The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Cindy happened to cto use the restroom and saw Marian retching over the sink, so she approached with concern.

"Marian, you're feeling unwell?" Cindy asked worriedly, while pulling out a few tissues to hand to over.

"I'm OK, just a bit of an upset stomach," Marian took the tissues Cindy offered, her mind suddenly lighting up with the perfect excuse to call in sick - all legit and above-board.

"Cindy, my stomach is really acting up; I think I might need to see a doctor. Could you ask for stoff for me?" Marian wiped her mouth and asked Cindy weakly.

She really did feel weak.

Due to her dread of Brandon, she hadn't slept well for days, and now the stress was wreaking havoc on her stomach, causing a gastrointestinal stress reaction throughout her body.

Cindy could see she wasn't faking it and nodded, "Sure, I'll let Mr. Dempsey know." Then, a bit worried, she added, "You need a lift to the hospital?" "That's OK," Marian waved off the offer, "I can handle it." Cindy nodded, "Then you take care, and call if you need anything." Marian nodded in thanks, said her goodbye to Cindy, then left, hand pressed against her stomach.

It wasn't until she reached the underground parking garage and got into her car that the discomfort began to ease up a bit. Marian took a good gulp of water and finally felt srelief.

She let out a long sigh, put down the water bottle, started the engine, and was about to drive away when she nearly jumped out of her skin. Her foot instinctively slammed on the brakes instead of the gas.

The car screeched to a halt.

Augus, like a wandering spirit, had appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of her car, staring her down with a deep and intense gaze.

This was the first tMarian had faced Augus since Sophia's incident.

The day after Sophia's incident, Augus wasn't at the office. Marian had gone to Zion City early in the morning under the pretext of the incident, stayed there for a few days, and after returning to the West district, she had been forcefully taken by Brandon to do a paternity test with Martin. It was only today that she had set foot in the office again.

The office was crowded, so they hadn't interacted at all there.

Aside from looking a bit spaced out, Augus seemed okay.

Marian couldn't figure out what he was doing there or when he had cdown, and whether Brandon had seen him clooking for her...

A whirlwind of questions spun through her chaotic mind. After a nervous glance around to make sure no one was watching and that her parking spot was in a surveillance blind spot, she forced herself to roll down the window and feigned calm as she faced Augus. "What's the matter?" Marian asked, feigning the usual casualness she might have with any colleague.

Augus just shot her a cold look but finally spoke, "I'm not feeling well, givea lift." Marian: || She'd just taken sick leave, and now Augus was doing the same. Both disappearing during work hours, wouldn't that tell everyone they had ssecret? "I can't," Marian said, "My stomach is killing me; I need to see emergency medical care." "Coincidentally, I need to make a hospital run too." As he spoke, Augus stepped forward, reaching to open the car door waiting for a reply, but it was locked.

Marian looked at him unwaveringly, "I really can't, I'm genuinely feeling unwell right now." Her fear was reserved for Brandon alone.

As for Augus, she didn't even bat an eye.

Augus seemed to catch her vibe of confidence and a sneer crept into his eyes, "Are you afraid Sophia will cback to haunt you?" "I don't know what you're talking about." Marian remained calm and collected, unaffected by Augus's words, "Augus, there are cameras all over this garage. If you continue to spout nonsense, I may have to call the police." The sneer in Augus's eyes grew colder, "But didn't you conveniently pick a spot that's a camera blind? What's there to fear?" Marian remained impassive, "I don't know what you're talking about." But she still unlocked the car door, "If you're heading to the hospital, I might as well take you along. I was headed there anyway." Without hesitation, Augus opened the door and got in.

As soon as he sat down, Marian's car sped away.

"Sophia - did you have someone push her?" Augus cut straight to the chase.

"What are you talking about?" Marian replied, feigning ignorance, careful not to leave any room for implicating herself.

Augus looked at her as if seeing her for the first time, "Marian, it seems I've underestimated you." "Augus, keep spewing crap, and I'll kick you out." Marian's tone had cooled, seemingly irritated by his words.

But Augus ignored her, continuing, "That day, you pressuredfor your father's plan - intending to use someone else to do the dirty work, huh? Clever, very clever." "What the heck are you blabbering about?" Marian looked at him incredulously, "Have you lost your mind? When have I ever approached you? You must be sick." A cold smirk flickered across Augus's mouth, "I know where Sophia is." Marian's car cto a sudden stop.

Augus sneered as he glanced at her high and then slowly let his gaze vander up to her face, which emained unfazed, his smirk leepening, "You claim to be tooInaware of everything, right? What re you so afraid of?" When did I ever be afraid?" Marian till looked at him as if he were oolish, "Mr. Crawley is offering a illion for any information on Sophia billion Shouldn't I be shocked by news about Sophia? Besides, Sophia s both my classmate and colleague course, I'd be stoked to hear about her." ¡wAnother cold laugh from Augus again, "If you're so stoked, wouldn't a normal person react by looking atin surprise and blurting out.

1'Really' You don't seem to be stoked; you seem more like you've got something to hide." S "Anyway, you're biased against me. Whatever I say or do, you'll interpret it wrongly," Marian said, looking at him, "Where is Sophia then?" Augus just looked at her with a cold laugh, offering no answer.

Marian grabbed her phone, ready to call Brandon: "Then I'll call Mr. Crawley and tell him you have news about Sophia." Suddenly, Augus reached over and snatched her phone away.

Marian's still wearing that puzzled and innocent expression as she looked at him.

"Don't worry, I didn't record anything," Augus said.

But Marian's expression didn't budge an inch at his words.

"I don't give a hoot about your recording." Mumbling her dissatisfaction. Seeing that they had arrived at the hospital, she slowly parked the car in the parking lot before turning to Augus.

"Seriously, where exactly is Sophia?" As she spoke, she had already retrieved her phone.

But Augus didn't respond. Instead, he bailed out of the car, heading straight for the emergency room.

Marian stares at his retreating figure for a solid minute, her facade of relaxed innocence turning into seriousness.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally opened the door, got out of the car, and followed in the direction Augus had gone.

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