The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

The moment the car door slammed shut, the vehicle took off like a shot out of a cannon.

Augus had no clue where Brandon and Kent were taking him or what they were up to. He didn't dare to ask. His hands nervously twisted together on his lap, and he sat close to the car door, not daring to get too cozy with Brandon, let alone ask out loud.

Brandon didn't make a peep either, sitting up straight and proper, his handsface calm yet imposing, with an aura that was downright suffocating.

In the face of such a Brandon, Augus didn't dare twitch a muscle; the psychological pressure was cranked up to the max with no outlet in sight. And neither Brandon nor Kent were giving him any room to breathe.

Kent floored it, the car's speed escalating by the second. Neither of them uttered a word the whole way.

The oppressive silence in the cramped darkness of the car seemed to amplify Augus's anxiety, creating an interrogation room vibe that was uniquely intimidating.

Even though Augus tried to psych himself up, telling himself that Brandon didn't know anything -otherwise, he wouldn't be here in person instead of calling the cops - this mental pep talk crumbled the moment he remembered how Brandon dealt with Dennis and Marian at Moonlight Resort & Spa earlier that afternoon. Brandon never played a hand he wasn't sure he could win; he wasn't here for Augus's lexcuses.

His thoughts, jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof, ccrashing down when Kent pulled up in front of what looked like a forsaken old villa. Augus's defenses collapsed, and he slumped in his seat, unable to muster the will to move.

Brandon and Kent had already stepped out of the car.

Brandon walked straight towards the villa, his tall figure cutting a cold silhouette against the night. Kent glanced through the car window, his usual smile gone, replaced by a chilly expression, "Augus, needto invite you out?" The jittery Augus, fearing this new Kent, fumbled with the door and got out.

"Kent, what do you guys want with me?" His voice was shaky and stammering.

"You'll find out soon enough once we're inside." After saying that, Kent turned and walked towards the villa, his side-eye a clear warning to Augus.

Left with no choice, Augus dragged his leaden legs to follow Kent's steps.

The villa was deserted and eerily silent, not a single light on. Brandon was already sitting at the other end of the dining room table, arms crossed, motionless, watching Augus.

Most of his handsface was cloaked in shadow, with the flickering street light casting an uncertain glow on his features. His eyes were sharp as ice, like a predator lurking in the night, dangerous and overwhelming.

"Mr. Crawley," Augus managed to utter, his voice quivering under the oppressive atmosphere.

Brandon glanced at the empty chair next to him, "Sit!" "Th-thank you." Augus mumbled his thanks and sat down, feeling even more of Brandon's crushing presence. Instinctively wanting to stand, he was promptly pushed back down by Kent's firm hand on his shoulder.

Augus had no choice but to look at Brandon, who was staring back at him, speaking slowly and deliberately, "Where's Sophia?" Augus seemed taken aback by the question, pausing for a moment.

Kent gave his shoulder a light pat, "He's asking you, where's Sophia?" Snapping back to reality, but with eyes reddening, Augus choked up, "She's gone." "You're lying!" Brandon shot up, the chair clattering behind him, his eyes in the dark cold and fierce, like an animal stepped on in its sore spot, ready to pounce at any moment if Augus dared to agree.

But Augus had to spill it; the burden had been tormenting him, causing sleepless nights.

"She's dead! She's dead; I saw it with my own eyes! Augus shouted without control, his fear turning into an emotional outburst, "All that crap abouthaving information on her, it's all fake, fake! It was all a bluff to trap Marian. It was Marian who killed Sophia; she's the one who did it. From the moment she eavesdropped on Dennis planning to sabotage Starlight Group, she plotted it all. She threatened to exposeto makespill the beans on the whole plan. I thought she just wanted a piece of the action to help her dad; I had no idea she wanted to switch out Sophia in the scam, but I have no evidence. I can't find any proof; Marian didn't leave any evidence, so I tried to bluff her." Augus continued to rant uncontrollably, "That day, Director Yearwood wouldn't letgo to Zion City; I guessed she might suspect me. I didn't plan to go anyway. Changing the construction schedule and the crew, there was no point ingoing; we were going to drop the whole thing. But then, for sreason, your dad got involved. He helped us, insisted we start work that night with our guys, and that's how we got our chance again.

So I sneaked over there. After planning for so long, we were about to give up and then the opportunity came. I thought it was fate giving us a chance; I couldn't drop the ball at the crucial moment. I was there at the construction site that night, but I didn't expect Director Yearwood to show up too. To stop her froming, I even staged a fake scenathat made it look like we weren't working that night. But someone deliberately kept Cindy's bag, and then let her overhear the construction was starting so she would inform Director Yearwood; that's why she rushed to the site. I was right there on the construction site, just crouching under the overpass, eyeballing everything to make sure the plan was foolproof. We had it all mapped out - jammed the cell signals, killed the power, set up the fall guy, stirred the media circus. But I never in a million years thought it would be Sophia who took the plunge, not Nell. I saw it with my own eyes - her head smacked against the pier, her blood instantly turning that patch of water crimson, and just like that, she went into oblivion. I wanted to save her, but for a split second, I hesitated. I was scared of being spotted if I burst out of hiding, with all those people up there, someone was bound to dive in and play hero, right? I didn't need to show off. But what I didn't count on was nobody having the guts to jump in. That moment's hesitation, and by the tI hit the water, she was gone." Augus, his voice rising to a wail, broke down in tears, "The current swept her away, so fierce, and she had hit her head, out cold, just got washed away without a trace. She stood no chance of saving herself. Plus, it was the dead of night, freezing cold, pouring rain - no one could have saved her. It's all my fault; why did I even hesitate? Without that pause, I might have saved her, I could have; I was so close to pulling her out." "You bastard!" Brandon, losing all control, landed a savage punch right on his face.