The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 585

Watching the young couples strolling affectionately around the mall, Brandon seemed a bit spaced out.

Maybe Theresa wasn't too keen on this vibe either. The place was crawling with kiddos being held by their moms or carried for a shopping spree.

Brandon couldn't help but notice Theresa's face shift from calm to envy and then to loss. That was exactly why he was reluctant to bring her out.

But like Susan said, this was an inevitable part of Theresa's future. Whether she was heading out or off to school, she was gonna be surrounded by kids with their moms. He couldn't keep her in a bubble just because he was scared of her feeling down.

Susan caught the look of longing and sadness on Theresa's little face, too. She tried to cheer her up with a grin, “Sweetie, let's go score you some fancy threads.”

She kept it light and playful, really trying to lift her spirits. Theresa glanced at Susan but hesitated and shook her head, turning back to look at Brandon.

Brandon cracked a smile at her, “How about we go pick out some New Year's paintings first? It's the festive season, and we gotta deck out the place. I'm clueless about this stuff. Wanna give your daddy a hand?”

The gloom that was hanging over Theresa instantly lifted, and she nodded eagerly, “Okay!”

She wriggled out of Brandon's arms and tugged at his hand towards the supermarket.

Susan, seeing a bit of life come back into Theresa's face, felt a twinge of relief. Gotta hand it to Brandon, he was her real deal dad, and just like Sophia, he had a knack for tuning into Theresa's every whim.

At the thought of Sophia, a wave of sadness hit Susan. This was supposed to be their first New Year as a family of three, but.

That sadness made her heart ache for Theresa even more. No dad before, and now no mom. Kent caught the sorrowful look Susan had for Theresa and nudged her with his elbow, “Come on. Adults need time to adjust, kids even more so.”

“I just feel for her, you know?” Susan murmured, not snapping back at him this time, but heading over to catch up with Theresa.

Theresa got all serious about picking out the decorations, totally wrapped up in helping Brandon choose the right New Year's paintings. Her little face began to show signs of busyness and anticipation, asking Brandon for approval on various pieces, totally engrossed in the activity.

Brandon wasn't really into the whole New Year's decor thing, but as Theresa laid out her vision for the place, his heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

He remembered his first year married to Sophia, how she'd been just like Theresa, asking his opinion on every little detail around the house. Back then, he just wasn't into it and would simply nod and say, “Sure, whatever you decide.”

That indifference slowly snuffed out the spark in her eyes. He even recalled the details of the outings with Theresa after he'd recognized her as his daughter.

Every time, he'd respond to Theresa's excitement and anticipation with gentle patience. Occasionally, when he looked up, he'd catch Sophia staring at them, a mix of motherly pride and a hint of subtle loss in her eyes.

The loss in her eyes probably stemmed from remembering his past indifference towards her. The same scenes, but with such a different attitude, must have made Sophia feel unimportant, like only the child mattered.

Sophia must have been hurting and feeling lost.

"We always seemed so close, yet there was always this mountain range between us, impossible to bridge.