The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

" Sophia was still swishing mouthwash around when a sudden hush filled the air, making even her toothbrushing slow down involuntarily.

She could feel Brandon looking at her, an almost pensive vibeing off him.

But with her head full of X-rated mental images, she just didn't have the guts to meet his gaze.

Sophia was sure her cheeks were blazing red by now.

Brandon's sudden silence made the bathroom air feel thin and stiflingly hot.

Sophia felt like she was socially dead on the spot, caught red-handed without having said or asked anything. His gaze alone was making her squirm, turning her toothbrushing into a stiff, awkward motion.

Meanwhile, Brandon was just eyeing her, not saying a word, just quietly watching her.

Sophia didn't have a clue what he was looking at or thinking about. Being stared at by the very person she had not-so-innocent thoughts about was like being slowly tortured.

And she had no idea when this slow torture would end.

Sophia was struggling under Brandon's gaze, trying to keep her cool and sneaking a peek in the mirror as if by accident. But the moment she looked up, she caught a full-on reflection of those deep, calm eyes staring back at her.

"...Cough..." Sophia almost choked on her mouthful of foam.

Right on cue, a cup of warm water was offered to her lips.

"Rinse your mouth." Brandon spoke up, his voice still warm and husky.

All Sophia wanted was to crawl into a hole. She silently reached for the cup he was handing her, barely touching it when Brandon lifted it slightly and said, "Letdo it," bringing the cup directly to her lips.

"Open your mouth," he instructed.

" Sophia had no choice but to open up and let him help her rinse, following his lead like a robot. Her face was now a mix of oxygen deprivation and embarrassment, flushed a deep red.

"Feeling hot?" Brandon asked, setting down the empty cup and noticing a bit of white foam at the corner of her mouth. He casually took out a soft tissue, dampened it with warm water, and gently wiped away the foam.

Sophia stood stiff as a board, not daring to move or meet Brandon's gaze.

What should have been a tender moment felt like an extension of her torture due to her guilt and his leisurely pace.

She would have preferred he just said what was on his mind instead of serving her with this knowing yet ignorant demeanor.

It was indeed like being served.

Sophia didn't think their relationship was at that sickly sweet stage where they'd fawn over each other, and Brandon didn't seem the type to indulge in such leisure.

"You..." Sophia couldn't stand the anticipation of the verdict any longer and forced herself to look up at him, asking softly, "Don't you have to go to work?" Brandon glanced at her: "Bosses have the freedom to not work." Sophia was at a loss for words again; she meant to ask if he had nothing better to do.

But clearly, he was, in fact, free, free enough to gently and carefully wash her face after cleaning the foam from her mouth. Sophia: "..." She felt like she hadn't been served like this by anyone since she was bedridden with a serious injury.

Brandon had never been this gentle and slow even when washing Theresa's face.

It felt less like he was cleaning her face and more like he was savoring the process of her punishment.

His eyes were downcast, and Sophia couldn't make out the emotions in them. She only noticed his expression be more serious and focused as he wiped her face, his gaze intense as if he were looking at a precious treasure.

Feeling slightly less embarrassed by the change in his demeanor, Sophia also looked up, trying to get a clearer view of his eyes. Suddenly, Brandon looked up too, his eyes locking onto hers.

"What were you thinking about when you were staring at my hands just now?" he suddenly asked. Sophia: "..." The color rushed back to her cheeks that had just begun to cool down.

Brandon tilted his head slightly, still not moving a muscle, watching as her cheeks quickly filled with blood: "Still haven't gotten over last night?" "I... you..." Sophia wanted to deny it, but she was so embarrassed she couldn't get her words out, her brain seemingly in shutdown mode. Brandon seemed to enjoy her flustered silence, a hint of amusement visible in his eyes.

Out of sheer embarrassment, Sophia impulsively pushed him away, "Stop talking nonsense." She turned to escape, but before she could take a step, her wrist was caught.

She looked back at Brandon, puzzled.

After giving her a deep look, he пека ightened his grip on her wrist lightly, pulling her halfway around, and pushed her against the wall. His and wove between her fingers, his alms pressing hers against the wal bove her head. He leaned in closer, and before Sophia could get a clear ook at his eyes, his lips were on ers. ¡w "1 Sophia instinctively widened her eyes at him.

But Brandon didn't give her a chance to react like he had the night before. As he tightened his grip on her hand, his kiss deepened, his tongue slipping in slowly and gently, as if savoring a fine meal.

His tender and skillful kissing technique soon had Sophia succumbing. As he kissed her deeper, her free hand unconsciously hooked around his neck, her fingertips accidentally scratching the skin there.

Sophia could feel Brandon tense up, his kiss suddenly bing fierce and intense, turning a languid kiss into a passionate embrace.

Heavy breathing started to fill the bathroom.

Sophia was pressed tighter against the wall by Brandon, his hand that had been holding hers now let go, uncontrollably sliding under the hem of her nightgown towards her back.

The roughness of his fingertips sent shivers down her spine.

et Sophia was getting all up in Brandon's grill without even realizing it, totally lost in the moment and smooching him back. Her body was so int it that her free hand started to flait around in the air like it didn't know where to land, and then, boom, she snagged a tiny, soft little hand. For a split second, Sophia's brain just flatlined. Her hand, like it had a mind of its own, gave a little squeeze, as if to double-check. Yup, she was definitely holding onto a teeny, plush little hand.

Sophia's eyes, which had been squeezed shut, flew open like someone hit the panic button. She whipped her head around to the bathroom door.

Out of nowhere, Theresa was up and about, clutching her teddy bear, rocking sseriously bed-head hair, standing right there at the. bathroom door. She looking up at Sophia and Brandon, all quet-like but with her curiosity and inner detective switched to full-beam. Sophia: "..."