The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 362

Sophia didn't make a peep.

Don couldn't help but shoot Brandon a glance, giving his shoulder a comforting pat.

Brandon gave him a side-eye, "You're an accomplice, you know."

It was him, after all, who had specifically dragged Sophia into this mess to back up her story, which made Brandon drop his suspicions way too quickly.

"Who knew you guys were such fun?" Don said, and couldn't help but throw a pitiful look at Sophia.

Sophia pretended not to notice, and thankfully, the elevator had reached the basement level; with a ding, the doors opened.

Sophia was the first to step out. Don and Brandon followed.

Seeing Theresa still wide-eyed with curiosity while she was appraising him, Don couldn't resist the urge to tease her. He reached out to pinch her chubby little cheeks, but before his fingers could make contact, Brandon swatted his hand away.

"Germs!"

"Small-minded!" Don muttered under his breath, and then couldn't resist glancing at Brandon's composed, handsome face, "So, what's it like having a daughter? Must be a pretty awesome feeling, huh?"

Brandon glanced at him coolly, "Yeah. Why don't you hurry up and have one?"

Don shot back, "Show-off!"

Brandon ignored him, just carrying Theresa and following Sophia into the cafeteria.

It was lunchtime, and the place was pretty crowded.

Everyone had just come down from their offices, with the newly distributed pastries still lying on their desks, and the news of 'the CEO just had a baby girl' was spreading like wildfire all over the company.

Since they were all long-time employees, nobody had ever heard a whiff of gossip about Brandon before. Suddenly, there was this blockbuster news of him having a daughter, and everyone was struggling to catch up, discussing and inquiring even while they ate.

Sophia, walking ahead, overheard the buzz about who the CEO's wife could be, and some had even started to fantasize a fairy-tale love story about the CEO and his lady. Their tones were filled with both envy and longing.

Sophia was mortified. She glanced back at Brandon, thinking about ducking out for a bite somewhere else.

But it was too late; Brandon had already entered with Theresa in his arms.

Most people recognized Brandon, and when the main subject of their gossip suddenly walked in with a pretty little girl, everyone's antennas perked up like reporters sniffing a story. Eyes were shining bright; they were one step away from whipping out their phones to snap and share the juicy headline moment.

Sophia, seeing everyone's star-struck, gossip-hungry fervor, felt all the more awkward about staying or leaving.

She had never been the center of attention in her life, wasn't used to it, and didn't particularly like it.

The office incident was an accident - Theresa had shown up unexpectedly, and the impact among colleagues wasn't too severe. Work would go on as usual. But now, with this kind of publicity in the cafeteria, she felt as though the title of CEO's wife was being firmly fixed onto her and wouldn't come off easily. She feared being greeted with too much respect as “Mrs. Crawley” even just walking down the street, leaving her in a bind whether to clarify or not.

Brandon noticed Sophia's discomfort.

When deciding to announce Theresa's identity, he hadn't thought too much about it, and just wanted to cut off any ideas from the likes of Tia.

But he hadn't considered the troubles it might bring to Sophia's side.

After a moment's thought, he looked down at Theresa and said, "Theresa, shall we go eat outside instead?"