The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 423

Sophia pursed her lips slightly. Instead of speaking, she simply wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace.

Apart from the affair concerning Theresa, where she had once deliberately misled him to keep the secret, she and Brandon never really had any misunderstandings.

They were always straightforward with each other. Their divorce had been handled openly, and when Brandon had misconstrued her planned studies abroad as preparation for their separation, she had clarified with honesty that it wasn't so, revealing that overhearing a conversation between him and his father was what had made her resolve. And It was also because she had learned about his motives for marrying her in the first place.

Brandon didn't hug her back at first.

He knew her clarifications weren't a sign she wanted to draw nearer to him; but rather, it was just her way of doing things.

As long as it wasn’t about the child's existence, she was consistently honest and forthright about everything.

He was grateful for her honesty, but beneath the thankful exhale was a faint sense of loss and helplessness.

She still seemed ready to withdraw at any moment.

He just wasn't that big a deal to her, always on her rational game.

Without further words, Brandon eventually lifted his hand to tenderly wrap her in a light embrace.

They were close yet worlds apart.

Amidst the lingering silence, Brandon’s phone broke the quiet.

He checked it – Patricia was calling.

Seeing "Patricia" made his heart skip a beat, worried it might be trouble with Daniel—Patricia wouldn't dare call unless it was about Daniel.

He left the hospital with Daniel yet to regain consciousness, and now Patricia was ringing.

Stifling the worry that surfaced, Brandon let go of Sophia.

“I need to take this call,” he said.

Sophia nodded and opened the door.

Brandon walked to the living room to answer. Patricia’s voice, tinged with tears, came through: “Brandon, your father’s condition seems unstable again. Hurry over, please.”

Brandon's expression tensed.

“Got it,” he replied in a measured tone, ending the call, then looked back at Sophia, “I need to go to the hospital to see my father. You can get some rest at home.”

“Your dad, is he all right?” Sophia asked, concerned.

Brandon mustered a reassuring smile. “He’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Sophia managed a smile back: “Okay, but you should get some rest too.”

Then she urged him, “Have the driver take you. You haven't slept all night, and hardly rested today. Don't drive yourself.”

Brandon nodded: “I will.”

After offering her a few more words of reassurance, he left.