The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 6

Sophin’s flight was scheduled for 6 PM, and her busy bee buddy Susan managed to squeeze in some time to drop her

off at the airport

“So, what’s up with the sudden divorce and heading back to school? In the bustling check-in hall, Susan helped Sophia heave her suitcase onto the conveyor belt and turned to quiz her.

She’d met Sophia after transferring high schools, shared senior year and even college with her, majoring in the same thing. They were like night and day-one bubbly and outspoken, the other quiet and well-behaved-but that didn’t put a

dent in their friendship.

Post-college, Susan didn’t go for a gig related to her degree. She dived into real estate, schmoozing for a mall, which meant she was on the road most of the time

She’d just made it back from a trip when she heard the bombshell. Sophia was divorced and gearing up for a master’s

degree

Sophia’s whirlwind marriage to Brandon had been a shocker for Susan too. The couple seemed like strangers at reunions, barely mingling, and then bam! Less than a month later, they tied the knot. Now, out of the blue, they were

splitsville

She was stumped

In the middle of check-in, Sophia shot Susan a look Just wanted a change of pace.”

Susan raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with life now? No job, but you’re taken care of. That’s the kind of deal most people can only dream of

Sophia replied, “Better to rely on yourself than others. Plus, I didn’t marry Brandon for his cash.”

Susan prodded, “So what’s the deal then? Brandon doesn’t strike me as a jerk.”

In Susan’s book, marriages hit the skids over major differences or cheating. But neither Sophia nor Brandon fit the bill.

Sophia said, “It’s not about him. It’s me.

Susan chuckled, “A fly-by-night marriage, and now a flash divorce. You weren’t in some kind of contract marriage, were you?”

Sophia scoffed, Contract marriages are for people who want something. What would I have that he’d want?”

Susan shot back, ‘Looks, figure, education, smarts-take your pick. Any of those worth chasing?”

glanced at her. With his creds, what kind of

for a

ID and boarding pass Sophia glanced at her watch “Still got some time Grab

nodded. “Let’s do

arm around Sophia’s

into her bag when Susan’s arm swung down unexpectedly. Her grip loosened, and the ID she was holding dropped. Bending down to pick

only watch as

shoe’s owner belatedly realized

his font and bent down to retrieve the

made eye contact with the

Sophis? He sounded unsure.

didn’t recognize him

Chapter 6

over, greeted with surprise, “Ivan

That jogged Sophia’s memory

ahead. When she was a freshman, he was a senior and had been their class

then, Ivan was a known face-handsome, talented in design, excellent and disciplined, praised by teachers and peers alike. His only flaw was

of socializing or attention seeking. So even though Ivan had mentored their class, aside from necessary academic interactions, she scarcely dealt with him. Post-graduation, they’d

Sophia mumbled a

to mind her lapse in recognition and politely

time no see, Ivan. Never thought we’d bump into

smiled. “It’s been

day I was chatting with a senior about you, and here you are. Talk about

asked Ivan. “Are you in a hurry? Join

time

chose a quieter restaurant with live music near the airport. Once seated, Susan passed the menu

“Anything’s fine.”

Anything’s fine.”

spoke at

with a smile. “What’s with the

pushed the menu back to Susan and Ivan. “You guys

a rough night’s sleep, but her appetite was

this time and

deep in thought over the

scanning the place out of sheer boredom. And then, someone familiar caught her eye, making

at the next table, back to Sophia, bad-mouthing her son and daughter-in-law. “No peep from my daughter-in-law’s belly Thought it was Sophia who couldn’t, turns out

ask Patricia,

happy or sad. Never liked that girl he married-not a good match, no help with his career, and her family’s a burden. Suggested they split and find someone new, but no go. Thought

at