Chapter 114
Olivia Lopez lowered her head to play with her phone.
She didn't dare to meet Sophia Sullivan's eyes.
Sophia stared at her for two seconds.
"Why do you look so guilty?"
Olivia immediately looked up. "Who... Who's guilty? I'm just hungry. Let's go eat!"
A new hot pot place had opened on the Third Ring Road.
They had a limited daily supply.
Olivia had to pull some strings to get a reservation.
The restaurant's decor was simple.
But the beef was sliced fresh.
The broth was simmered with beef bones for eight hours.
It was clear, sweet, and refreshing.
Sophia picked up a slice of beef.
She swished it in the pot for three seconds.
Dipped it in satay sauce.
It was tender and juicy.
Olivia ate ravenously.
She had worked so much overtime this week.
She'd lost three pounds.
She needed to gain it back.
Sophia looked at the table full of meat.
"You ordered this much?"
Olivia bit her chopsticks.
She suddenly remembered something.
"Oh yeah... I just called my brother."
Sophia paused her chopsticks.
Olivia said quietly, "His mom wanted him to come home. He said he was off today, so I... invited him to join us."
She peeked at Sophia.
"You don't mind, do you?"
Sophia lowered her head to drink her soup.
"It's fine."
Alexander Laurent arrived.
It had started raining outside.
His hair was damp.
Water droplets dotted his shoulders.
Olivia was surprised. "You didn't bring an umbrella?"
Alexander gave a faint "Mm."
Sophia suddenly remembered.
The last time it rained.
Alexander had given his umbrella to her.
That umbrella was still in her entryway shoe cabinet.
She buried her head in her soup.
Pretending she knew nothing.
Alexander glanced at her.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
…
Steam rose from the hot pot.
Rain pattered against the window outside.
Sophia felt warm all over from the meal.
Olivia left first after dinner.
Alexander drove Sophia home.
His car was parked at the mall opposite.
They walked back to the residential complex.
They passed through a grove of poplar trees.
The wind suddenly picked up.
Poplar catkins filled the air, swirling everywhere.
Sophia sneezed several times in a row.
Alexander handed her a tissue.
"Cover your nose."
Sophia did so.
Her breathing became much easier.
They quickened their pace home.
They parted ways in the hallway.
As soon as Sophia entered her apartment.
She started sneezing again.
Her nose was bright red.
She drank some hot water.
It provided slight relief.
Then she prepared her lunch for the next day.
By the time she finished, it was already eleven.
She took the trash downstairs.
Her phone rang when she returned.
It was Charlie Lowell.
"Sophia! Ethan is heading your way! He's drunk, I couldn't stop him—"
Sophia didn't get a chance to speak.
A dark figure suddenly rushed out.
"Ah!"
The strong smell of alcohol hit her.
Ethan Roscente's eyes were bloodshot.
He grabbed her wrist.
Snatched her phone and ended the call.
"First Sebastian Evans... now Charlie..."
His voice was hoarse.
"Sophia, you reject me but cozy up to my friends?"
Sophia turned her face away.
"You're drunk."
"Drunk?" Ethan laughed coldly. "In the past, you always took care of me when I was drunk... and now?"
He grabbed her shoulders.
"Why did you change?"
Sophia pushed him away forcefully.
"My concern is only for those who deserve it."
Ethan was stunned.
"I don't deserve it anymore?"
"You stopped deserving it a long time ago."
Sophia turned and ran.
Ethan lunged after her.
He grabbed her hair.
Sophia cried out in pain.