, clutching her tightly while sobbing and asking between chokes, "Why... why don't you want Theresa anymore? Is it because Theresa wasn't good, wouldn't stop crying... is that why you don't want me anymore..."

His voice was soft and deep, filled with patient comfort.

Theresa's hysterical sobs paused a bit at Brandon's words.

She lifted her red, swollen eyes to Sophia, "Does it still hurt, mom?"

Whether it was the long absence or something else, her voice held a hint of timidity.

Sophia didn't know how she used to interact with Theresa, but she tried to muster a gentle smile for her and softly said, "It doesn't hurt anymore."

Theresa seemed to sense something was off, hesitated for a moment, then quietly murmured an "okay" before shyly turning back to look at Brandon.