The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 464

Sophia, Cindy, and Augus were halfway to their destination when they got caught in a downpour. Zion City had been playing this on-again, off-again game with the rain for days, and the weather was chilly to boot. The construction site hadn't been paved yet, so they were trudging through a sea of yellow mud, their shoes instantly caked in the stuff with every step.

"Man, what was Tomas thinking, scheduling a meeting in this mess of a place during this nasty weather?" Cindy couldn't help but gripe.

"Maybe he's just so used to the site that this kind of stuff doesn't faze him anymore. Probably didn't think about how inconvenient it would be for us. Plus, the rain started outta nowhere – can't blame him for not seeing that coming. Let's cut him some slack," Augus reasoned, keeping an eye on Sophia as she carefully navigated the mud. He noticed her looking a bit shaky and instinctively reached out to steady her.

Before his palm could even brush her arm, Sophia lifted her hand to stop him. “I’m good, I can handle it.”

As she spoke, Sophia had already managed to sidestep the mud puddle and continued toward the makeshift shelter that housed the temporary meeting room, passing by a pile of construction materials that was heaped up like a small hill, nearly blocking the entrance.

Sophia had no choice but to take a detour.

Just as she was maneuvering around the pile, she almost collided with a staggering figure emerging from the other direction, prompting her to spin around and narrowly avoid a collision.

“S-sorry,” that person muttered, not daring to lift his head.

Sophia glanced at him. He looked to be in his fifties, gaunt and bony, dressed in old, dirty clothes patched up all over, his hair a disheveled mess reaching almost to his shoulders, resembling a homeless man.

His gaze was shy and timid, suggesting he was not comfortable making eye contact, giving off a vibe of a down-and-out, pitiful fellow.

“It’s all good,” said Sophia in a gentle tone.

Just then, Jerry hurried in from the direction the man had come from, looking anxious as if searching for someone. Upon spotting the tall, skinny old-timer standing before Sophia, he started to speak but paused as his eyes landed on her, his expression subtly shifting.

Sophia caught the slight change and gave him a puzzled look.

Jerry approached with a smile. "Director Yearwood, what brings you over here?"

"The path up front was blocked, had to go around," Sophia explained, gesturing toward the old man, "Who might this be?"

"That's Nell, one of the workers on site. Hardworking guy, though not the sharpest tool in the shed. I was worried he’d get lost, so I came out to check on him," Jerry said, turning to Nell with a gentle voice, "Nell, it’s pouring outside, don’t catch a cold. Let’s head back."

Nell looked at him with gratitude, nodding and responding in a slightly hoarse voice, "Okay."

Sophia observed the exchange. His face and eyes radiated genuine thanks, alongside pure trust and dependence, like a child relying on their parents.

Jerry then turned to Sophia with a smile. "The shelter's just around the bend from here. You go ahead; I'll take Nell back and catch up in a bit."

Sophia nodded. "Alright."

After bidding them farewell, she continued toward the shelter. Tomas arrived, apologizing profusely to Sophia for the inconvenience of the sudden rain.

"It's fine," Sophia reassured him.

Tomas mentioned he'd call Jerry, but Sophia quickly informed him. "I just ran into him. He said he’s taking Nell back and will be right over."

"Nell?" Tomas frowned. "Why would he need to take Nell back? Nell hardly ever leaves his room, even for meals; he mostly relies on coworkers to bring him food."

Something didn’t sit right with Sophia, and she pressed further. "What's up with Nell?"

"He’s okay, just a bit of a recluse, not keen on socializing," Tomas explained as they walked toward the shelter. "He was apparently a homeless man before, came from who knows where, name unknown, with no family. Not all there in the head, used to sleep under bridges and rummage through bins. Jerry took pity on him, brought him into the crew, and has been looking after him."