The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 242

"Just give me a sec."

Sophia whispered, flinging the clothes into the dryer. She fumbled with her phone to set it on silent before reluctantly hitting the answer button.

The moment the video connected, Theresa's surprised and smiling face popped up on the screen.

"Mommy."

Theresa cheerfully called out to her.

Sophia flashed a smile back at her and looked up around the room. Brandon was still busy, not paying attention to them.

Theresa, noticing Sophia wasn't looking at the camera, leaned in curiously, "Mommy, what are you looking at?"

Sophia couldn't hear her with the phone on mute, but she could make a fair guess from Theresa's expressions and lip movements.

"Nothing much." Sophia said with a smile, her voice hushed as she turned sideways, whispering into the phone, "I'm swamped with work right now, can't chat. I'll call you back tomorrow, okay?"

The sugary coaxing tone at the end made Brandon pause in his movements; the sweet, cajoling voice felt like a tease to his ears.

In all the years he'd known Sophia, from the flirty high school days to the close-knit two years of marriage, she had never spoken to him with such a soft, cooing tone.

He couldn't help but look up at her.

Sophia stood on the balcony, half-turned to the room, a gentle smile on her lips, her demeanor tender, her eyes even carrying a hint of indulgence and a coquettish charm he hadn't seen in ages.

The face of Ivan flashed in Brandon's mind, only to be quickly dismissed. He had seen Sophia interact with Ivan a few times - always polite and distant, no different from how she treated him.

Then the face of Augus popped up. That sunny, handsome, witty, slightly cheeky guy from the design department of Star·Dempsey Architects?

Brandon remembered how he came over to chit-chat with Sophia at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new company, clearly hitting on her.

And since he was from the same school and major as Sophia, that meant he was Susan's junior as well.

Sophia noticed Brandon's gaze and glanced back at him. Brandon's eyes shifted to the phone in her hand.

Instinctively, Sophia tilted her phone slightly, a subtle move that Brandon caught. The last gleam of light from her phone screen vanished with that tilt.

Brandon looked at her. Sophia said somewhat awkwardly into the phone, "Gotta hang up now. I'll hit you back later, 'kay?"

Still that soft, enticing tone, which to Brandon sounded like she was putting on the charm.

After hanging up, Sophia steadied her nerves and walked back inside.

"Dinner's ready," Brandon said, passing her the tableware.

"Thanks."

Sophia murmured her thanks, adjusting the towel wrapped around her. She still felt a bit awkward in such a casual get-up in front of Brandon.

As if he hadn't noticed, Brandon handed her the take-out box and casually asked, "Was Susan alone just now?"

At his question, Sophia hesitated before nodding, "Yeah."

Brandon gave her a look, saying nothing. Over the years, he knew Sophia wasn't good at lying. Her hesitation said it all.