CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 86: CAN ZANE STERLING PROTECT YOU FOR A LIFETIME?

Tim watched the two leave, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

"You seem pretty familiar with Director Jennings."

"Just a brief encounter, nothing very involved." Sophia didn’t want to elaborate, so she smiled and said, "I thought you weren’t coming today."

Tim found a spot and sat down with Sophia, "You all probably heard about my situation with him, but nobody believes me, not even him."

A hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes. "If it were you, what would you do?"

Sophia was caught off guard by the question, "What’s past is past."

"But I don’t want to give up."

"Have you considered that he might have moved on and could have someone else he likes?"

Tim took a sip of her drink, staring at him in the distance, "I believe he has moved on, but I don’t believe he has someone else he likes."

In her eyes, Zane isn’t the type of man to easily fall for someone else.

There aren’t any women around him who are worthy of him.

Sophia wanted to tell her the truth and make her give up hope.

Unrequited love is a tiring role.

But she didn’t say anything.

Saying it would only add to her troubles and bring unnecessary trouble to herself.

Such matters require the person involved to hit the wall themselves.

To experience regret on their own.

Only then can they let go.

So let her be.

At that moment, Hugh broke away from the crowd and came to sit on the secluded couch with them. "What’s there to not believe? The more you push, the more he’s repulsed by you."

Tim was surprised that Hugh would discuss her situation with her.

"Honestly, you have the options, why not look at other men? Why bother with someone who’s moved on? He doesn’t have a place for you in his heart, so why lower your value?" Hugh was not as polite as Sophia.

Tim chuckled.

She only half-listened to what was said, "I don’t want to regret it later."

Sophia and Hugh exchanged glances but said nothing.

Tim didn’t want to discuss the issue too much, so she changed the subject. "While reviewing the government’s call for designers, I saw Professor Fumble’s name. I heard they were selected. Professor Irving, could there be an opportunity for an introduction?"

Hugh let out a sound of surprise and glanced at Sophia.

Tim quickly said, "No need to force it, there’s plenty of time."

Hugh smiled, "Professor Fumble doesn’t like to be disturbed, but there could be a chance for communication."

She tactfully declined.

However, at Tim’s invitation, the two exchanged contacts.

The three chatted for quite a while before Tim left the venue.

Hugh: "She’s quite persistent."

Sophia smiled.

Tim’s personality is indeed quite persistent, it seems Nancy taught her well.

Their blood runs the same.

Apparently, she underestimated Tim.

She thought she’d give up after Zane’s rejection.

Surprisingly, she became more determined, quite admirable.

Buzz—buzz—

A string of unfamiliar numbers appeared on Sophia’s phone.

She didn’t answer and hung up.

"Who is it?" Hugh asked.

"Not sure."

"Wait here, I’m going to the restroom."

"Okay."

Just as Hugh left, the phone started vibrating again.

Reluctantly, she answered.

[Hello.]

[Sophia, was it you who had Zane do that?]

She furrowed her brow, taking the phone away to look at the unfamiliar number.

The voice sounded like it was Sienna, possibly.

[What’s the matter?]

The gritted teeth on the other end made Sophia smirk.

[I knew it was you! Hugh loves you like crazy! Yet you dared to act so heavy-handed!]

[Who is Hugh? Hmph—]

She didn’t know how Zane dealt with Henry.

But hearing he was doing poorly made her happy.

[If Henry doesn’t wake up! I want your life! You better pray Zane protects you forever, or else the next one on the hospital bed will be you!]

Over the phone, she vaguely heard Henry calling out Sophia’s name in his dreams.

"Sophia... Sophia..."

"Useless! Almost dying and still thinking of that worthless woman!"

[With all that effort, you should keep an eye on your husband, prevent him from causing trouble. If he doesn’t seek trouble, he won’t find any.]

[He loved you for so many years, yet you treat him so poorly and drive him to the edge!]

[Laughable, should I show affection to a cheating man? Even tofu has a brain, why don’t you?]

[If you knew Henry married me for you, would you still say these words?]

Sophia paused, batting her eyelashes.

For her?

Ha—

Cheated, married another woman, claimed it’s for her?

How noble!

She casually asked, [If he finds out the child you’re carrying isn’t his, do you think he’ll fight you?]

Silence from the other end.

You can feel how terrified Sienna must be at this moment.

Her face went pale, her hand supporting the wall, the other on her abdomen.

How did Sophia find out?

If word of this spread, she and Henry would be finished.

Henry’s heart might not be with her, but at least his body was.

She believed one day, Henry would surely be won over by her.

This must not be known!

Beep—beep—

The other side hung up.

Looks like Henry was lying in a hospital bed in a coma.

She looked at the number and turned off the screen.

Her heart was not stirred.

Sienna’s abrupt end to the call made Sophia’s heart skip a beat.

Now, she didn’t need to investigate to know the child she’s carrying isn’t Henry’s.

But whether it’s Young Master Gordon’s, she didn’t know.

She lifted her glass, finishing the last of her wine.

Can Zane protect her forever?

Sophia pursed her lips, watching Zane approaching from not far away.

She was quite afraid that if Zane killed someone, he’d have to go to jail.

Then wouldn’t she become a widow?

Zane sat beside her.

Sophia lifted her skirt slightly and shifted.

The sheer skirt brushed against his trousers.

The pants suddenly became taut.

A spark can start a fire.

Really unbearable.

"What’s wrong? Drunk again?" he asked.

She smiled faintly and shook her head.

"Zane."

"Hmm?"

He looked intently at the petite woman with a flushed face and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tight.

"..."

Sophia slid next to him.

A rush of scorching breath hit her unexpectedly.

She felt uneasy, every time he got close she felt feverish.

She worried others would see.

But fortunately, most of the guests had left the venue.

His large hand roamed her waist, fingers stroking the side.

Soft.

He couldn’t understand.

How can a woman be so soft?

In moments of passion, lying in bed as supple as water, women really are made of water.

"You..."

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought at the tip of her tongue.

She wanted to say stop with the threats.

But since he stood up for her, saying that might make him misunderstand her feelings about Henry.

"What’s so hard to say? Flirting with other men behind my back?" With that, he tightened his grip around her waist.

"No!" She bit her lip, unable to confess.

"You better not be."