The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Brandon also noticed her hand, which had been held tight by Theresa like a teddy bear, and he let go, reaching out to help free her other hand.

Sophia stopped him, "It's fine, let her hold on." "Doesn't your arm feel numb?" Brandon whispered.

"I'm good," Sophia whispered back, careful not to wake Theresa.

Brandon nodded, not pushing the matter, and when he turned his gaze back, he caught a glimpse of that little teddy bear on the nightstand, pausing for a moment.

It was the first tTheresa had let go of the teddy bear since Sophia's accident.

Sophia also noticed the teddy bear, remembering how Theresa had clung to it in the bathroom yesterday, and she couldn't help but look at Brandon, "What's up?" Brandon just smiled at her, "Nothing." He didn't go into detail about Theresa's attachment to the teddy bear, not wanting to add to her worries.

Susan and Kent just happened to walk in, catching the two discussing the teddy bear. Their eyes paused, but they both smiled when they looked at Sophia.

Susan had brought breakfast over.

She teased Sophia with a shake, "Brought you breakfast, all your favorites." "Thanks." Sophia couldn't help but smile, feeling an instant connection with Susan.

Susan, after a night to adjust, was now at ease with Sophia's amnesia, chuckling, "No need to be polite with me." And with that, she set the breakfast down neatly.

The group had a peaceful and cozy breakfast. Despite Sophia's newfound reserve due to her memory loss, it didn't dampen the warmth of the moment.

After breakfast, the doctor did his rounds and, finding no issues with Sophia, agreed to discharge her.

Brandon personally drove Sophia hfrom the hospital.

Theresa calong too.

She woke up and stayed by Sophia's side as if afraid she'd vanish again, even etting to take her beloved teddy bear, which Sophia packed up for her.

Sophia didn't know the significance of the teddy bear to Theresa, only that she had seen her clinging to it the day before, and assumed it was her favorite toy, so she made sure to pack it up for her.

Brandon drove them back to their neighborhood.

It wasn't until they were nearing hthat the familiar scenery sparked a vague sense of recognition in Sophia, but her mind was still a blank.

Susan hadn't told Grace in advance about Sophiaing home, just that they had an important guest today and to clean the house well, wanting to surprise her.

So when Sophia walked through the door with Brandon and Theresa, Grace, who was dusting the entryway table, turned around. With a soft "pop," the cloth she was holding dropped to the floor as her eyes immediately welled up, her hands covering her mouth and nose, hardly believing the girl following Brandon was Sophia.

Susan, right behind Sophia, saw Grace's reaction and her eyes reddened too.

That overwhelming joy of regaining what was lost moved her to tears, just like the first time.

Brandon too felt a tug at his heartstrings.

Sophia, not remembering Grace but sensing the emotion, politely offered a small smile.

Grace, who had been close to Sophia for nearly three years, instantly noticed the difference and looked worriedly at Susan. Susan, however, nodded affirmatively with a smile, though her voice cracked a bit, "Grace, Sophia's back." At those words, "Sophia's back," Grace burst into tears, stepping forward to hug Sophia tightly.

"You're finally back, you have no idea how much we...' Grace choked up, unable to continue, just holding Sophia and crying uncontrollably.

Sophia felt her own eyes moisten, gently patting Grace's shoulder tofort her.

Susan couldn't stand to watch such a scene and stepped forward, embracing them both, feeling a sense of nostalgia as if back in Wye City.

Brandon watched the tearful reunion, his eyes misting over but filled with relief.

Sophia was finally home.

Kent, unable to handle the scene, .ne el.n hought of Don, who had been vorried sick about Brandon's crazed" state, and decided to call im, inviting him over for dinner at Brandon's place. s tc ¡w "Is Brandon okay?" Don's voice cthrough the phone, concern unabated. Kent had already phoned him the night before, assuring him that Brandon was fine, but he was still worried.

He's more than okay, doing better han ever," Kent replied, unable to ide his joy, but wanting to see Don's reaction to Sophia being alive, e deliberately played coy, "You've jot toe by this afternoon, here's a huge surprise." Content elongs to english S "What kind of surprise could possibly be left for Brandon these days? It's not like Sophia coulde back to life, right?" Don's interest wasn't piqued by Kent's excitement.

Kent almost spilled the beans then and there, but managed to stop himself at the last second, "Just be there, okay? You have toe." "Alright, take care of Brandon." Before hanging up, Don made sure to remind Kent to look after Brandon.

The three who had been embracing began to calm down.

Brandon turned to Sophia, "Wantto show you around the house, help you get reacquainted?" Sophia hesitated, then nodded gently, "Okay." Brandon, carrying Theresa, gently and patiently walked Sophia through the house, introducing her to everything.

Sophia, like a guest, paid close attention, reacquainting herself with the home.

Grace, puzzled, looked to Susan for answers.

"Sophia's otten every person and thing from the past," Susan whispered, her voice dropping as she spoke, the sadness still weighing on her heart.

It's the shared memories that knit people together, creating that cozy bond of closeness.

Grace too, was taken aback and looked at Susan, a wave of sadness following suit.

All Susan could do was offer aforting smile in response.

After showing Sophia around all the rooms, Brandon finally took her back to the master bedroom.

He didn't ask Sophia if she remembered the room. Since convincing himself to accept the e reality of her otten past the night before he'd been deliberately suppressing the hope that she'd remember everything. Instead, he patiently introduced her to the layout of the room. Sophia stared blankly at the master bedroom, that vague sense of familiarity mixed with sadness rising again.

She couldn't quite put her finger on why.

After zoning out for a bit, her gaze slowly drifted over to the wardrobe.

Brandon walked over and opened the wardrobe doors for her.

When the safe cinto view, Sophia paused, then her hand, as if it had a mind of its own, slowly reached out towards the keypad of the safe.

Her fingertips gently caressed the keypad, her mind elsewhere, but as her fingertip brushed over the last digit of the code, the previously locked safe suddenly clicked open.

Brandon whipped his head around to look at Sophia.

Sophia, as if startled, looked somewhat bewildered at the now open safe.