The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate (Brandon and Sophia) novel Chapter 773

Barbara called just as Brandon and Sophia returned from their vacation with Theresa. They had just stepped out of the elevator, hauling their luggage behind them, heading home.

Home, for now, meant Brandon’s old penthouse apartment.

As they walked down the hall, Brandon glanced at his phone when it buzzed. An unfamiliar number flashed across the screen. He frowned, hesitated for a split second, then declined the call without a second thought.

Sophia caught the gesture and looked over, curiosity in her eyes. "Who was that? Why didn't you answer?"

"Probably a wrong number," Brandon replied, slipping the phone into his pocket. He pressed his thumb to the keypad, and with a soft click, the door unlocked.

He pushed the door open just as the phone started ringing again.

Brandon ignored it, holding the door for Sophia and Theresa to go inside. Only after they’d entered did he maneuver their two massive suitcases across the threshold.

Sophia shot him a warning glance. "Your phone’s ringing again."

"It’s nothing," he said, not interested in picking it up.

The people who mattered most were right in front of him; what could possibly be so important that it needed his attention now? Especially from a number he didn't recognize.

"Are you sure it’s not something urgent?" Sophia asked, pulling their luggage into the living room.

Theresa, finally home, had already tossed off her hat and flopped dramatically onto the sofa. She let out a long, theatrical sigh, as if she’d just run a marathon, and sprawled out like she’d simply collapsed from exhaustion.

Sophia couldn’t help but laugh. "Was the trip really that tiring?"

Theresa nodded emphatically. "So tired."

But even as she complained, she sprang up the moment she noticed Brandon’s phone still buzzing on the coffee table. "Dad, your phone’s ringing again!"

"Thanks for reminding me, sweetheart," Brandon said with a smile, but he still didn’t rush to answer. He finished pushing the suitcases to their spot before slipping into the kitchen.

The phone had barely stopped ringing before it started up for a third time.

Sophia was kneeling by the suitcase, pulling out clothes to toss into the washer, when she looked up and called out, "Your phone’s ringing again!"

Brandon had just pulled two bottles of milk from the fridge. He glanced at the phone, but rather than answer it right away, he put the milk in the microwave, then finally strolled over, picked up the still-vibrating phone, and answered.

Same unknown number.

His brow furrowed as he lifted the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"Um, Mr. Crawley? Hi, it’s Barbara—Sophia’s sister-in-law."

Barbara’s voice was a mix of relief and anxiousness, a little rushed, a little apologetic.

"Hello," Brandon replied coolly. "Is something wrong?"

She sounded flustered. "It’s just… remember how you asked me not to tell anyone I’d seen Sophia? I wasn’t going to say anything, really, but there was a big argument at home. It was about things that happened with Sophia in the past, and… things got heated. I blurted it out. I told the family Sophia’s alive."

Her voice trailed off, full of regret and apology.

Brandon wasn’t surprised. He’d never expected Barbara to keep the secret forever, and he certainly hadn’t bet on anyone’s silence. The decision to move was, in part, because he anticipated something like this.

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