Chapter 273

Ethan Roscente's gaze was heavy on her face.

Deep, turbulent emotions swirled in his eyes.

"What I want, you've always known."

Sophia Sullivan frowned deeply.

"It's simple. Come back to me. Forget the agreement. I'll give you anything you want."

"Absolutely not!"

Her reply was resolute.

"Sophia…" The man let out a bitter laugh. "I know you must think I'm despicable right now. But I truly can't lose you… Give me another chance, please? I promise, it will only be you from now on. I'll change everything you don't like. Just believe in me one more time, alright?"

He reached out to take Sophia's hand.

She swiftly pulled away.

Sophia: "I won't believe a single word you say. And I will never agree to your demands."

She collected the documents and pen. "I shouldn't have come today. If you don't want to sign, then forget it."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Her steps were quick and urgent.

Even though she had long given up hope on him, hearing those words firsthand still shocked her with the audacity of the man she once loved.

Outside the restaurant, Sophia walked to the curb to hail a taxi.

Before she could open the door, her wrist was seized by the man who had chased after her.

The driver, seeing the altercation, assumed they were arguing and immediately drove off.

"What are you doing? Ethan Roscente!"

"Just walking away without a word, leaving me behind, always just watching your back. Sophia Sullivan, you're so good at tormenting me!"

"So it's all my fault? You, the great young master Roscente, are never wrong, always justified? Go home, Ethan Roscente. Let your mother spoil you. I have no such obligation!"

The man's face darkened. He gripped her hand tightly, his breathing uneven as he struggled to suppress his anger.

"Let me take you home."

Sophia: "No, I can get back myself."

"Do you have to be so stubborn?"

"Hah. I simply don't want to see you."

Ethan reached for her again—

"She said she doesn't want to. Didn't you hear?" Sebastian Evans suddenly appeared, stepping between them, shielding Sophia.

Their eyes met. Sebastian's gaze was sharp and imposing. Ethan met it coldly, unwilling to back down.

"This is between her and me. You'd better not interfere!"

Sebastian smirked. "Her business is my business. I will interfere. What can you do about it?"

"What are you? What right do you have to interfere?!"

Sebastian: "Not sure what I am, but definitely more important than you."

Ethan: "…"

Sebastian turned to Sophia, his voice instantly softening. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head slightly. "Could you please take me home?"

Sebastian: "It's no trouble. My pleasure."

He opened the car door.

Sophia got in.

Ethan clenched his fists, forced to watch helplessly as Sebastian drove away with her.

But…

Did she think this was over?

The document wasn't signed.

They had plenty of time.

Inside the car—

Sophia watched the cityscape fly past the window, bustling and vibrant.

Sebastian noticed her low and agitated mood. He quietly turned on some music.

"…Feeling any better?"

Sophia: "Thank you."

"Want to hear a joke? A nurse sees a patient drinking in his room. She goes over and cautions: 'Be careful, liver!' The patient smiles back: 'Hello, sweetie!' Well? Funny?"

Sophia: "…That's cold."

"It's a dad joke. The coldness is what makes it funny."

"…" He really knew how to justify himself.

Sebastian's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "Tell me, what's wrong? What was so important you had to see him?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"You despise him. You wouldn't have dinner with him unless… you needed something. Can you tell me about it?"

Sophia thought for a moment, then began to speak slowly…

Sebastian: "So, you need his signed agreement to finalize the procedures?"

"Yes."

"Couldn't you just… get someone else to sign it?"

Sophia turned her head, staring directly at him.

"Ahem!" Sebastian coughed lightly. "Just joking."

"I thought funding and approval would be the hardest parts. I didn't expect the problem to be with me."

Sebastian: "He didn't sign?"

"No."

The man's eyes darkened. "What were his conditions?"

Sophia: "…"

"Did he ask you to come back to him? To start over?"

"…" Had he been hiding under the table eavesdropping?

"Tch! How shameless! Still dreaming of getting back together? He has no self-awareness at all."

Sophia: "…" A critique from a fellow man hit particularly hard.

"What are you muttering about in your head?"

Sophia started. "…Was I?"

"Definitely!" Sebastian said sternly, looking like he'd already guessed and she shouldn't pretend otherwise.

Sophia: "…"

"Fine! It definitely wasn't anything good! You weren't secretly cursing me, were you?"

"Ahem— Nothing like that…"

Sebastian: "Where did you say that plot of land was located?"

"East郊."

"Good location. Close to the city, convenient transportation. Did he give it to you when you broke up?"

Sophia's mouth twitched. "Why do you have so many questions?"

"This… is really tricky. The pen is in Ethan Roscente's hand. Neither you nor I can force him to sign. But this isn't the only way."

Sophia's eyes lit up. "You have another idea?"

"Yes."

The light in her eyes grew brighter.

Sebastian: "I also have land in the East郊. I'm willing to sign. You can use it to build your lab."

Sophia was stunned. He said it so casually, but this was land, not a toy!

"Forget it. I don't have the money to buy your land."

Sebastian: "No charge. A gift."

"Then I definitely can't accept it. No merits to deserve such a favor."

"Then just pay whatever amount you're willing to. A token gesture?"

Sophia: "…Mr. Evans, is your family's land not selling? Are you forcing it on people?"

Sebastian smiled. "To me, you're not just 'people.'"

Sophia: "…" There was no response to that.

Before getting out of the car, she reiterated her position. "I appreciate your willingness to help, but I will handle this matter myself."

Sebastian heard this. He was a little disappointed, but it was expected. "Alright."

If she could be easily swayed by such things, she wouldn't be Sophia Sullivan.

…

Back home, Sophia sat on the sofa, looking at the documents and pen she had brought back untouched, and couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Downstairs, Alexander Laurent was returning from the lab.

He happened to see Sebastian Evans's car at the alley entrance.

He hadn't paid it any mind initially, but Sebastian stopped and greeted him first. "Good afternoon, Professor Laurent."

Alexander turned his head, meeting Sebastian's faintly smiling eyes. He spoke calmly. "What brings you here, Mr. Evans?"

"Of course, to bring Sophia home."

Sophia?