The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Louis suddenly looked a bit under the weather, but since he was on the wrong side of the fence, it wasn't really his place to haggle

anymore.

Marian, at Louis’ side, appeared to make a last-ditch effort, anxiously and gently shaking his arm while holding onto it, "Grandpa."

Louis, still harboring doubts about whether she was indeed not Yolanda, couldn't bring himself to show her the unreserved warmth

he once did. Especially with Brandon pointing out all the differences between Yoli and Marian, Louis felt a complex knot of

emotions. On one hand, he mourned the loss of the well-behaved and sensible Yoli to the woman she had become, on the other

hand, a part of him felt relieved that she was still alive, no matter the changes she'd undergone.

With a heavy heart torn between these emotions, he slowly peeled Marian's hands off his arm.

"Just apologize properly."

With those words, he turned and shuffled out of the resting room, his gait unsteady, suddenly seeming to age.

Marian stood there, her soul seemingly having departed with him, watching the distant figure of Louis before her gaze slowly

drifted back to Sophia. She didn't speak, just watched Sophia with the shalt and attentively panic-stricken eyes as she did in

the morning, a stark difference from her defiant arrogance the day before.

Sophia found today's Marian to be peculiar, and gave her a curious glance.

But the moment their eyes met, Marian quickly looked away, as if she was afraid of making eye contact.

Sophia frowned, unable to understand the root of this change.

Officially, Marian was her subordinate, but she had never shown respect, let alone fear, in Sophia's presence.

But now, it felt like Marian was somehow afraid of her, and this fear seemed to be tinged with guilt?

Sophia wasn't sure, but felt the things didn't add up.

Despite having plagiarized Sophia's work for so long, Marian never once seemed guilty when facing her—not even after being

exposed the previous day, displaying only unguarded frustration.

Brandon too noticed Marian's evasive look when facing Sophia and furrowed his brow.

Marian, not daring to linger any longer, silently rushed past them.

Watching Marian stride away, Sophia glanced at Brandon who was wearing a similarly puzzled look.

But with the press conference about to start, Kent calling them over, they had no tfor conjecture.

"Let's get going," Brandon said after hanging up.

Sophia nodded slightly, "Mhm."

By the tthey arrived at the venue, Marian was already seated next to Louis, frantically refreshing her phone with an anxious

expression.

Martin sat on her other side, staring blankly at the stage.

Unable to get the paternity test report, Marian’s eyes darted between the stage and her phone, and she couldn't help but look

towards Martin.

"Martin."

She called out to him for help.

Martin ignored her, simply glancing at his watch—there were 10 minutes left until the start of the press conference.

Marian was not one to resign herself to fate. After a frantic look at her phone, she dropped the excuse, "I'm going to the restroom"

as she prepared to leave.

Brandon, who'd been keeping an eye on her, signaled Kent with a glance.

Kent, understanding, stepped forward with a smile to intercept Marian: "Ms. Barlow, the press conference is about to begin, please

take your seat."

"| just need to use the restroom," Marian said in a rush, "I'll be right back."

To convince Kent, she pointed to her bag on the seat: "I've left my phone and bag right here."

Kent still wore a polite smile: "The press conference won't be long, please bear with it."

With gentlemanly coercion, he escorted her back to her seat.

Marian held back her anger, managing only a coy glance at Louis: "Grandpa."

Seeing Marian treated like a potential fugitive made Louis' face grew bitter, but he was still caught up in doubts about whether she

was Yolanda or not, so he chose not to dispute further.

"The conference will start soon; it won't take long. Hang in there."

Marian was taken aback by Louis' drastic change in attitude—rejecting her tand again. Her lips pursed in a combination of hurt

and sadness as she sat down without a word.

Louis, seeing her like this, felt a twinge of guilt and softened his tone.

"Grandpa knows this is hard for you, and it's difficult for me, too. But we all have to pay for our mistakes. Apologize sincerely, and

we'll get past this hurdle."

Marian's eyes welled up as she nodded, remaining silent.

The press conference started on time, and Martin took the podium.

"Ladies and gentlemen, dear members of the press, | apologize for the inconvenience today," Martin began, devoid of his previous

vigor confidence, only composed and solemn. "We've gathered here to make a public statement about the incident at the Frost

family estate."

He glanced at Marian.

Marian's grip on her phone tightened, her knuckles turning white, her complexion pale.

Martin redirected his gaze, opened Sophia's design of the estate, checked the big screen behind him, and then faced the cameras:

"| deeply regret that due to my oversight and failure to verify and investigate, | mistakenly presented Ms. Yearwood’s architectural

design as the work of Miss Marian, and proceeded to file and publicize based on this error. For the harm and damage this has

caused to Ms. Yearwood, we hereby offer our sincere apologies."

The room erupted into a buzz, camera flashes firing non-stop.

Martin stood up and bowed deeply to Sophia.

The cameras then turned to Sophia.

She remained calm and collected, watching Martin on the stage, her expression unflappable.

The camera lens shifted to the pale and contrite Marian, who, looking on the verge of tears, bowed her head without meeting

anyone's gaze.

Martin shifted his gaze to Marian: "Regarding the details of the incident, Marian will take the stage to explain it to everyone. But

before that, | would like to make it clear that due to certain objective reasons, Marian, although under the nof Yolanda, is not

the lost daughter of the Frost family. Her actions are independent of Yolanda and should not be confused with her."

Surprised, Marian looked towards Martin, who gestured to her to cforward.

All the cameras from the reporters instantly swiveled to Marian.

Feeling acutely embarrassed, Marian still obliged to walk onto the stage, clutching her phone.

When she arrived on stage, she bowed deeply to the audience with a polite and guilt-ridden demeanor, her apology seemingly

genuine.

The flashbulbs popped on and off, accompanied by sporadic applause.

Brandon watched her with an expressionless face, his eyes fixed on her without so much as a blink.

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMwWLHIOfiflO&1

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMyWL11I01F1081

mMMwWLIIOfiflO&1