The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 15

Sophia finally checked Yvonne's WhatsApp message the day after she got off the plane.

The two of them weren't exactly tight.

Yvonne tied the knot early, and Sophia and Brandon didn't shack up with his folks at the Crawley family estate. They didn't swing by often, so the chances to hang out were few and far between. On the odd holiday, they'd reluctantly gather for a meal, but Yvonne, with her head over heels in love, played to her hubby's tune: if he said no to visiting, she'd dig her heels in too. So, bumping into each other was rarer than hen's teeth.

They weren't close in real life, and online chit-chat was pretty much non-existent, especially since Sophia wasn't exactly Miss Social Butterfly.

Yvonne, on the other hand, loved to chirp away in the family group chat. Sophia would only pipe up when directly called out, otherwise her WhatsApp was just for show, same as Brandon's. That was why when Yvonne hit her up out of the blue, asking if she was home, Sophia found it odd but still replied politely. [Sorry, I was on a flight with my phone off yesterday. I'm not there anymore, what's up?]

Yvonne had waited a whole day for Sophia's reply, and by then, her enthusiasm had fizzled out, even feeling a tad snubbed. She had a bit of a princess temper – quick to flare up and cool down. Still stewing, she curtly responded. "Never mind, it's nothing."

Yvonne wasn't close to Sophia, nor could she say she liked or disliked her. The day before, she felt choked up about their divorce purely because Sophia was her sister-in-law, and the reality of Brandon's failed marriage hadn't quite sunk in. But after a night to let it settle, she'd come to terms with the possibility of their divorce. Sophia's place in her heart had reset to 'stranger' – that was all she ever was, an accidental interloper in their lives.

Maybe it was the ingrained notion since childhood that Phoebe and Brandon were a pair, and even with Phoebe off the radar for years, Yvonne always assumed Brandon was waiting for her. So, when he brought Sophia into the picture, she got it but needed a hot minute to adjust to the reality of Sophia replacing Phoebe. Now, just when she had gotten used to that, she had to revert to her original presumption, which wasn't too hard.

She even leaned toward believing what her mother Patricia said, that Brandon and Sophia got hitched because of a baby.

No baby stayed, and now they've gone their separate ways.

Her brother Brandon was always meant to wait for Phoebe.

Thinking this way, Yvonne felt a twinge of pity for Sophia. The irritation she had felt evaporated, and to make amends for her earlier tone, she texted Sophia again. [Hey Sophia, what were you doing on a plane? Where you off to?]

Sophia found Yvonne's mood swings weird. Just a second ago, it was clear she was sulking, and now suddenly, she was all eager to please.

Yvonne had never shown outright disdain, but she kept her distance, which Sophia had picked up on. Knowing she wasn't welcomed, Sophia didn't push it.

For two years, they kept to their lanes and all was well, but Sophia didn't expect Yvonne to suddenly turn on the charm post-divorce.

Not able to figure her out, Sophia responded casually. [I'm abroad for some stuff.]

Yvonne, reassured by the reply, wasn't really prying into Sophia's whereabouts. It was more about easing her own slight guilt. Sophia's response just deepened her hunch about the divorce, but after sleeping on it, she didn't care as much, so she replied politely. [Oh, okay then. Take care of yourself.]

[You too, take care.]

After the courteous exchange, Sophia logged off WhatsApp.

She grabbed a cab back to her place, a single-room apartment near the school she'd arranged through an agent before leaving.

Lugging a heavy suitcase from the airport, Ivan stepped in to help and escorted her home.

Feeling a bit awkward after settling in, Sophia offered to treat him to a meal, but after scoping out her digs, Ivan suggested, "Let's go to the hospital first."

Sophia was taken aback and slightly embarrassed.

She hadn't told Ivan about her pregnancy; he was an acquaintance, after all. But he must've figured it out, even if he hadn't mentioned it.

Ivan asked her, "What's your plan now?"

The last person to ask her that was Brandon.

The same question tugged at Sophia's heartstrings, bringing up bittersweet memories.

She just shook her head with a smile, staying silent.

Ivan didn't press. He just pointed outside, "I live in this building too. If you need anything, just holler."

He dialed her number, letting her phone ring briefly before hanging up.

"That's my number," he said. "Save it, and call me anytime you need."

Sophia glanced at her phone, surprised he knew her number.