The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 170

Brandon spent the whole night sitting on the balcony, letting the night breeze kiss his face.

He'd never really done this before, just sat in solitude for a whole night, reflecting, taking stock.

Usually, even when thoughts of Sophia popped into his head, he'd quickly shove them aside and redirect his focus to studying or work, not indulging in memories or longing.

But that night, out of the blue, he was hit with a wave of nostalgia for their senior year, for that girl who was a bit shy at first, but after getting to know her, she turned out to be sweet with a mischievous streak.

He remembered a time when Sophia let her guard down around him.

After sharing a desk for half a semester, they built a familiarity and an unspoken bond. She still had her moments of bashfulness, but beneath that, there was a playful cunning that was uniquely youthful.

She'd act coquettishly, stick close to him, be a bit of a brat, show her temper, but then she'd quickly make peace, like a little girl who never grew up.

In the second semester, she even took the initiative to move back to his corner.

They were quite close for a good while.

In that class where they weren't too familiar with anyone else, she and he shared a closeness and a dependency that others couldn't see.

But at some point, all her forwardness, all her cute tricks and tantrums around him just stopped.

She became reserved, calm, exceptionally well-behaved and sensible, losing all her previous impudence.

After graduating from high school, she quietly walked out of his life.

When they reunited four years ago, the grown-up her was even more composed and steady.

During the two years of marriage, she was serene and quiet, not fussy, not noisy, but the high school girl who was shy yet sly, who'd pout and act out, was gone.

Brandon suddenly missed that Sophia from senior year, the one with the heart of a little girl.