The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate (Brandon and Sophia) novel Chapter 774

Brandon gave her a gentle smile. “It’s nothing,” he said lightly.

But then he added, “You just look a bit tired, that’s all.”

As he spoke, he reached out his hand to her. “Are you really okay? Not overdoing it, are you?”

Sophia nodded. “I’m fine! We’re just on vacation, not running a marathon.”

Brandon had already made sure their holiday plans were as relaxing as possible, picking laid-back resorts, keeping the schedule loose, and handling the kids himself—there was no way she could be worn out.

He just smiled, running a reassuring hand over her hair. “Still, make sure you get enough rest.”

Sophia nodded again. “I will.”

Her gaze drifted, almost absentmindedly, to his phone before returning to him. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Brandon pressed his lips together, hesitated, then nodded faintly. “There’s something, yes. I’m just not sure if I should tell you.”

“It’s not good news, is it?” Sophia asked. She smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “If it were good news, you wouldn’t hesitate.”

He nodded again. “No, it’s not. In fact, it’s… pretty unpleasant.”

“What bad thing could possibly have anything to do with me?” Sophia said with a light laugh, but she’d already begun to put down her silverware, her eyes searching his face. “Is it about my family?”

Only when it came to her family would Brandon ever debate whether to tell her.

He nodded. “Yes.”

He went on, “That girl we helped at the mall the other day—she’s your niece. Her mother is your sister-in-law.”

Sophia’s eyes widened in surprise. She thought back to the woman’s reaction when she saw her that day—more shocked than joyful, nothing like the tearful reunions she’d had with Brandon, Theresa, Susan, Don, Kent, and the others. Even Cindy, who’d once been her assistant, had burst into tears when they’d met at the company party.

You’d think a family member, after believing you dead, would have a much stronger reaction.

“I guess I was never close to her,” Sophia said, trying to smile.

Brandon squeezed her hand, his touch gentle and full of empathy.

Sophia smiled at him. “I’m really fine.”

Maybe that was the one upside of amnesia—no memories, no emotional rollercoaster.

“The three calls just now were from her,” Brandon explained. “She said there was a fight at home because of you. She let it slip that she’d seen you, and now your parents and your brother have gone looking for you. They’re standing outside your old place right now.”

Sophia looked at him. “Nothing good ever comes from them looking for me, does it?”

He shook his head. “No. Never has.”

He remembered Susan telling him all about Sophia’s family—how they didn’t even bother to invite her to her own brother’s wedding.

The only time they reached out was when they needed something—money, or her help.

Sophia nodded in understanding.

“Then let’s just leave it. I can’t remember any of it anyway. Good news wouldn’t make my life any better, and bad news would only ruin the holidays.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify