The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 755

Kent turned to her as well. “Ms. Bright, I can’t pretend nothing happened between us last night. I hope you understand.”

With that, his hand slid down her arm and locked around her fingers, tugging her along.

“Don’t do this,” Susan protested, uncomfortable with the intimacy. She tried to pull free, but his grip was firm—she couldn’t break away.

As they struggled, a small, puzzled voice piped up behind them. “Auntie, Kent, what are you doing?”

Susan instinctively jerked her hand out of Kent’s and spun around. Standing by the curb, Theresa blinked up at her, Grace’s hand in hers, those big round eyes full of confusion.

Grace looked surprised too, glancing from Susan to Kent.

Flustered, Susan forced a smile. “Grace, what are you two doing down here? Where’s Sophia?”

“Something came up, so she asked me to bring Theresa down to play for a bit,” Grace replied, but her eyes flicked to Susan’s hand—the one Kent had just been holding.

Susan awkwardly hid her hand behind her back and tried to sound casual. “What could she possibly be doing at this hour?”

Kent, knowing Sophia needed to talk to Brandon and worried Susan might use this as an excuse to slip away, quickly interjected, “She has something to discuss with Mr. Crawley.”

“Didn’t they talk last night?” Susan frowned. “Those two aren’t up to their usual drama again, are they?”

“You should worry about yourself first,” Kent shot back. “I have something I need to discuss with you as well.”

He turned to Grace and Theresa. “Grace, we have some things to talk about. Could you take Theresa to look around for a bit?”

He reached for Susan’s hand again, but Theresa quickly let go of Grace’s and hurried over. “I want to come too!”

Kent crouched down so he was eye-level with her, his tone gentle. “Why don’t you go have some fun first, okay?”

Theresa stubbornly shook her head. “I want to go with Auntie.”

Susan, grateful for the interruption, scooped her up. “Do you want to come have lunch with me, sweetheart?”

He shot Grace a meaningful look. “Thanks for helping.”

Without waiting for further protest, he took Susan’s hand and steered her away.

Theresa watched them go, bewildered, but Grace knelt down beside her. “Let’s go find your mom and dad, alright?”

At the mention of her parents, Theresa perked right up and nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”

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In the study

Sophia lay half-sprawled atop Brandon, her breath coming in soft, uneven gasps. One hand half-covered her face, mortified.