Despite having taken a tumble and landing flat on the ground, the little girl didn't shed a tear. Instead, she lay there a bit dazed, with her head slightly tilted upwards, her big, clear eyes brimming with confusion, embodying the adorable cluelessness of someone who's just had quite the fall. Don couldn't help but crack a smile at the sight and instinctively got up to pick her up, but Brandon was already one step ahead, squatting down in front of her and scooping her into his arms.
"Thank you, thank you." The little girl thanked him in her babyish voice, her underdeveloped speech bouncing out word by word, not entirely clear.
Her gaze also curiously shifted to Brandon, and when she spotted her bag by his feet, she quickly wriggled out of his hold and scampered to retrieve it.
Brandon's eyes followed her movement, but he stayed put.
Don couldn't help but peek at the kiddie bag in her hands, stuffed with her bottle and diapers.
Suddenly, he couldn't keep a straight face and turned to Brandon, chuckling, "Kids these days really come prepared, huh? Packing their own bottles and diapers."
But he noticed Brandon was just staring blankly at the girl, seemingly lost in thought.
Don had never seen Brandon like this and nudged his shoulder, concerned, "What's up?"
Brandon snapped back to reality, looked at Don, then back at the little girl who was blinking in confusion, and gently asked her, "Kiddo, where are your mom and dad?"
The girl's eyes held a slight bewildermentâwhether she didn't understand or truly didn't knowâbut soon she turned sluggishly and looked towards the half-closed curtain at the door.
The curtain was flung open as a plump, tall woman with a panicked expression hurried in. Upon seeing the little girl, her panic subsided, replaced by a sigh of relief.
"You scared me. I only turned around for a second and you were gone. What if someone took you away?" The woman squatted down and hugged the little girl tightly, still shaken.
The little girl allowed the embrace, her young mind not quite grasping the adult's anxiety, but she didn't struggle and calmly let the plump woman hold her. Her curious eyes, however, were fixed on Brandon, wide with genuine wonder.
Don found it unbelievable and nudged Brandon with his elbow, grinning, "These youngsters are something else, eh? So young and already a sucker for good looks. She's only got eyes for you, can already tell who's handsome and who's not."
Brandon still didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the chubby woman holding the child. He asked her, "Is she your kid?"
The woman chuckled and shook her head, "No, my sister's. She's busy with work, so she asked me to help out."
Brandon frowned, glancing back at the girl.
Don could see something akin to disappointment surfacing in Brandon's eyesâsubtle, but clear.
He looked at Brandon, puzzled.
Brandon had crouched down in front of the girl again, hesitating for a moment before extending his hand towards her cheek. He asked softly, "Little one, what's your name?"
The girl still articulated each syllable, her speech not fluid, but she understood the adult's question.
"And what's your mom's name?" Brandon asked, his voice soft, with a barely discernible rasp.
The girl seemed to pause, then thought hard before earnestly replying, "Mom, Mom."
Brandon chuckled at her earnestness, his fingertip nearing her cheek but stopping short, wary of any germs.
Don knew Brandon had a soft spot for kids, but even so, he maintained a distance, never looking as tender as he did now.
The plump woman noticed Brandon's unusual attention to the child and clutched her tighter, her gaze wary as if guarding against a kidnapper.
Afraid of a misunderstanding, Don quickly made light of the situation, "Your kid is too cute, and such a sweetheart, anyone would fall for her right away."
The woman gave an awkward smile and thanked him, then started coaching the little girl to say goodbye, "Say bye-bye."
The girl couldn't muster such a long sentence, but obediently waved her little hand, "Bye, bye."
She then let the plump woman lead her by the hand, clutching her bottle and diapers, towards an empty table in the back.
Brandon too turned slightly, watching them walk away until they settled at the farthest corner table.
The plump woman placed the child on a chair, and a waiter brought over a highchair. The woman ordered food, then turned to entertain the child, looking like someone dining out alone with a kid.
Don just couldn't figure Brandon out and waved his open hand in front of him, "What's with you? Why so hung up on the little girl? If you like kids that much, go have one of your own. You've been married for years."
Brandon gave him a look but said nothing.
His divorce from Sophia hadn't been publicly announced, and although some people around him had an inkling, no one dared confirm it with him.
Don, being overseas and not one for gossipâespecially with Yolanda in the pictureâhad little interest in these matters.
Accustomed to Brandon's reticence, Don didn't push it and started on the food that had arrived.
But Brandon had little appetite, his gaze drifting back to the little girl and the plump woman from time to time.
The kiddo was well-behaved, sitting in her highchair, quiet and just curiously looking around. The woman was attentive, occasionally checking her phone and craning her neck towards the back door and the windows, as if waiting for someone.
Brandon glanced thoughtfully towards the back door, noticing a sign for the restroom.
His brow furrowed slightly, then he put down his utensils under Don's puzzled gaze.
"I'm going to the restroom."
"Oh, it's by the back door." Don put down his utensils too and pointed towards the back.
Brandon nodded and headed towards the back door.
Sophia was freshening up at the bathroom sink, finally shaking off the initial shock from her unexpected encounter with Brandon earlier.
After washing her hands, she turned off the tap, plucked a paper towel from the dispenser, and started drying her hands as she walked out of the loo.
As she rounded the corner, she casually tossed the towel into the bin and looked up, only to find her steps slowing down involuntarily.
Brandon was just parting the curtains to step out from the back door of the restaurant, and as he looked up, his eyes met with Sophia's, who had come to a gradual halt.
He caught a glimpse of her, his gaze dropping to her hands, still slightly damp, then slowly shifting to her somewhat startled face. He was the picture of calm, not uttering a word.
Sophia managed a tight smile, "Long time no see."
The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate ï¤Chapter 92 The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)
ï¤Chapter 590 Forgive Us, My Dear Sister ï¤Chatper 494 Brandon also tugged at the corners of his mouth, echoing, "Long time no see."
And that was it. No more words exchanged.
With him silent, Sophia wasn't sure what else to say. She just offered a polite smile and hesitated for a moment before taking steps toward the door behind him.
Brandon stood his ground, watching her approach with a serene gaze. As she passed by him, close enough to brush shoulders, he heard her softly asking into her phone, "Sylvia, I'm at the restaurant now. Are you close?"
He didn't budge, nor did he turn around, just let her pass by him, step by step heading for the door behind him. It wasn't until her voice was nearly drowned out by the hustle and bustle inside that he slowly turned around, his gaze following her.