The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 344

Theresa seemed to be totally into this fresh nickname and the cozy vibes it came with, she just couldn't help herself but to crank up the volume and holler, “Daddy.”

Still with that super careful and dead serious tone.

Brandon snuggled his cheek even closer to hers, gently caressed her hair, and grunted back in a raspy voice, “Hmm.”

Theresa, getting that sweet response, was over the moon and coos again, “Daddy.”

“Hmm.”

“Daddy,” Theresa called out once more.

“Hmm.”

“Daddy.”

With each call, Theresa's voice got crisper, her excitement grew, and her sweetness just overflew. She couldn't hide the surprise and joy splashed all over her cute little face.

Sophia watched Theresa like this, her emotions doing somersaults.

On one hand, as a mom, she was touched by Theresa’s warm embrace of her dad and shares in her happiness.

It was like Theresa’s joy was all that matters, everything else faded away.

But beneath that wave of emotion, there was also her perspective as her own person.

Now that Theresa knew about her dad, had accepted him, liked him, and relished life with him around, it meaned she and Brandon were forever intertwined.

Every decision and thought she would have about Brandon from now on would have to put Theresa’s feelings first, then hers.

That also meaned from here on out, she was just a mom, and nothing more.

That harsh truth kinda stung for Sophia.

Brandon turned around and spotted that complex look in Sophia’s eyes, a mix of relief and sorrow, her eyes slightly damp and her expression a bit spaced out.

Maybe sensing his gaze, her unfocused eyes slowly met his, coming back into sharpness.

She forced a smile his way, without saying a word.

Brandon flashed a smile back.

The family of three stepped into the elevator together, heading back to Sophia's place on the eighteenth floor.

The keys Sophia used to open the door weren’t the same ones Brandon nabbed that day on the fifteenth floor.

Noticing the unfamiliar set of keys in her palm, Brandon’s gaze lingered for a moment.

“There’s a different set for home and the studio,” Sophia said softly, unlocking the door.

She was aware that Brandon left the house that day, even took the keys – there was a security cam by the door.

“To keep me out?” Brandon asked, his voice calm.

Sophia hesitated for a sec, then gave a slight nod.

“You’re too perceptive,” she murmured.

“Can't hold a candle to you,” Brandon said, pushing the door open.

Sophia didn't bite.

No matter how well she planned, life was always one step ahead.

Just half an hour, that was all it was.

“How did you figure out I left?”

Sophia asked him softly, mirroring his calm tone, so neutral it was like they were chatting about the weather.

To avoid rousing Brandon’s suspicions, she left without even grabbing her bag.