Chapter 10

Alexander Laurent remained silent.

Food was merely fuel to him.

Its taste was irrelevant.

"All washed."

Sophia Sullivan looked up.

The bell peppers and baby bok choy were arranged with obsessive precision.

"Something amusing?" Alexander glanced up.

Sophia cleared her throat lightly.

"Nothing. You can go ahead."

"Alright." He dried his hands and gave a slight nod.

Sophia prepared a table of light, bland dishes.

Most were tailored to Professor Eleanor Watson's dietary needs.

"You still remember my preferences..." the elderly woman sighed softly.

After the meal, Sophia began clearing the dishes.

Alexander naturally followed her into the kitchen.

He stood under the warm yellow light, his tall frame casting a long shadow.

His profile was sharp and defined, like a sculpture.

Professor Watson leaned against the doorway.

"Clara, how did you meet your senior colleague?"

Alexander was her most accomplished protégé.

Sophia was her favorite student.

She had long intended to introduce them.

Fate, it seemed, had brought them together first.

A voice suddenly called from outside—

"Professor Watson! You have a visitor!"

Professor Watson turned and went out.

A smiling young woman stood in the living room.

"Hello, Professor. I'm Amelia Roscente. I visited you at the hospital and inquired about the graduate program."

Professor Watson nodded.

"I remember. Please, have a seat."

Amelia's smile widened.

"I heard you were recuperating at home, so I brought some tonics..."

Professor Watson glanced at the gift boxes on the tea table.

Ginseng, bird's nest, cordyceps...

Her smile faded slightly.

Amelia continued, "About the graduate position I mentioned last time—"

Professor Watson interrupted her.

"Your kindness is appreciated, but please take these back. We admit students every year. The competition is fierce, and selection is based entirely on merit."

Amelia was stunned.

This wasn't what was discussed in the hospital...

The professor had said "there's a chance" and "you could try"...

"Professor, I—"

"Miss Roscente, I'm sorry, but I have other guests. I won't keep you. My assistant will help you carry these to your car."

The dismissal was clear.

Amelia walked out, crestfallen.

She bumped into someone on her way out.

"Sophia Sullivan?" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Sophia wore a simple white T-shirt and a printed apron.

She held a trash bag.

"What a coincidence." Sophia looked surprised, then smiled.

She didn't dislike Amelia.

Though she had a spoiled rich girl's air, it wasn't offensive.

Their acquaintance was superficial at best.

"You..." Amelia looked her over. "Working as a housekeeper now?"

Sophia: "?"

"Did my brother not give you any money?"

"??"

"Oh my god! How tacky! I can't stand this—" She stomped her heels in frustration and stormed off.

She pulled out her phone as she walked.

This wasn't about championing Sophia.

It was about her brother's appalling lack of class!

It was like skipping the tip at a fancy restaurant!

Amelia felt secondhand embarrassment.

"Hey—Ethan! I have to say, you're just—"

The call connected. Amelia prepared to unleash her tirade.

"Busy. Not in the mood for your nonsense."

"Who's nonsense? This is your fault! How can you be so stingy? Stingy men are as disgusting as rats!"

"Go bother someone else if you're having a meltdown." What was she even on about?

Amelia plowed on. "Sophia Sullivan cooked and cleaned for you. She kept you company. How can you not give her a single cent? Forcing her to work as a housekeeper? Don't you care about your reputation?"

Silence on the other end for a beat. "...Who did you say?"

"Sophia Sullivan."

"Housekeeper... What do you mean?"

Amelia described what she saw. "...This time you've really gone too far. Even a devoted follower deserves basic respect. Don't mistreat living things..."

Ethan Roscente didn't hear the rest.

His mind echoed with—

Sophia Sullivan. Housekeeper. Earning money...

So she had cashed the $7.2 million check but didn't dare use it.

He loosened his tie, his gaze dark and unreadable.

His expression was complex, almost philosophical.

Hah. She left so decisively. He thought she had really made it on her own.

Turns out...

Without him, she couldn't even survive.

"Ethan, you spacing out? Your turn."

Sebastian Evans pointed at the dice cup.

"Not playing anymore."

Ethan picked up his jacket and car keys, ready to leave.

"You were the one who wanted to hang out?"

Sebastian was confused.

Ethan: "Changed my mind. Something came up."

She should be begging him to pick her up by now, right?

...

Ethan waited and waited in his car.

Apart from work calls and messages, the call he wanted never came.

He stopped waiting.

He drove straight to Olivia Lopez's apartment.

Sophia had no family or close friends in the city.

Every time they fought, she ran to Olivia's.

He'd gone to fetch her countless times.

He knew the way by heart.

"Ethan Roscente?"

Someone called his name as he got out.

He turned to see Olivia arm-in-arm with a young man, heading home.

"What are you doing here?" Olivia's eyes were wary.

"Where's Sophia Sullivan?"

"What do you want?"

"I asked, where is Sophia Sullivan?" His patience was thin.

Olivia was bold and lived wildly.

Ethan's impression of her was poor.

He'd even warned Sophia to keep her distance, afraid she'd be influenced.

The usually obedient Sophia hadn't listened about this.

Ethan's opinion of Olivia sank further.

Olivia wasn't intimidated. "Get this straight, pal. You broke up. What right do you have to demand where she is?"

Ethan smirked coldly. "How many times have we 'broken up'? You can't even count them on one hand."

"So?"

"Blocking me now is pointless. Don't bother playing the villain."

Sophia would always come crawling back to apologize eventually.

Olivia laughed at his arrogance. "In your eyes, is Clara less than a dog? You can want her or discard her as you please? She's unimportant, not worth cherishing?"

Ethan didn't want to argue. "If you won't tell me, I'll go up and find her myself."

The young man next to Olivia stepped forward to block him. "Sir, breaking and entering is illegal."

Ethan didn't even look at him. He just gave Olivia a cold, knowing smile. "Fine. I'll remember this. But it won't matter. In the end, she'll still come begging back to me, obedient as a dog."