Chapter 46
Sebastian Evans's wrist was seized abruptly.
His movement halted.
He looked up, his gaze turning icy. "You?"
Sophia Sullivan looked up, dazed. "Professor Laurent..."
Her voice held a faint tremor.
Alexander Laurent's eyes swept over her red-rimmed eyes. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head slightly.
Her fingernails dug into her palms.
"I'm heading that way," Alexander said calmly. "I'll give you a ride."
Sophia agreed softly.
He shielded her as they turned.
Her teetering heart finally settled into place.
Sebastian quickly caught up.
"Don't you think you're overstepping, Professor?"
He smirked coldly. "The conference is at the hotel next door. This is my private property."
Alexander paused.
Sophia stopped with him.
Sebastian's expression darkened. "I'll see my own guest home."
Alexander glanced up mildly. "That depends on whether the guest is willing."
Sophia spoke immediately. "I'm going with Professor Laurent."
Sebastian's face tightened. "Sophia..."
Alexander placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go."
They began to turn.
"Stop!" Ethan Roscente stepped forward abruptly.
Rage churned in his eyes. "Sophia Sullivan, you're leaving with him?"
"Going home."
"Which home?" He pointed at Alexander, his lips curling in scorn. "Found a new place that fast?"
"No wonder the breakup was so clean. You were already tangled up with him?"
"You even dare to touch someone close to me? You've got some nerve!"
Anger burned away his reason.
Ethan spat out words without thought. "Is my cast-off really that good? Worth fighting over?"
"Is she even worthy?"
Sophia trembled.
The words were like poisoned daggers, stabbing deep.
So this was the point where pain turned numb.
She looked at Ethan's twisted face, her teeth chattering with cold.
She felt plunged into an icy abyss.
Alexander frowned.
The woman's slender frame shook in the wind.
As if it might shatter at any moment.
"Six years..." Her voice choked. "I thought there was at least some sincerity."
"Now I know how worthless I am in your eyes."
A self-mocking smile touched her lips. "It was wrong from the start. One wrong step, then another..."
Her face was pale, her eyes red.
Tears fell silently.
Ethan's chest constricted violently.
He wanted to speak, but no sound came out.
Finally, his voice was hoarse. "Why?"
He turned his furious gaze to Sebastian. "You knew she was mine! Why did you do this?!"
Sebastian met his gaze coolly. "Wasn't it you who told me to pursue her? Why the act now?"
Ethan's face went pale.
Sophia staggered back.
Alexander steadied her.
"I'm taking her now."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes, blocking the path. "This place belongs to the Evans family. You don't just come and go as you please."
Ethan also stepped closer.
His gaze was fierce, like a wolf's.
Alexander looked up.
His gentle eyes suddenly turned sharp. "The symposium at The New Yorker Hotel was initiated by Chairman Laurent. He is present today."
"A call would bring him here in two minutes."
"If you don't want this brought before the Evans and Roscente elders, know when to stop."
The Laurent family's influence far surpassed that of the Evans and Roscente families.
Especially when it involved the elder generation.
Sebastian's expression shifted slightly.
Ethan also frowned.
"The cooperation between the Laurent and Roscente families continues," Alexander said calmly. "You cannot afford the responsibility of letting personal matters damage that relationship."
A lightly spoken warning.
Yet it silenced them both.
Alexander spoke mildly. "Step aside."
Ethan stood his ground, face dark.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes for a long moment, then finally stepped back.
Alexander led Sophia away.
"Damn it!" Ethan kicked a pebble away.
Rage seethed in his chest.
Charlie Lowell and Julian Winston exchanged a look, not daring to speak.
Isabella Langley approached cautiously. "Ethan..."
"Get lost!"
...
It started raining on the way back.
Raindrops tapped against the car window.
Drawing watery trails.
The wind howled relentlessly.
Sophia stared out the window, her heart hollow and cold.
Her body wouldn't stop shaking.
A warm coat was gently draped over her shoulders.
The clean, woody scent of cold incense enveloped her.
Her emotions broke.
Tears fell silently.
Alexander heard the soft weeping.
His chest felt tight.
He asked the driver to pull over.
Raised the partition.
Giving her space to release.
After a long time, Sophia gradually calmed.
Her fingers unconsciously clutched the coat. "Earlier... I'm sorry..."
Alexander looked at her seriously. "You don't need to care about those words."
"Don't take biased opinions to heart."
"You are good. I've always thought so."
"Don't punish yourself for others' mistakes."
His tone was gentle.
His gaze sincere.
Sophia slowly stopped crying.
She looked up.
Meeting his deep, thoughtful eyes.