The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 480

Brandon was in the office when he got the message. He'd just finished lunch and was gearing up to swing by the hospital to pick up Daniel, who was getting discharged.

As a notification popped up, he glanced at his phone, his gaze lingering on the words "Thank you" before grabbing the device to text Sophia back, "Awake?"

"Mm-hmm," Sophia's response came back quick.

"Have you eaten?" He asked.

Sophia replied, "Not yet, about to."

Brandon texted, "Food's on the table, zap it in the microwave if it's gone cold."

Sophia sent, "Okay."

Brandon's lips curved into a silent smile, and then he put away the phone and didn't text back.

Setting his phone aside, he looked up at Kent, who was stealthily watching him, and cleared his throat. Kent snapped back to reality.

"Mr. Crawley."

He addressed him with utter respect, "Did you need something?"

Brandon had just called him into the office when the text came in, and Kent was still in the dark about why he was summoned so suddenly in the middle of the day.

"I need a few bottles of the strong stuff," Brandon said, "the kind with a kick."

"Now?" Kent asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty, nearly yelping in surprise.

Brandon nodded, "Yeah, now. ASAP."

Kent, brows furrowed in confusion, "What do you need booze for right now?"

Brandon uttered, "To drink."

Kent hesitated, looking at Brandon, "You wanna drink now?"

Brandon shot him a glance, "Just get it ready. And make it snappy!"

"Uh, okay."

Kent, still puzzled, had someone bring over a few bottles of high-proof spirits. No sooner had the bottles touched the desk than Brandon picked one up, eyeing it thoughtfully before unscrewing the cap, tilting it back, and downing half the bottle in one go. Kent rushed forward to stop him.

"Mr. Crawley, what are you doing?"

"Stay out of it," Brandon said, his voice calm, not quite matching the demeanor of someone trying to drown his sorrows in booze, but his drinking style was decisively no-nonsense.

Kent was baffled by Brandon. He knew there had been some tension between him and Sophia recently, which could justify a bit of sorrow-drowning.

But Brandon was always about keeping work and personal life separate. He wouldn't bring personal woes into the office, especially not during work hours, and he rarely did so even in his own time.

But Brandon didn't give him any time to speculate.