The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 157

Sophia was zoned out, and by the time she snapped back to reality, she instinctively tried to push him away. Her palm hadn't even touched Brandon's shoulder when he paused his kiss and locked eyes with her.

"Sophia, you're obviously still under my spell, still craving me. Why the resistance?" he said, his deep voice growing raspier by the second.

"I dig abalone, I love to chow down on it, but it doesn't mean I can afford the luxury. The two aren't mutually exclusive," Sophia said softly, looking into his eyes. "I like you, so I'm not repelled by you physically. Heck, I might even yearn for you, but that doesn't change the fact that I can live a perfectly fine life without you."

Brandon stared at her intently, "Is that really 'liking' me, Sophia?"

"Yes," she whispered back, "it's just that I'm not head over heels anymore."

"Really?" Brandon murmured. "Sophia, someday I'll be with someone else, get hitched, have kids, start my own family. I can't be around forever."

Sophia replied, "I'll be happy for you."

As soon as the words left her lips, Brandon's gaze turned fierce and icy, pinning her down with his stare.

Feeling the booze kicking in and her stubborn streak rising, Sophia puffed up her cheeks and met his gaze without flinching.

Brandon leaned in, hell-bent on kissing her.

In a moment of desperation, Sophia blurted out, "What, do you want us to be friends with benefits?"

Brandon froze, shooting her a fierce glare.

Sophia shrank a little, her eyelids dropping involuntarily, not daring to meet Brandon's eyes.

But Brandon wasn't having it. He grasped her chin and lifted her face to meet his.

"Fine, friends with benefits it is," he said. "No strings attached, no responsibilities to each other."

Sophia was speechless.

"I was talking nonsense," she rushed to explain.

"But I took you seriously," Brandon retorted.

"Sophia, we're both single," he continued, his voice calm. "We don't need to play the saint for anyone."

"It's not that." Sophia tried to object, but her alcohol-fueled brain couldn't find the right words.

Brandon was already leaning in, "You want me, don't you?"