CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: GRANDDAUGHTER-IN-LAW

——The door’s basically off its hinges. Why not just move in tonight?

——Move in with me.

Sophia Lowell looked momentarily stunned. His words echoed once again in her mind.

Her heart gave a little jolt, but she quickly squashed that feeling before it could sprout.

"Zane Sterling, let’s be real here. You should go—there are so many society girls waiting for you. I’m just a lowly employee, all of them are better than me..."

She wanted to keep going, but was cut off by Zane’s reply: "But not every woman gets the chance to sleep with me."

Oh my god!

So this thousand-year-old block of ice is actually a virgin!

No wonder on the very first day he asked if I wanted to try being Mrs. Sterling. Turns out, he’s that kind of traditional guy.

Sophia’s face instantly went up in flames, and she hurriedly cracked open her water bottle to chug like mad.

"Be careful tonight. Call me if anything happens." Zane got up and walked out of that chaotic place.

"Zane."

She called out to the man walking past her.

Zane paused as though he were waiting for some kind of answer, but all Sophia said was, "Thank you."

He didn’t say anything, didn’t show any expression, just walked straight out.

She’d lost count how many times this woman called him by his full name. So casual, just like two old friends.

Sophia glanced at Zane’s departing back, then at the door...

With her family a mess and a history of falling for the wrong guys, a big wave of anti-marriage thoughts surged up in her mind. If someone else had slept with him that night, he’d probably ask them the same questions.

So, it wasn’t about her. It was about the situation.

She booked herself a hotel, contacted her landlord, and arranged for someone to fix the door.

Later that evening, she drove her car to where Henry Quinn’s repair shop used to be.

Uncle Lawson ran this place. This would be the last "gift" Sophia gave them.

She stated her intentions plainly: the dashcam was broken, could they fix it? And she specifically mentioned she was Henry’s friend.

The shop staff recognized the car—it was the one he drove the other day—so Uncle Lawson personally checked the dashcam.

Sophia pretended to trust them, dropped off the car, and left.

Soon enough, that Wednesday, the engagement party was canceled.

Uncle Lawson must’ve heard the conversation from the dashcam, and probably discovered the hidden camera, too.

The Lawson Family figured that Henry’s lack of feelings for Sienna was already a major issue, and on top of that, he wanted her to abort the child—obviously didn’t take their family seriously at all, so they called off the engagement.

The Quinn Family, on the other hand, totally freaked out. Their son knocked someone up before the wedding, and now he couldn’t marry her—the duck that was almost in their hands just flew away!

Weaponizing other people like this? Honestly, it felt so damn good!

Sophia was riding high for days, but still, she needed to nail down a new place, or once things blew up and people found out she’d set them up, that would be a mess.

That day, she was all giddy getting ready to leave work. She stood at the elevator doors, patiently waiting.

Ding—

The elevator doors opened. Zane Sterling and Ethan Sinclair were inside.

History really does repeat itself. She stepped in, and on the 18th floor, ran into that gang of publicity department weirdos.

Sophia tried to squish herself away to put some distance between them, only to end up shoved right next to Zane Sterling anyway.

She took a deep breath, feeling like she was about to suffocate.

"Ms. Lowell, could you move a bit?"

A coworker glanced at the space between her and Zane, outright pushed her over.

Sophia stumbled, nearly falling, and instinctively reached out—grabbing hold of a hot, solid hand.

"Whew!" Sophia, startled, quickly got her feet under her and tried to yank her hand back, but he held on tight.

Dead meat! If anyone saw this, not even the Yarro River could wash it clean!

At that moment, a WhatsApp message cut into her thoughts.

She took the chance to pull her hand back.

The custom tailor—Grandpa Sterling—had messaged her: [The clothes are ready. Can you come pick them up tonight? [Location]]

[Sure.]

[Your boyfriend will probably like them a lot.]

Uh...

She glanced at the message and quickly shut off her screen.

Little did she know, Zane Sterling, right beside her, saw it all.

His gaze fell on the familiar avatar and the location, and—critically—the word "boyfriend."

The elevator reached the basement. She hurried out and jumped in her car.

She opened the map and set off for her destination.

The car stopped in front of an estate. The guards wouldn’t let her in, but her map said this was the place.

She was about to text and ask, but then another message popped up.

[Wait at the gate for two minutes.]

She didn’t think much of it. She got out of her car, taking in the sight of the manor.

It looked like a Notre-Dame Cathedral style castle. From the gate, you had to cross a stretch of lawn, with cottonwood trees randomly scattered about—absolutely gorgeous.

Just then, a familiar car stopped beside her, window rolling down.

Zane Sterling!

The two of them stared at each other.

The guard opened the gate for Zane, but he didn’t go in.

"Ah, granddaughter-in-law! Sorry to keep you waiting!" Grandpa Sterling bustled out of the manor, beaming.

"Granddaughter-in-law?"

The two of them at the gate gaped in shock.

"Why’d you both drive here separately?" Grandpa Sterling glanced at them. "Were you fighting or something?"

Sophia shot Zane a desperate plea for help.

Zane scoffed and got out of his car.

"Grandpa, go in ahead."

He grabbed Grandpa Sterling and steered him toward the manor.

Grandpa Sterling wasn’t thrilled, but was too polite to meddle in their business, so he hung back, sneakily watching.

Zane walked over to her, voice icy: "What’s going on?"

Sophia backed up guiltily. "I have no idea! I’m just here to pick up the clothes."

"Then why’s Grandpa calling you granddaughter-in-law?" His tone was cold, almost accusatory, but there was something like hurt or anger lurking underneath.

"I really don’t know..." Sophia thought for a moment. "I asked him to make you a shirt, to make it up to you..."

Zane froze. "You know my size?"

She answered timidly, "I didn’t know your size, so I took your jacket and told him, um..."

Crap—she went red.

"Told him what?"

"...Told him it was for my boyfriend, and to use a suit size for comparison."

Her voice suddenly dropped, completely different from her usual rapid-fire tone.

Pretty clever!

Zane let out a small, cool laugh. "You are so dead!"

He put his hands on his hips, brow furrowed, glancing at Grandpa Sterling’s eager little eyes not far away.

"Did I just screw up?!" Sophia peeked at him.

Zane’s dark eyes lingered on her.

"All my clothes are made by Grandpa. They have my name on them. You told him you were ordering for your boyfriend—what do you think Grandpa’s going to assume?"

He sighed.

"No wonder Grandpa asked me last time if my shirt got torn..."

"..."

Only now did Sophia realize what a huge mess she’d made.

"Do you know what today is?" Zane stared into her with those bottomless eyes.

"What day is it?" She clung to her dress.

"My grandpa’s eightieth birthday. Every relative and friend is here."

Sophia’s legs went weak. Family banquets in a clan like this were like scenes out of Empresses in the Palace—you never knew what people were plotting, and the slightest misstep could make you everyone’s target.

Zane said nothing, waiting for her to speak.

"What am I supposed to do?" She clenched her hands tight, realizing why there was no need for a deposit or measurements after all.

"The birthday star came out to get you himself. I bet everyone inside is waiting for you to show up."

Sophia, terrified, glanced up at him, silently begging: Help me, help me...

"Either come in with me, or explain things to Grandpa yourself." Zane tipped his head toward Grandpa Sterling.

If she turned and ran now, Zane would definitely be the gossip of the night. But if she tried to explain—well, how on earth would she do that?