The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate (Brandon and Sophia) novel Chapter 685

"I'm sorry, I..."

Brandon's voice was hoarse as he tried to apologize, but the words felt empty. The damage was done, and no amount of "sorry" could erase it.

He always tried to be careful, to avoid hurting her again, but every now and then, memories of their tangled past would surface, and he couldn't help but show a hint of longing for the way she used to be.

Sophia didn't say a word. She gently pushed him away, gave him a polite smile, adjusted her sweater, and softly said, "I need to get back to work..."

She turned to leave.

Brandon reached out and caught her arm.

Sophia didn't turn back but gently tried to pull away.

In truth, she hadn't been dwelling on it much these days. Brandon was a good guy, but every time he looked at her with that distant gaze, as if seeing someone else, it pricked her heart a little.

She didn't like that feeling.

But because there was still a certain unfamiliarity between them, she felt it wasn't her place to question or to care.

Brandon didn't let go.

He knew her well enough to realize that even if she had thoughts and feelings, she wouldn't voice them because of the distance between them.

In her mind, without the memories and the reality of their marriage, she felt she had no right to be concerned about anything.

"Sophia." He called her name, stopping her in her tracks. "I've kept some things from you."

Sophia stopped struggling and turned back to him, confusion in her eyes.

"We..."

He wanted to say, "We're not really married," but the words wouldn't come. They were still in the midst of getting to know each other again, and if he told her they didn't have a real marriage, her natural inclination would be to keep her distance.

"I..." She hesitated, then couldn't help but softly try to comfort him, "I'm okay now."

But as she said it, she felt a bit unsure. She was okay, but she wasn't the same Sophia with shared memories with him.

Sometimes she even struggled to feel like Sophia at all.

Brandon turned back to her, offering a gentle smile and a nod. "Yeah."

He continued, "Sophia, I'm really glad you're back. I'm grateful for this second chance life has given us. But..."

He let out a small, rueful laugh, shaking his head. "In a way, I feel like I'm deceiving you, taking advantage of your amnesia."

Brandon's eyes met hers, filled with quiet honesty. "Before your accident, you'd already decided to leave me."