The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 627

Kent stepped up and handed the work phone over to Brandon.

Brandon flicked through the phone with his long fingers, then turned the screen towards Harvey Ferber.

Harvey’s pupils shrank, his fingers clutching the contract tightened suddenly, creasing the thin paper with a deep, sharp fold.

Clark, standing right behind him, instantly sensed the change in Harvey's aura and shot him a surprised glance before turning to the phone Brandon had flipped around. His expression shifted slightly.

The phone displayed the latest work photo of Arlene Bright.

She was clad in a long oatmeal-colored wool coat paired with a houndstooth-patterned wool scarf, her hair cascading over her shoulders. With one hand, she was holding a document folder, and with the other, a pen, writing something down with a soft and peaceful look in her eyes.

Clark couldn't help but look back at Harvey Ferber.

He knew that when Harvey had been hellbent on tracking down Arlene through Brandon at the mall, it was only a matter of time before trouble brewed. By doing this, Harvey was basically delivering Brandon some serious leverage.

But back then, Harvey was so focused on finding Arlene that he couldn't care less about anything else.

Little did he expect that not only would he fail to find Arlene, but he also ended up handing over the bargaining chips to Brandon.

Today's stunt was just Harvey betting on Brandon's desperation to find Sophia, gambling that Brandon would lose his cool in his haste, just like Harvey had done back at the West district’s Sky Street mall.

But this was about sealing a deal with no turning back, not like Harvey's shopping mall frenzy.

When Harvey learned a few days ago that Sophia had secretly taken on the project for the science museum at West district's secondary school, he made a special trip to Starlight Group. He aimed to mess with Brandon's head by pretending he heard that Brandon had donated a science museum and that Arlene was the designer, trying to keep Brandon in the dark about Sophia's involvement before sitting down at the negotiation table like today.

He wasn't keen on using Sophia as bait to make Brandon transfer the docks as a way of repaying a favor, but he didn't mind exploiting the opportunity and the timing to tempt an irrational Brandon into signing the contract. Just a moment ago, he was so close, just a hair's breadth away...

The image of Brandon almost signing the contract without hesitation, if not for Kent's sudden interruption, played in Harvey's mind, leaving him with a faint sense of regret.

But outwardly, he maintained a composed facade, looking at Brandon, "While I am indeed looking for her, she's not so important that I'd give up a dock for her."

Harvey said with a slight smile, his eyes still locked on Brandon, "Are you sure you can afford this gamble, Mr. Crawley?"

Brandon returned the gaze, stoically silent.

He couldn't be sure how much this woman named Arlene meant to Harvey.

But everyone knew he had spent a fortune looking for Sophia.

In front of Harvey, it was like he was playing an open hand, while Harvey was sitting on his cards.

But in the game of cards, when the odds aren't even, you don't have to just follow the rules.

He could also... flip the table!

"Mr. Ferber," Brandon said, tossing the contract onto the table, "My woman is never a chip on my negotiation table, she's a person, not merchandise."

As he spoke, he stood up, towering over Harvey, "There's an old saying, 'Courtesy before force.' Since Mr. Ferber isn't willing to do me a solid, don't blame me for not being nice anymore."

With that, Brandon gestured grandly toward the deck, and a group of fashionable young men suddenly swarmed up the gangplank.

Clark noticed them too, his expression shifting as he instinctively looked at Harvey Ferber.

Harvey gave a casual glance toward the gangplank, as calm as ever, then turned back to Brandon, "Are you trying to force your way aboard, Mr. Crawley? I can call the cops, you know."

"Mr. Ferber didn't specify that security couldn't buy a ticket to board," Brandon said, turning back and bracing his hands on the table, leaning in slightly toward Harvey, "Don't worry, Mr. Ferber, they're here to give you money. Buying tickets to board is both legal and legitimate."

Harvey glanced at the ticket checkpoint where the strapping young men were checking in one by one.