CHAPTER 153: CHAPTER 153: MORE THAN JUST FIREWORKS ARE BURNING

Colby Jennings looked at Sophia Lowell’s flushed face, turned slightly, wanting to say something but couldn’t get the words out.

Zane Sterling was really enjoying his food...

"Director Jennings, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first." Sophia Lowell pressed her lips together.

Colby Jennings grunted in response, not looking at her.

Sophia didn’t rush back to her room but instead walked over to where Hugh Irving, Kai Jacobs, and Sheryl Jensen were drinking and eating barbecue under the gazebo.

"When did you guys get back? Not a word?" Sophia looked at the three of them, all squeezed together, leaning against one another.

Seeing Sophia come over, Kai Jacobs snickered, "Your husband paid us all to take a month off. I never thought I’d see the day somebody would throw a check in my face and force me to take a break—your husband’s the first."

"So when did you all start planning this?" She poured herself a drink, casting a glance at Zane who was chatting in the courtyard.

He noticed Sophia looking at him, and just gazed back, gentle and intent, with eyes full of longing and affection.

Hugh Irving furrowed his brows, thinking back, "Seems like I got pulled into the group chat at the beginning of last month. Three days after joining, he was already making arrangements."

"You guys even made a group chat?" Sophia was honestly shocked.

"Everyone who showed up tonight was in the group, except you, Beau Morgan, and Clay Gable—but those two were a surprise." Hugh leaned his head enviously on Sheryl’s shoulder. "Look at their relationship: so bold, so direct."

Sophia smiled, her cheeks flushed—the depth of this love only now sinking in.

She picked up a skewer of barbecue and stuffed it into her mouth.

Tonight, she’d felt love coming at her from all sides, her heart full to the brim.

Thank god she married him.

Her choice back then hadn’t been wrong—she’d bet everything on him and won big time.

People in the courtyard started to leave one by one; Autumn Lowell and Zoe Walsh didn’t plan to stay overnight.

Sophia hugged the two of them tightly, overcome with emotion, but couldn’t find any words to say.

"Zane’s yours now," Zoe smiled, pinching Sophia’s cheek, "And he didn’t marry you under false pretenses—he really loves you."

Sophia burst into laughter.

Thinking about it, Zane really did have a bit of that "fake marriage" vibe, and it turned out pretty well for her.

"Not just you—even I’m moved by Zane’s devotion," Autumn looked at her, full of relief. "You two have to cherish each other!"

When Zane was planning the proposal, Autumn couldn’t sleep for nights—the excitement was just overwhelming.

"Don’t worry, you two gorgeous ladies," Sophia said, knowing exactly how Zane felt.

This man was it for her, for life.

Seeing them off, it was already 1:30 in the morning.

The courtyard was empty now.

Clay Gable was also walking out of the yard.

"Thank you," he said.

Sophia smiled, "Wishing you happiness, too."

"Is she okay?" Clay still seemed a little worried.

He was afraid Nathan Jennings would disappear first thing in the morning, only to show up again right before the wedding.

"She’s... okay," Sophia didn’t really know how to explain.

"If you can, please tell her I’m sorry."

Nathan most likely didn’t want to talk to Clay anymore, maybe had even blocked him on WhatsApp, so he might as well not push it.

"Okay," Sophia nodded.

Clay didn’t say anything else. Zane had already told him quite a bit earlier.

Clay had thought that since they wanted to be together, there was no reason for secrets or complications, but now he realized some things just had to happen gradually.

Having seen off the last guest, she finally relaxed and walked toward the man in the courtyard.

The bonfire was still burning, the wood crackling and popping.

It was still a little chilly at night in March.

But both of them had had some drinks, and with the heat of the fire, they didn’t feel cold at all.

Zane lounged on the bench, legs spread, one hand holding a wine glass, the other draped across the back of the bench, his gaze deep and affectionate as he watched her approach.

Sophia sat down next to him; he naturally rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Looks like Manager Morgan went home," Sophia said.

"Yeah," Zane replied calmly.

"Heard from Hugh that you helped her book a dress with Professor Fumble."

"Mm," Zane took a small sip of his drink. "Twenty grand, flat fee. Who set that price?"

"Hmm?" Sophia didn’t understand what he was getting at.

"Twenty grand is too cheap. Professor Fumble is super famous. Next time, they should ask for more."

Sophia scoffed in mock annoyance, both exasperated and amused, "I just didn’t want you to spend too much."

"It’s not my money. Why would I care?" Zane’s gaze lingered on her face—he frowned a little. "You really think I’d spend twenty grand on a dress for some woman who has nothing to do with me?"

"..." Wouldn’t you?

From his eyes, Sophia saw resignation.

Zane laughed sardonically to himself and drained his glass in one gulp.

"You’ve got such a wild imagination, little girl. In your eyes, your husband’s some kind of womanizer."

"I’m just asking," she muttered.

Sophia pressed her lips together, resting her head on his shoulder.

Beau Morgan really had some nerves—showing off to make everyone think the dress was a gift from the boss, when it was just her vanity speaking.

She smiled knowingly to herself—looked like she needed to add some spice to things.

"Good thing you asked me. Otherwise, you’d have stewed in your suspicions all night and driven yourself crazy," Zane felt a chill up his spine just thinking about it. Luckily he’d managed to get the ring on her finger earlier without a hitch, or tonight would have been ruined.

He gritted his teeth and, fierce yet gentle, pinched her cheek.

"Chasing you took all I had. Where would I find the energy to care about any other woman?" He wrapped a large hand around her waist, pulling her into his arms.

"I guess I am a bit petty," Sophia said, feeling completely satisfied with his answer.

"It’s good to be petty sometimes," Zane murmured—when it comes to things like this, generous just isn’t his style.

The truth was, Beau begged Zane to help her get a dress from Professor Fumble, since she barely knew him, but wanted to make a splash at the company’s IPO. She spent big for it.

Little did she know Zane was already slowly taking back her privileges, pushing her out—this was the boiling frog in warm water, and she didn’t even realize it.

Sophia wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling closer into him.

"Thank you, Zane."

"Mm, thank me again when we get back to the room,"

Zane lifted the corner of his mouth, his voice low and husky.

She pressed her ear to his chest; the heat of his breath mingled with his solid heartbeat, every thrum echoing straight into her ears.

"Look up," Zane squeezed her soft waist.

Sophia craned her neck to look up at the sky, but saw nothing.

A pitch-dark night, the sky like a spilled bottle of ink. He draped his coat gently over her shoulders, the thin fabric full of warmth, wrapping her wandering hair.

"Three, two, one..." he counted softly.

Silver-white fireworks streaked across the sky, bursting at their peak into cascades of falling stars, the sparkle painting her upturned profile in starlight.

The man lowered his head, gazing at her side-profile, now shot through with a soft blush. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing her burning earlobe by accident.

The instant Sophia turned to look at him, a thousand bursts of pyrotechnics blazed in her eyes—brighter than any firework in the sky.

It was a whole galaxy suddenly spinning in the depths of his eyes...

And in this moment, it wasn’t just the fireworks that were burning.