CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: THE OTHER MAN

Sophia lifted her eyes and looked at the dark silhouette in front of her, feeling a little stunned.

It was Zane Sterling.

He had stopped Sienna Lawson from hitting her.

And at her waist, a large hand had appeared, pulling her into his arms without her even realizing it.

"You want to hit my woman?" Zane’s face was cold, his eyes deep and icy. His words were like icicles, and as he questioned her, his grip on Sienna Lawson’s hand tightened even more.

"Let go of me!" Sienna cried out in pain, slapping at him as the maid rushed over to stop her as well.

Zane ignored them and instead lowered his gaze to look at Sophia, whose face was streaming with tears.

Strange, she thought, just now his eyes were so cold, but now, looking at him, there seemed to be a trace of warmth?

Sophia was too frightened to react. After a long moment, she reached out to pull his hand away. "She’s pregnant, don’t stoop to her level."

Hitting a pregnant woman could get you arrested, after all.

Only then did Zane slowly release his grip.

Sienna recognized the man before her and staggered two steps back in fear.

"Mr. Sterling..."

"So, who did you just call a bastard?"

His gaze was sharp as a blade, cold as ice, looking straight at Sienna.

Sienna still hadn’t figured out what was going on, her head muddled with anger, and she spat out, "Sophia’s a slut! She slept with another man before breaking up with her boyfriend..."

"Smack!"

This slap came from Zane Sterling.

He actually hit a woman!

The air around them seemed to freeze in that moment.

Sienna covered her face, suddenly realizing—so he was the bastard she was talking about!

"Get out. I never want to hear your voice again." Zane didn’t even look at her, instead gently wiping away the tears at the corner of Sophia’s eyes, rubbing her reddened cheek where she’d been hit.

Sienna knew she was in the wrong and didn’t dare make trouble; clutching her swollen cheek, she hurried away.

Sophia stood there at a loss.

"Does it hurt?" he asked.

"..." She steadied herself, wanting to break free from his embrace, but he only held her tighter.

"Have you gone for the checkup?" His voice was very gentle, even his eyes seemed warm.

Sophia lowered her head, her heart thumping wildly. The blush on her cheeks crept all the way to her neck, starting from her earlobes.

At some point her small hand had grabbed onto his clothes.

"Let go of me first, everyone’s watching..."

Only then did Zane slowly release her. Beside them, Ethan Sinclair pursed his lips and quietly turned his back to them.

After all this commotion, she hadn’t even had her checkup. The doctor had already finished for the day.

Sophia had no choice but to let Zane hold her hand and lead her to his car.

Ethan waited outside the car; there were only two people awkwardly left inside.

"Why are you here?" Sophia asked.

"Aunt called me, said she saw you in the hospital’s OB-GYN. I noticed you were dry-heaving this morning, so I came over."

Zane turned his head, looking at this completely flushed girl.

"If I hadn’t come, how long did you plan to keep this from me? Hm?"

Sophia clutched the medical slip, all of her usual arrogance vanished around him; even the last bit of her spirit was kept tightly suppressed.

"I really did take the medicine. Besides, I haven’t been checked yet, so I don’t even know if..." Her voice became small and tentative.

Zane’s Adam’s apple bobbed. "What if it’s true?"

"That has nothing to do with you."

Sophia stilled, then pushed open the car door and got out. Zane didn’t stop her.

"That’s rich... ’nothing to do with me.’"

He muttered under his breath, leaning against the back of the car, watching her silhouette as she walked farther and farther away outside the window.

Her words, "nothing to do with you," sounded angry, just like what he’d said to her yesterday at the manor.

Ethan got in, sat in the driver’s seat, and—seeing his boss wasn’t in a good mood—didn’t dare ask anything. But it seemed he understood what was going on.

"That temper—stubborn as a mule," Zane mocked.

Ethan let out a quiet chuckle.

——

Back at her rental, Sophia lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. She raised the slip in her hand, staring at those heavy words, "early pregnancy checkup." Feeling irritated, she tossed it onto the coffee table.

"Zane Sterling," she murmured this unfamiliar name under her breath, then sighed.

If she really was pregnant, what should she do? Abort it? Or, like her mother, give birth and raise the child as a single mom?

Turning it over in her mind, she opened her contacts and stared blankly at the Vampire boss’s number.

"Sophia! I know you’re home, open the door!"

Henry Quinn’s voice sounded from outside the door.

His deep, heavy voice was rough and ragged, as if he’d been drinking.

Sophia glanced at the door, hugged a pillow over her head. She knew he’d come, just didn’t expect it so soon.

The neighbors in the corridor opened their doors, whispering amongst themselves.

Not wanting trouble, Sophia grabbed her phone, got up, and went to the door, peering through the peephole.

Through the peephole, she saw him swaying unsteadily. Even through the door, she could smell the stench of alcohol on him.

She opened the door and a heavy wave of booze crashed in with him, the stench spreading through the air.

In that instant, Henry Quinn threw his broad body around Sophia, catching her off guard.

The door slammed shut.

"Let go!" Sophia struggled to push him away, only to be held even tighter!

"Sophia, I miss you..."

His voice was thick with tears, as he desperately kissed her all over.

She pushed him away in disgust, as if she’d caught the plague, but he was like a piece of sticky gum that she couldn’t peel off.

"Henry Quinn! You’re drunk! Don’t touch me!"

She shouted, but who knows how, in their tussle, she was dragged over to the sofa.

Henry might not be tall, but everyone knew he had a strong build; there was no way for her to break free. Strength-wise, she was absolutely no match for him.

"Heard you got together with Zane Sterling?"

Sienna Lawson really acted fast. Probably ticked off because Zane hit her, and now she’s out stirring trouble!

Henry Quinn grabbed both her wrists in one of his big hands, pinning them at her stomach, while the other braced above her on the sofa, looking down intimidatingly.

Sophia couldn’t move at all—her legs were pinned under his, pressed down tight.

"You blocked me on WhatsApp, blocked me everywhere! Can you really be this heartless?!" he accused her, like some ignorant defendant in court.

"And what about Zane Sterling, huh?! He’s cleaner than you! Richer than you! Hotter than you!"

"Smack!"

"Ah!"

Henry Quinn slapped Sophia.

Sophia froze, tears streaming down her face before she even realized it.

Henry was stunned as well. Then it hit him—he’d just hit the woman he loved.

He quickly leaned down, caressing her red cheek, eyes full of guilt.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry..."

"Get your filthy hands off me!" Sophia gritted her teeth and secretly dialed the Vampire boss’s number.

"You still won’t forgive me..."

"You’re not worthy!"

Henry’s eyes reddened, and his throat tightened. The air around them seemed thick and suffocating, his heartbeat stopped in that instant, as if the sound of freezing blood was audible, and his grip on her only tightened,

Sophia bit her lip from the pain.

His eyes changed, melting into watery tenderness.

Sophia knew she was doomed.

She could only feel Henry’s hand moving gently across her pretty cheek, trying to wipe away her tears.

"Don’t cry. Let me love you too. Zane Sterling is a big shot, he’ll never let you into his life. But I would—we could go abroad, go somewhere no one knows us..."

"Scum! Dream on!" she cursed through clenched teeth.