The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 53

Sophia was all thumbs as she wiped her eyes and steadied her emotions before looking up toward the doorway and calling out, "Coming!"

She got up to open the door.

"Dinner time," Brandon announced, his gaze pausing ever so slightly when he caught sight of the redness in her eyes. He looked at her more intently.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice softening, his arm lifting in tandem as the back of his long fingers gently touched the damp corner of Sophia's eye.

Sophia involuntarily shuddered at the touch and took a small step back.

"I'm fine," she said softly, her warm voice tinged with a hint of nasality, "Just got carried away with a TV drama."

Brandon gave her a look. He remembered that she wasn't into binging series. She was a movie buff, watching all sorts from domestic to international, from drama to mystery to art films, but she seldom indulged in rom-coms.

Documentaries were her jam too, especially those about culture and history. She'd occasionally dip into TV shows, but only the ones with solid plots, like workplace dramas or thrillers. Not many could hit her right in the feels.

His eyes flicked to her phone resting on the table. He didn't call her out on it, just raised his hand to wipe away the tear from her eye.

"Let's eat first," he suggested quietly.

Sophia nodded gently, "Mm."

During the meal, Brandon could tell Sophia was down in the dumps.

Her appetite was already weak due to the early stages of pregnancy, and with her mind on other things, she barely managed a few bites before feeling nauseated.

Sophia couldn't force herself, and the more she tried to eat, the more revulsion she felt.

Finally, she had to put down her utensils and looked at Brandon, "I'm full. You can keep eating."

He glanced at her nearly untouched bowl but didn't push her, just nodded gently, "Alright."

He quickly finished the food in his bowl, put down his utensils, and started cleaning up.

Sophia remembered he had hardly eaten and looked at him in surprise, "Aren't you going to eat more?"

"No worries, I had a meal with a client earlier," Brandon swiftly tidied up the dishes into the dishwasher, washed his hands, and glanced out the now-dark window before turning to Sophia in the living room.

"Feel like a walk?"

Sophia was taken aback, "Aren't you busy?"

The phrase "feel like a walk" coming from Brandon seemed odd to her. Back when they were still married, they'd each retreat to their own rooms after dinner, each with their own study and work. So their post-dinner time was usually spent apart, each to their own, and walks were a rarity, almost nonexistent.

Brandon was the kind of guy who wished he could split time in two. He already had a fixed schedule for his workouts, and a stroll was, to him, a waste of time.

He never spent time on walks, so the sudden suggestion was puzzling to Sophia.

But he was already approaching her, "No need."

His response was as straightforward and crisp as ever, and as he spoke, he came to stand in front of her, glanced outside into the night, and repeated, "Feel like a walk?"

Sophia hesitated, then nodded, "Sure."

The two of them strolled around the hotel's ground level.

Not far from there was a bustling square connected to the Lakeside Park. At this hour, it was lively.