The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 318

Sophia's heart was racing behind the door. From her spot, she could see every move Brandon made, including him glancing up at the surveillance camera. Thanks to the sudden stop she made earlier, Sophia knew she hadn't walked into the camera's view yet.

Brandon seemed puzzled by his own abrupt action.

After a moment's pause on the camera, his gaze shifted to Ivan, who was walking out with the crowd towards the gates, and then slowly retreated back to Theresa, who was anxiously watching him. He flashed her a smile and reached out his hand, "Doesn't Theresa want her Handsome Unkie anymore?"

Theresa hesitated, shaking her head no, but still too wary to get close to Brandon, instead snuggling closer to Grace for comfort.

Grace, equally intimidated by Brandon's unintentional aura of authority, lowered her voice without realizing it, "I'm sorry, Mr. Crawley, you're right, it was my oversight, I promise it won't happen again."

She didn't even know why she was making such a promise to a stranger, but the apology and assurances just slipped out under the pressure of Brandon's invisible presence.

Seeing Grace get scolded made Theresa feel sad, and she couldn't help but whisper an explanation to Brandon, "It was me, I ran out on my own, I didn't wake Grace up."

"I know," Brandon reassured her with another gentle smile. "Why did you come looking for me?"

"I wanted to give my mommy's drawing to you," Theresa whispered. "But the drawing, it's gone, I wanted to find it."

Ivan, who was passing by behind Theresa, caught every word she said without missing a beat.

He deliberately followed behind the people leaving the building, unnoticed in the crowd.

His steps didn't falter as he walked out the door with the others.

Brandon's attention was also fixed on Theresa.

"Where did it go missing?" he asked softly.

Theresa pointed to where she had been sitting: "There."

Sophia behind the door couldn't help but frown. From her angle, she could only see Brandon clearly but not the entirety of Theresa, unaware of where Theresa was pointing.

She could only look towards Brandon, who glanced in the direction of the hall and then spoke to Theresa in a tender voice, "How about I take you to ask the front desk lady, okay?"

Theresa nodded hesitantly and finally leaned in, allowing Brandon to pick her up.

Kent, always quick on the uptake, swiftly called the front desk over, but when questioned, they hadn't noticed any drawing, hadn't seen it.

Theresa seemed downcast, "Maybe it was blown away by the wind."

"It's okay, your mommy has so many other drawings, you can give one to me another time," Brandon comforted her, patting her head.

Theresa seemed consoled, nodding uncertainly, "Okay."

Brandon gently stroked her hair, his palm resting on her locks, lingering there, his fingertips idly playing with the strands.

The wisp of hair inadvertently caught between his fingers was gradually getting thinner.

Sophia glanced at Brandon. She saw him gazing at Theresa, his expression distant, a mix of resolve and remorse subtly woven into his demeanor.

As those complex emotions flooded his eyes, Brandon gripped the strand of Theresa's hair a bit firmer, causing her to utter a confused "Ow," looking at him.

He patted her head with a remorseful touch, softly telling her, "Theresa, go back with Grace for now, okay? I will come to see you when I’m free."

Theresa nodded: "Okay."

"You can't run off on your own anymore, okay?" Brandon instructed her with a caring look.

Theresa nodded again: "Okay."

Brandon turned to Grace, "Grace, Theresa is too young, she can't be left alone, especially not go out by herself. Please take care."

Grace quickly responded, "Yes, it's my job. I'll be careful, it won't happen again."

Brandon gave a nod and then directed Kent, "Kent, you escort them back."

"Of course." Kent nodded eagerly.

Brandon's voice softened again as he introduced Theresa to Kent, "Theresa, this is Kent. He will take you and Grace home now, okay?"

Theresa nodded: "Okay."

After responding, she leaned in towards Grace. Grace took Theresa from Brandon, said their goodbyes, and then followed Kent out with Theresa in her arms.

Brandon stood still, watching them leave until his hand, hanging by his side, finally lifted.

Between his thumb and forefinger was a long black strand of hair. Brandon looked at the hair in silence for a moment, then asked the front desk, "Could I get a tissue, please?"

The receptionist gave him a puzzled look but didn't dare to ask any questions, quickly fetching two tissues and handing them to Brandon. Brandon wrapped the hair sample in the tissue, turned, and walked towards the elevator, pressing the button.

Sophia, standing outside the fire door, listened to the sound of the elevator doors opening and closing behind her until the silence settled. She leaned back against the door, too drained to move, her heart slowly calming from its frantic pace but her legs still weak.

From the moment she learned Theresa was missing, to the shock of seeing her with Brandon, to witnessing Brandon's decisive collection of Theresa's hair, she had been on an emotional roller coaster, from heaven to hell and back again, in just a short span of time.