CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123: PROTECTING HER

After dinner, Ethan found an excuse and left work early.

He brought bodyguards today thinking something might have happened, otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered to come out. He still had several days of vacation to enjoy.

In the quiet car, amidst the awkward atmosphere, only these two were left, faintly able to hear the engine’s hum.

Zane Sterling’s long fingers were steering the car with one hand, while his other hand hovered in mid-air, itching for a chance to hold her hand.

But she turned her head, looking out the window, hands placed on her thighs, leaving him with a dark silhouette.

Zane licked his lips, thinking about how to coax her.

This situation was really hard to handle.

Just then, Beau Morgan called.

Zane glanced at the flashing name on the screen, then at the woman sulking beside him.

He answered and put it on speaker.

[Mr. Sterling, my apologies, without Mrs. Sterling’s number I had to reach out to you.] Beau Morgan said from his hospital bed, looking at Lynn Boyle and Drake Morgan, who didn’t look so well beside him.

[Go ahead.] Zane responded blandly, pulling over to the side, looking at Sophia Lowell’s perfect profile while listening to the call.

[I didn’t get a chance to properly thank you, and now there’s this mix-up, I sincerely apologize for the trouble caused to Mrs. Sterling.]

Sophia was slightly stunned, but quickly realized it wasn’t her fault.

Zane observed her expression carefully and asked the other end of the line: [And then?]

[Yesterday, it was my fault. Maybe I was confused from last night’s fever, but I just recalled that I was the one who turned on the gas, planning to make wontons. I believe Mrs. Sterling returned to the kitchen to turn off the gas; I hope she’s not angry. I apologize for today’s mishap and hope you both won’t let this affect your relationship.]

The relationship was already affected, so what’s the point of an apology?

For some reason, Beau Morgan shifted the responsibility from Sophia.

Wasn’t she hurt somehow? Or was there something she revealed somewhere?

Zane pinched the cheek of the woman beside him, wanting to hear her opinion, but the woman in front of him couldn’t be bothered to respond.

She wasn’t angry because of this, but because Zane didn’t trust her.

[Got it.] Zane said lightly, and hung up the phone.

Drake Morgan was fuming, "Why just let her go like this? What a great opportunity."

Beau held the phone, fingernails white from pressure, biting the back of his teeth, "He provided evidence of the gas usage time; feared the apartment’s surveillance cameras could recover data, so it was best to close the case early."

Otherwise, it would leave a bad impression on Zane.

"In my opinion, forget about the guy, no need to fight. You’ve already met the parents, so why bother? Lynn has such good conditions, afraid she won’t find a good catch?" Lynn Boyle furrowed her brows.

Because of this man, she lost an apartment and hurt her leg.

The key is, this man openly and secretly protects that woman fiercely; even if this incident was caused by Sophia, Zane would find a way to smooth things over.

Beau lowered his eyes.

"They’ve only met the parents, not held the wedding, probably haven’t even gotten the certificate. Even if they did, they could still get a divorce; no wedding means they’re still in the evaluation period."

She thought, take things slowly, there’s still time, you can’t just pull this man away from that woman all at once; haste makes waste.

She quietly encouraged herself.

"Why does it have to be him?" Drake lost face today.

What Faye Ellison said wasn’t entirely wrong; as a university professor, he ended up believing such tales.

"It has to be him," Beau lay back, staring at the white ceiling.

All her life, she got what she wanted, be it grades or honors, she got them all with ease; this man, she must have too!

——

"Honey," Zane unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned towards the passenger seat.

Sophia, irritated, turned her head to meet his profound eyes, asking, "Do you know why I’m angry?"

"I do, don’t be mad anymore, it’s all cleared up. I already said I can take care of it, just trust me a little; don’t make me seem so useless," he said, caressing her face.

"Take care of it?" Sophia frowned, getting angrier.

Does that mean she had to just let go of being bullied?

She couldn’t stand the injustice!

Zane, with a solemn face, explained, "You know, I didn’t mean it like that."

Looking at the man cupping her face, trying hard to console her, Sophia couldn’t help but waver.

She hadn’t really expected him to love her deeply, nor prayed for their love to progress significantly, but for some reason, her heart ached intensely; she just had to fight for this pride.

"Zane, you said you could resolve it, then resolve it. Did you also think back then that I was the one who did it?" Sophia also unbuckled her seatbelt, looking at him earnestly.

Zane was slightly taken aback, at first he did think so, but upon closer consideration, there was no way she would do that.

"I’m sorry, I should have trusted you."

Sophia felt even more upset; this man really didn’t trust her.

But her heart was also touched; subconsciously, this man was on her side, even if she indeed made a mistake, he would have a way to protect her.

"Try putting yourself in my shoes; if you were me, what would you do?" she asked.

Zane gripped her hands tightly; if it had been her, she wouldn’t leave any trace.

Sophia continued, "If I wanted to deal with her, there are many ways, would never leave such a big flaw at the scene, nor would I dirty my hands."

"I was wrong." He extended his long arms, wrapping her in his embrace.

Sophia felt his body warmth. For the first time in her arms, she sensed her heartbeat calm and steady; usually, even getting a bit closer made her heart race.

Today, what happened?

Was it the love that had just ignited was suddenly snuffed out by cold water?

She gently wrapped her arms around him.

"This time I caused you trouble." Zane felt remorseful.

Being together meant unconditional trust; he was too hasty.

Sophia internally cursed his lack of sense.

"Do you know what a green tea girl is?" She gently pushed Zane away.

"I don’t like to drink it," he frowned, preferring coffee earlier; now he liked sweets.

Sophia sighed inside, "Beau is a green tea girl, Mr. Sterling, I hope you... mmm—"

Zane kissed her.

What’s he doing?

They were having a serious conversation!

"From now on, I’ll stay far from her, listen to whatever you say, and discuss things with you ahead, alright?"

How could this matter be let go?

Zane’s words she heard and let pass.

Let her go? Impossible!

"...Alright." Sophia replied casually,

She wouldn’t spare anyone who bullied her.

Zane contentedly pulled her back into his arms.