The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Don was right by Brandon's side.

It was the first the saw Brandon with his head in the clouds.

Usually, Brandon was Mr. Precision, cool as a cucumber, slicing tin half to get the most out of every minute, and him glued to

his phone was a rare sight.

"Waiting on a call or something?"

Don couldn't help but give Brandon a nudge with his elbow, asking out of pure curiosity.

Brandon pocketed his phone and replied nonchalantly, "Nope."

His gaze briefly swept over the moving line before settling on the TV screen broadcasting the news.

The cafeteria had installed a few big screens, and there was one giant one where they'd randomly play the news during meal times

for a bit of entertainment.

The local news was playing on the TV.

Brandon only gave it a glance before shifting his attention, following the queue to the plate area.

He casually picked up a tray, and also grabbed a takeaway box.

Don did the same, noticing the takeaway box in Brandon's hand, he casually asked, "Packing lunch for someone?"

Kent and Cindy nearby also threw curious glances at Brandon.

Without responding, Brandon calmly handed over his tray and takeaway box to the server to be filled with food, then moved to the

dish selection area. He scanned the options and ordered with a steady voice.

"I'll have the boiled beef, black bean spare ribs, shredded pork with garlic sauce, spicy potato strips, all to go."

Cindy couldn't help but whisper to Augus beside her, "Director Yearwood also askedto bring her those food."

Though she spoke softly, Don still heard her and couldn't help but look at Brandon with surprise.

Brandon kept his cool, ordering without missing a beat.

Don chuckled, "Looks like you're packing for Sophia, huh?"

"Is there a problem?" Brandon asked indifferently, turning to the cafeteria worker, "Separate them, please."

A tentative male voice cfrom behind, "Mr. Crawley?"

Brandon turned to see Ben Evert approaching with the head of the investment department.

"Mr. Evert," Brandon greeted politely.

Kent, with a smile, stepped forward, "Hey there, Mr. Evert! What brings you here without a heads-up? | would've rolled out the red

carpet."

Then turning to the investment department colleague, "Con, you guys, Mr. Evert makes a special trip and you take him to the

cafeteria?"

He then turned apologetically to Ben, "Sorry about that, Mr. Evert. It's an oversight on our part. How about we..."

Ben, cutting him off with a laugh, "It's not his fault. | insisted on coming here. I've heard all about the Starlight Group's cafeteria

meals being on par with Michelin-starred restaurants. It's mostly home-style cooking but it blows a lot of those fancy restaurants

out of the water. I've been dying to try it, but every t| come, you and Mr. Crawley whiskoff elsewhere. Today, | finally

snagged the chance to drop by, so don't letdown, Kent."

Kent chuckled, "My bad, my bad. Today you'll eat your fill, | promise.”

As he spoke, he led Ben to a corner of the cafeteria, organizing a table setting, and instructing the kitchen to whip up sfresh

dishes.

Ben hadn't forgotten Brandon and turned back with a smile, inviting him, "Mr. Crawley, join us for a meal."

Brandon glanced at him, nodded, and then turned to the cafeteria staff, handing over the packed lunch, "Please send this to the

seventeenth floor, Star-Dempsey Architects, for Sophia."

Quick as a flash, Cindy stepped up, "Lettake that to the director, Mr. Crawley."

After taking the meal box from Brandon, she turned and practically sprinted to get the food to Sophia while it was still hot.

"No worries."

Brandon uttered his thanks, his voice even-keeled.

"It's no trouble at all."

Cindy smiled, hurrying off to deliver the lunch to Sophia upstairs.

When she arrived, she didn't see Sophia, only Ivan busy at work.

"Hey, where's Director Yearwood?"

Cindy looked around, puzzled, and asked.

"She's in the restroom," Ivan replied, noticing the meal box in her hand. "Is that lunch for Sophia?"

Cindy nodded, "Yeah, it's Director Yearwood's lunch."

"Packed by Mr. Crawley," she quickly added after a beat.

Ivan gave her a look, then nodded, "Just leave it on the desk."

"Sure thing." Cindy set the lunch down quickly and as she was leaving, she noticed Ivan showed no signs of heading down to eat.

She couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to grab lunch, deputy director?"

"Nope, | ordered delivery."

Ivan replied without looking up, his focus already back on his computer screen.

Cindy let out an "Oh," and with a hint of concern glanced at Sophia's desk again, reminding Ivan, "Ivan, when Director Yearwood

gets back, could you let her know? Just say Mr. Crawley packed lunch for her and to eat it while it's hot."

van gave a nod, "Sure."

Feeling slightly relieved, Cindy headed back downstairs.

When she returned to the cafeteria, Augus and the other colleagues had already gotten her meal ready. By chance or design, the

seat they picked was right next to the table where Brandon and Ben were seated.

Don, being part of the company's leadership, was seated at that table too.

Leaving the rest of them at their own table.

As a fresh face in the workplace, Cindy wasn't too keen on sitting too close to the bosses, especially when bigwigs entertaining

clients were nearby.

"Why'd you pick a spot so close to the brass?"

Settling into her seat with trepidation, Cindy couldn't help but lower her voice to Augus, especially since her seat was back-to-back

with Brandon's.

As she spoke, she couldn't resist a peek over her shoulder at Brandon.

Just then, Brandon turned and caught her eye, "Did you deliver the lunch?"

Cindy quickly nodded. "Yep, already sent it over."

"Is she still busy?"

Brandon asked.

Cindy shook her head swiftly. "Should be wrapping up soon."

She took off to the little girls' room, anyway.

Just now, it seemed like she caught a glimpse of Sophia's computer screen going dark.

Brandon gave a nod, didn't press further, and shifted his focus back to Ben across from him, idly spinning his phone in his palm

and glancing down at it every now and then.

Cindy sat straight as a rod the whole time, not daring to look back, just burying her head in her grub, pretending to be all into the

news while munching away.

As she watched, she kind of forgot about the pickle she was in, especially after polishing off her meal, right when the news was

covering the groundbreaking ceremony for yesterday's Zion City Zenithan-style resort project.

The newscasters were all over this project with heaps of praise and high hopes. The lead designer being a drop-dead gorgeous,

high-class young lady, fresh out of sbig-shot global university and only in her twenties, added a ton of sizzle and anticipation

to the story. The segment on the lead designer was chock-full of awe and accolades.

Cindy, in front of the TV, caught a fleeting glimpse of Sophia on screen and couldn't help but blurt out excitedly, "Look, there's

Director Yearwood on TV."

Brandon, who was absentmindedly sipping his coffee, turned his head at her voice and took a gander at Sophia on the tube.

Sophia, standing on stage with a mic in one hand, was calmly introducing the Zenithan-style resort project behind her, her

expression serene and gentle as always, but she was shining like a star, stunningly beautiful.

Brandon couldn't help but be mesmerized by Sophia on the screen.

Until the phone in his hand started buzzing.

He glanced down - it was a buddy from the hospital.

Brandon answered. "Hello?"

"The paternity test results are in. I've sent them to you, check it out," his friend on the other end said.

"Got it."

Brandon hung up, opened WhatsApp, and went straight to the chat with the friend who had just called.

He tapped on the paternity test report and scrolled down to the final remarks section. The words "Does not support the existence

of a parental relationship" stared back at him, causing him to freeze for a moment, his gaze fixated on the phone screen, his

eyelids half-closed, lost in thought.

But Don and Kent picked up on the sudden drop in the atmosphere around him. Their eating stopped, and they looked at him

worriedly.

"What's up?" Don asked quietly.

"Nothing."

The reply was cold and detached, and with a snap, Brandon flipped his phone face-down on the table, his eyes cold and deep, his

handsface almost expressionless.

Ben, sitting across from him, also sensed something was off and looked at him with concern. "What's wrong, Mr. Crawley?"

Brandon glanced at him, then at the phone on the table, and looked back up. "Sorry, Mr. Evert, got sother stuff to handle. |

gotta bounce. This cup of coffee's on me, we'll do lunch sother time."

With that, Brandon raised his cup to Ben, downed it in one gulp, put the cup down, grabbed his phone, and stood up to leave.

Cindy, still sitting behind him, was lost in the glow of Sophia on TV and couldn't help but gush to a colleague.

"I so envy Director Yearwood's life. She's like winning at life - gorgeous looks, hot bod, pure and tender vibe, smart cookie, killer

design talent, top of her class, and she's made it big so young. She's not lovestruck, totally independent, doesn't lean on a guy,

wants a kid - boom, hits up a sperm bank. Her daughter's only two and already super bright and cute."

Brandon's steps halted abruptly, and he turned to look at her. "Sperm bank? Two years old?"

That was when Cindy realized what she'd blurted out, clapped a hand over her mouth in panic, but it was too late. Brandon's eyes

were fixed on her. "She told you she had her daughter through a sperm bank?"

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