The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 699

Marian cast a puzzled glance at Patricia, whose expression seemed to shift like weather on a stormy day. Tentatively, she called out, "Mrs. Crawley?"

Patricia snapped out of her thoughts, suddenly aware that Brandon might be nearby. She muttered quietly, "Let's head inside first."

She turned on her heel and made her way toward the restaurant where they had agreed to meet, intentionally putting some distance between herself and Marian.

Marian noticed the deliberate space Patricia created between them. Her face darkened for a moment, but she managed to suppress her feelings and followed Patricia into the private dining room. Once inside, she assumed a casual air and remarked, "Mrs. Crawley, you didn't seem all that surprised to see Sophia and Brandon. Is Sophia really back?"

Her expression was one of feigned delight, as if she were genuinely thrilled about Sophia's return.

Patricia gave her a sideways glance. "After everything Sophia's done to you, why are you so happy she's back?"

In Patricia's mind, without Sophia, Marian wouldn't have been left so isolated, even the Frost family would have stood by her.

Marian let out a "gracious" smile, tinged with bitterness. "We were classmates and colleagues, after all. I'm just glad she's safe."

As she spoke, her fingers seemed to unconsciously graze the emerald bracelet on her wrist.

Brandon had left the bracelet behind, finding it too tainted for his liking.

Thinking of Brandon's disdainful attitude, Marian's lowered gaze stirred with a touch of resentment.

Patricia, however, didn't notice this. Her attention was drawn solely to the bracelet that Marian was gently caressing.

Every time they met for lunch, Marian would wear that bracelet, as if it were a badge of her identity as a Frost family daughter.

She often lamented to Patricia, recounting how all her memories were of Yolanda and the Frost family. She insisted she was Yolanda, but the test results said otherwise.

Each time, her tears flowed like a river. Patricia's rational mind believed the test results, but whenever she saw Marian sobbing like an abandoned lamb, she couldn't help but feel sympathy.

"Do you still keep in touch with the Frost family?" Patricia asked, eyeing the bracelet that seemed to be Marian's only link to her past.

Marian hesitated, then lowered her eyes and shook her head slightly.

"No, I don't." Marian replied softly. "I heard Grandpa wasn't well the other day. I wanted to see him, but they wouldn't let me in."

"That's terrible of them," Patricia frowned. "You spent years with them, bringing joy to the family, and now they treat you like this..."

Marian shook her head, her smile tinged with irony. "They just don't believe I'm Yolanda. But how could I not be? I remember family trips as a child, getting lost, and I have this bracelet. But they refuse to believe it."

"Mrs. Crawley?" Marian called out, puzzled by Patricia's demeanor.

Patricia snapped back to reality, offering a strained smile. "I just remembered something I need to take care of. I'll have to leave for a bit; we can catch up another day."

She stood to leave.

Marian quickly grabbed her arm. "Does it have to be now? Can’t it wait until the afternoon?"

She hadn't gotten all the information she wanted.

Patricia gave her a complex look. "I..."

"Can't you at least stay for lunch with me?" Marian pleaded softly, her eyes looking heartbreakingly sincere.

"Alright," Patricia finally conceded.

Marian handed her the menu with a smile, trying to keep the conversation going. "By the way, you still haven't answered me—is Sophia really back?"