Chapter 3

Charlie Lowell poked his head into the private room.

Ethan Roscente was the only one inside.

"Ethan, where's Sophia? Isn't she with you?"

Ethan looked up.

His gaze was cold enough to freeze a person solid.

Charlie immediately shut his mouth.

Right. He shouldn't have asked.

Julian Winston walked over, swirling his glass.

"The three-hour bet is now a day overdue. Do you concede, Ethan?"

Ethan gave a slight smirk.

"What's the forfeit?"

"No drinking today." Julian's smile was meaningful. "Call Sophia. Use your gentlest voice and say: 'Baby, I'm sorry. I love you.'"

The room erupted in laughter.

Charlie was quick. He snatched Ethan's phone, found Sophia Sullivan's number, and dialed.

"Ring—"

The call connected.

But the next second, a mechanical female voice sounded. "We're sorry. The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…"

Charlie froze.

Julian raised an eyebrow.

Ethan's expression darkened.

Charlie forced a dry laugh. "Maybe Sophia's busy… Should I try again?"

He dialed a second time.

It went straight to a busy signal.

Cold sweat broke out on Charlie's brow.

"It's… probably just a bad signal?"

Julian chuckled lightly. "Clearly, you've been blocked."

Charlie: "…"

Ethan took his phone back.

The screen went dark.

His face showed no emotion.

"Breaking up isn't a joke. From now on, if anyone mentions Sophia Sullivan again, don't blame me for turning on you."

Julian studied him for a few seconds.

"I hope you won't regret this."

Ethan scoffed.

Regret?

Those two words had never existed in his life.

…

Seven in the morning.

Olivia Lopez returned from her morning run.

She smelled something delicious the moment she opened the door.

Sophia was coming out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of oatmeal porridge.

She wore a houndstooth dress with her hair in a high ponytail. Even without makeup, she was stunningly beautiful.

"Go shower, then eat."

Olivia blinked. "New look? The long black hair is nice… Did Ethan ask you to change it?"

Sophia shot her a look.

"Can't you think of something positive?"

"Isn't him coming to pick you up a good thing?" Olivia leaned over the dining table. "Wow, such a feast?"

Her hand darted out to grab some food, but was swiftly slapped away.

"Your hands are dirty. Go shower first."

"Tch, double standards! You never said that when Ethan used his hands."

"I'll definitely scold him next time I get the chance."

"Yeah, right…"

By the time Olivia finished her shower, Sophia was already heading out the door with an insulated lunchbox.

"She said she made breakfast for me, but it's really for a man… Prioritizing romance over friendship…"

…

VIP ward at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Professor Eleanor Watson was reading a thesis, her reading glasses perched on her nose.

Professor Benjamin Murphy pushed the door open.

"Eleanor! How are you feeling? Any better?"

"Benjamin? What brings you here?" Eleanor quickly sat up. "It was just a minor surgery. The doctors insisted I stay this long…"

"Appendicitis is no small matter. You're not as young as you used to be, recovery is slower." Benjamin adjusted her pillows. "This year's postgraduate quotas are out. You get three. I get four."

"Three…" Eleanor murmured.

"Still only planning to take two?"

"Yes. I can't handle more."

Benjamin pursed his lips.

She was clearly saving that spot. So stubborn.

Henry Lorenz entered with two junior students.

"Professor Watson. Professor Murphy." They placed down fruit and flowers. "We came to see you."

During the casual chat, one junior suddenly said, "I heard there's a freshman this year who's amazing. She got directly admitted to the combined Master's and Ph.D. program."

In MIT's School of Life Sciences, there had been fewer than three direct-admit Ph.D. students in the past decade.

"Gold medals in last year's International Math and Computer Science Olympiads. Direct admission to our school."

"Two gold medals? That's good, I guess. But I remember a senior, one of Professor Watson's students. When she entered, she had four gold medals! A full sweep in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science! Her name was… Sophia? Sophia Sullivan?"

"It's getting late!" Benjamin suddenly interrupted. "You should head back to campus now."

The students exchanged confused looks but said their goodbyes and left.

The ward fell quiet.

Eleanor's lips trembled. Tears slid down her cheeks.

"A genius like that… it shouldn't be like this… Why didn't she cherish her gift?"

Benjamin sighed. "Don't get upset…"

"The last time I saw her, she said she wanted love… Ha! Love… She broke my heart…"

Sophia stood outside the hospital room door.

Her grip on the insulated lunchbox was so tight her knuckles were white.

Tears fell silently.

I'm sorry, Professor…

In the end, she still didn't have the courage to go in.

She left the lunchbox at the nurses' station.

"Please give this to Professor Watson. Thank you."

The nurse looked up. "Could you please fill out a form…"

But Sophia had already turned and run away.

She rushed outside the inpatient building.

Fresh air filled her lungs, but the suffocating guilt remained.

"Sophia?"

A familiar voice.

Amelia Roscente walked over in high heels.

Dressed in professional attire, carrying a Lady Dior bag, she looked intelligent and capable.

Ethan's sister.

"What are you doing at the hospital?" She looked Sophia over. "Not the maternity ward, I hope?"

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If Sophia were pregnant, their mother, Victoria Roscente, would be furious.

"Amelia." Sophia managed a weak smile.

"Your eyes are so red? Have you been crying?"

Sophia was silent.

"Did you fight with my brother again?"

"No."

Amelia's eyes held sympathy.

She actually liked Sophia quite a bit.

Pretty, good personality.

A shame she didn't meet the Roscente family's standards.

Especially Victoria, who only wanted a top-school, high-achieving daughter-in-law.

"My brother has a terrible temper. You just have to be more patient."

Sophia said softly, "We've already bro—"

"Oh, I'm in a rush. Let's chat next time."

Amelia glanced at her watch and hurried into the inpatient building.

Today, she was here to visit Professor Watson.

Her chance at the direct Ph.D. admission depended on this.