The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 652

Susan's packing hands froze.

She was kinda on the fence about this question.

Back in the day, she would've spilled the beans to Sophia without batting an eyelash, telling her straight up that her and Brandon were on the rocks. Brandon wasn't into her, their marriage was just a shotgun wedding, and life after tying the knot was anything but a bed of roses. They were always just going through the motions, plus there were this pair of in-laws who loved to stir the pot. She and Brandon had called it quits years ago.

But these past few months, watching Brandon practically dying inside without Sophia, she suddenly wasn't sure if spilling the truth was the way to go.

Sophia had lost all her memories, which, if you think about it, could be a blessing in disguise for her and Brandon.

No need to drag around the baggage of painful memories, it might just be the fresh start Sophia and Brandon needed.

Sophia picked up on Susan's hesitation.

"Not so great, huh?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Susan's hemming and hawing pretty much said it all.

Sophia wasn't shocked, though. If a couple was really tight, how could they still be so awkward with a kid that big?

"It's not that it was bad," Susan tried to explain, "it's just..."

She kinda didn't know how to put it.

Their marriage was just not like the ones you see every day.

To say it was bad, well, they always got along without a hitch – no fights, not even a hint of a red face, even the divorce was all amicable and dignified. They never badmouthed each other, always considering the other's feelings.

To say it was good, well, they also didn't have that mushy, lovey-dovey thing that most couples do.

"So, what is it then?" Sophia, clearly puzzled by Susan's attitude, pressed on. "It's cool, just lay it on me. I just wanna get the gist of what me and him were like before, 'cause right now, I'm kinda at a loss on how to deal with him."

Susan jumped right in: "Maybe you're better off not knowing. Trust me, the more you know, the more clueless you'll be about how to handle things."

Sophia: "…"

"Let's put it this way. You two were like a boss and an employee," Susan finally let loose. "You got along fine, but ask me if the relationship was good? When have you ever seen an employee and a boss get all emotional? It's all peace under pressure."

Sophia: "…"

"Then why on earth would I want to get married?"

Sophia frowned, not getting why she'd make such a rash decision to get hitched, feeling it was out of character for her.

Susan: "Because you liked him, duh."

Sophia: "…"

Susan: "We were all high school buddies, you transferred in later and ended up sharing a desk with Brandon. Back then, there was a bit of a vibe between you two... Brandon might've seemed cold, but he had your back. Then for some reason, you guys drifted. I remember our last high school exam was English, you just took off right after, didn't even show up to the grad party, and neither did Brandon. Everyone was kinda scratching their heads."

Sophia looked at Susan, taken aback.

"Anyway, I never saw Brandon after high school either," Susan continued. "When we left the exam hall, he asked me where you were. I said you'd left, and he... well, he seemed a bit ticked off, just gave me a 'hmph' and walked away. I was curious, so I asked him if he was looking for you for something, and he just brushed me off with a 'nothing' and left."

"I kinda got the feeling he was a little mad," Susan pondered Brandon's reaction from back then, looking at Sophia, "but I don't know why he never reached out to you after, and you never mentioned him, not even once. We were in the same college class for four years, and all you did was study, work part-time on design projects for your tutor, and do freelance illustrations. I thought there was nothing between you two. But then..."

Sophia shook her head, "Nothing. Just sometimes I get these random flashes in my head, not sure if they're even related to me."

"Could be some old memories of yours," Susan suggested.

Sophia just smiled and let it go.

Right then, a knock came at the door, "Thump, thump, thump," persistent and rhythmic.

Susan exchanged a puzzled look with Sophia.

"Who on earth is visiting my dump?" Susan muttered, walking towards the door, "Who is it?"

As she finished asking, the door swung open.

Brandon's tall figure stood at the threshold.

Susan stopped mid-motion, "Brandon? How'd you get up here?"

She was baffled.

"I'm here to pick someone up," Brandon said, "You've been up here for a while."

As he spoke, his gaze slid past Susan's shoulder, locking onto Sophia.

"Ready to go?" he asked.