The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 581

Brandon headed back to West district from Zion City as dawn was just breaking.

Don, not quite at ease, tagged along all the way to Brandon's place and crashed at the Crawley family pad for a bit.

The room still looked like Sophia was there, her presence lingering in every corner. Taking in the room, the memories of Sophia flooded back, hitting Don right in the feels, just like when he was at the office. Every time he passed her empty office, or noticed her vacant seat during meetings, he felt an emptiness inside.

Now, standing in Brandon and Sophia's home, facing this stark reminder that things would never be the same, Don found it tough to wrap his head around it.

His relationship with Sophia had been nothing more than boss and employee, with a sprinkle of friendship, yet even that weighed heavy on him. He couldn't even begin to fathom how Brandon and Theresa coped with this day in, day out.

"Brandon."

Seeing Brandon also lost in a daze, staring at a corner of the room, Don gently suggested, "Maybe you should consider moving back with Theresa."

Brandon didn't turn around, and just murmured hoarsely, "What if she comes back and can't find us?"

Don fell silent. He wasn't under any illusion that Brandon was talking about Sophia coming back to life.

It was the fear that, if by some chance her spirit did return, it wouldn't be able to find him and Theresa.

Feeling a lump in his throat, Don found himself at a loss for words, simply patting Brandon's shoulder silently.

"You head back; I'm alright," Brandon said in a raspy voice.

Don threw a concerned glance at Brandon but left him be.

Brandon's gaze had now shifted to Theresa, who was sound asleep in the bedroom, clutching the teddy bear Sophia had given her, curled up tightly, her face and body pressed against the teddy bear.

Though she was sleeping, her little brow was furrowed with unease.

As Brandon approached Theresa and took a seat by the bed, the usually sound sleeper slowly opened her eyes, still groggy from sleep, and instinctively looked behind Brandon, a reflex to search for her mom.

Don's heart ached. Brandon, as if he hadn't seen, smiled gently at her and patting her shoulder, softly told her, "Sleep a little longer, Theresa; it's not dawn yet."

"Okay."

Theresa mumbled in response, gripping Brandon's hand, and drifted back to sleep.

Brandon let her hold on, not pulling away, just quietly watching her as she slept, lost in thought.

Don knew that no matter how much pain Brandon was in, he wouldn't lose his grip on reality again. He slipped out quietly, closing the door behind him to let Brandon be.

Brandon spent half a day at home, keeping Theresa company.

After Augus finished spilling the beans, Kent whisked him off to the police station to be grilled by the cops.

Augus gave up the whole scheme he'd cooked up with Dennis and his underling Gordon, along with trading records and chat logs as proof that Dennis was indeed involved in the plot to frame Starlight Group by harming the homeless Nell.

They had the guy dead to rights, all evidence accounted for. Dennis got nabbed by the cops the very next day.