The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Susan was chilling at hwith Theresa.

Theresa was quietly playing with blocks on the play mat in the living room, while Susan watched her with a sort of listlessness,

unable to muster any energy.

Even though her eyes were on Theresa, Susan's mind was flooded with memories of the two years spent in Wye City, raising

Theresa with Sophia. She couldn't help the sour feeling in her nose and the tears that kept welling up uncontrollably in her eyes.

The discovery of a woman's body in the sea a couple of days ago had left her heart feeling like it was being weighed down with

lead. She was too upset to work or carry on with life as usual. Just the thought of Sophia made her burst into tears, and she

couldn't stop them no matter how hard she tried.

She thought she had moved past this, that she hade to terms with Sophia's absence, but it turned out she was just kidding

herself.

It seems the certainty of death is far more despairing than not hearing any news at all.

The thought that Sophia was truly gone from this world made her tears flow even more fiercely, no matter how much she tried to

hold them back.

In the past few days, she couldn't help but wonder: if she had stopped Sophia froming back, would things have gone

differently?

Their two years in Wye City had been so joyful, and Theresa was happy too.

But now...

She glanced over at Theresa, who was silently playing with her blocks. The little teddy bear Sophia had given her was still clutched

tightly against her chest, like a treasured possession she couldn't bear to let go of. There was no sign of the joy and happiness that

should belong to a kid of her age on her beautiful little face.

It struck Susan that it had been a long tsince she'd seen Theresa smile.

Theresa was always so calm and well-behaved, just like Sophia used to be, but it was heartbreaking how mature she was.

Perhaps sensing Susan's gaze, Theresa paused her block-building and turned to look at Susan, her eyes filled with a puzzled

bewilderment.

Caught off guard, Theresa saw the redness in Susan's eyes and the tears she couldn't hide.

"Godmom?" Theresa called out in a tiny, confused voice.

"What's wrong?"

She asked, putting down her blocks but still holding onto the teddy bear as she shakily stood up and handed Susan stissues

from the table.

"Thanks, Theresa," Susan choked out, hugging her tight. "Godmom's okay, just got a little sand in her eye."

"Oh," Theresa nodded, not quite getting it but not pressing further.

Grace, who was cleaning the furniture nearby, also noticed Susan's red eyes and felt a pang of sadness.

She had seen both Brandon and Susan's reactions over the last few days and felt their sorrow as if it were her own.

The woman's body found in the sea had dragged her back to the harsh reality that Sophia was nevering back.

If she, an outsider, felt this terrible, she could only imagine how the whole family was coping.

She understood Susan's pain and didn't approach her, waiting until she saw Susan's phone light up on the play mat before letting

her know, "Susan, your phone."

Susan looked back at the sound and saw it was a call from Kent. She sniffled andposed herself before answering.

"Where are you at?"

Kent's voice cthrough the phone, unable to hide his excitement.

"I'm at home."pared to Kent's obvious joy, Susan's tone was eerily calm. "What's up?"

"Hurry over to the hospital, and bring Theresa with you, quick," Kent urged.

Susan frowned, "Why the hospital? What's there to be happy about at a hospital...?"

"That's a heck of a trek," Susan couldn't help but frown again, puzzled about what Kent was hinting at.

Susan: "..."

Kent on the other end quickly added, "Alright, | won't keep you longer, just so you don't miss Jason's call. Get ready and remember

to bring Theresa."

"Oh."

Susan replied, still confused about the big news Kent was referring to, but she looked at Theresa and told her they needed to step

out for a bit, asking if she wanted toe.

She didn't dare mention the hospital directly, fearing it might be bad news about Brandon.

She hadn't otten how Theresa had stayed by Brandon's bedside the last the had coughed up blood, and she didn't want

Theresa to worry.

But Kent's happiness didn't match up with Brandon being in trouble.

Theresa didn't ask where they were going, but she nodded obediently, "Okay."

"Then let's go get changed."

Susan helped Theresa to her feet and they went to change clothes. Right on cue, driver Jason called; he was already downstairs.

Susan took Theresa and they got into the car, speeding towards Harbor District Hospital on the outskirts of town.

Back in the hospital room,

Kent's departure left the room in a brief silence.

Sophia wasn't sure if it was because Brandon was still a stranger to her, but she wasn't quitefortable being alone with him.

The topic they'd been interrupted on was a bit awkward to bring up again after the emotional moment had passed.

Seeing that she looked a bit worn out, Brandon softly said to her, "Why don't you get smore sleep?"

Sophia nodded, "Mm."

She snuggled under the covers and lay down, and Brandon cover to tuck her in.

Their proximity closed in a little with his gesture, and Sophia still wasn't used to this kind of closeness.

"Uhm..." Sophia couldn't help but grip the corner of the blanket a little tighter, her eyelids lowered as she softly asked him, "Can |

take a peek... at the kiddo's photo?"

He was still too much of a stranger to her, and she couldn't bring herself to juste out with "our daughter," so she switched it

up for "the kiddo" instead.