Chapter 372

Sophia Sullivan turned her head.

Sebastian Evans met her gaze. "?"

"Mr. Evans, I've caused you trouble again."

He paused briefly, then a soft smile touched his lips. "I don't mind."

She looked down. "Your feelings... all I can do is say thank you. I can't return them. Is it really worth it?"

Her words carried a deeper meaning.

He hadn't expected her to be so direct. After a moment, his smile remained. "You've always been clear-headed. So am I. You have the right to refuse. I have the freedom to persist. I've always believed—"

Sophia looked up.

His eyes held hers, each word deliberate. "Where sincerity reaches, even metal and stone can crack. If it hasn't happened yet, the timing just isn't right."

"What if the right time never comes?"

"Then I'll wait forever."

"You'll get hurt," she said softly.

"I can take the loss," he replied without hesitation.

Sophia slid into the passenger seat. She took off his jacket, smoothed out the wrinkles carefully, and handed it back to him.

Sebastian gestured for her to put it in the back. He started the car and drove away from the scene.

As they talked about the accident, Sophia mentioned casually,

"...Luckily Professor Laurent taught me how to handle sudden high beams. Otherwise, I might not have hit the brakes. I might have swerved right instinctively..."

To the right was a guardrail. Beyond it, that family of three had been crouched. Anyone stumbling onto the road would have been a disaster.

"Alexander Laurent?" Sebastian caught the key point instantly. "He taught you? How?"

Sophia didn't overthink it. "Professor Laurent has been helping me practice driving lately."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed. His knuckles on the steering wheel whitened slightly. He kept his tone casual. "I thought he was swamped. He has time to coach you?"

"Seems manageable. He's been home on weekends recently."

"Really?" Sebastian's tone was subtle. "He's quite patient."

Mentioning patience, Sophia immediately sat up straighter—

"That time I... and also that other time... Professor Laurent is the most patient instructor I've ever met. His temper is so calm, he never yells. People say he's cold and hard to approach, but I think that's a misunderstanding..."

Sebastian listened to her praise Alexander Laurent endlessly. Outwardly calm, inside he was churning.

Patient?

That was ulterior motives!

Good temper?

Depends on who it is!

At the alley entrance, Sebastian hit the brakes.

The stop was a bit abrupt. Sophia lurched forward before the seatbelt pulled her back.

A flicker of apology passed through Sebastian's eyes. "Sorry."

"It's fine. Thank you for today."

Sophia unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed the door open.

Sebastian said, "If something like this happens again, don't tough it out. If money can solve it, pay. If it can't, buy time."

"Okay. I hope there isn't a next time."

"Wait." Sebastian spoke suddenly, getting out of the car after her.

Sophia turned back. "?"

"I'll walk you up."

"No need—"

Before she finished, a figure silhouetted against the light in the distance moved. "Sophia?"

The person hidden in the shadows stepped forward. Their form gradually became clear,轮廓 sharp.

"Professor?" Sophia was surprised.

Alexander Laurent walked up to them. His gaze swept lightly over Sebastian Evans.

Their eyes met. Undercurrents stirred in Alexander's eyes.

The corner of Sebastian's mouth lifted slightly. He met the gaze directly, a hint of unspoken challenge in his look.

Alexander looked away, turning to Sophia. "Did something happen on the road? You're two hours later than usual."

Late winter, deep night. The old neighborhood was deserted. Streetlights flickered. Worried about her safety, Alexander came down to wait for her whenever he had time.

Sophia's arrival time varied, but usually within half an hour. Today was two hours late.

And she got out of Sebastian Evans's car.

He guessed there must have been trouble on the road.

The night wind was biting. Alexander saw her nose was red from the cold. "Let's go inside. It's cold out."

Sophia nodded, blowing on her icy hands. She turned to say goodbye to Sebastian.

Under the streetlight, two figures walked side by side. Their steps were strangely in sync.

The motion-activated lights in the stairwell lit up floor by floor. Faint murmurs could be heard.

Sebastian stood still, watching the direction they left. His mind replayed the look of pure admiration in Sophia's eyes when she talked about Alexander Laurent. His expression darkened.

Last time, because of his friendship with Ethan Roscente, he hesitated and was a step too late. Was he going to watch her walk toward someone else again?

He originally wanted to take it slow, wait for things to happen naturally. But at this moment, Sebastian didn't want to wait any longer.

Waiting any longer might lead to complications.

He had already paid for his past hesitation with six years. He finally waited for her to part ways with Ethan.

Making the same mistake once was an accident. Making it twice was stupidity.

The moment he turned, the gloom in the man's eyes turned into resolve. It was as if he had made up his mind!

...

Winter, twenty-fifth day. Minor Cold.

As the saying goes, Minor Cold, Major Cold, freeze into a ball.

It was also the second to last solar term before New Year's Eve.

For Sophia Sullivan, today held another special meaning—

Her birthday.

Early morning, the first well-wisher was her father, David Sullivan.

Sophia was still in bed when the video call came—

"Happy birthday, sweetie!"

"Thanks, Dad~"

"Your birthday gift was delivered. Remember to pick it up at the station." On screen, David wore an apron. The background was the beige kitchen tiles of their villa.

"There's a gift too? What is it?"

David chuckled. "Open it and see!"

"Keeping it a secret?" Sophia rolled over in bed, wrapping herself tightly in the comforter like a cocoon.

"Secret? Whose secret?" Isabella Sullivan leaned into the frame.

David: "A little secret between father and daughter. No snooping~"

Isabella: "What secret could you have? You just bought a new—"

"Hey! Don't say it! The surprise is ruined..."

Sophia blinked. "A new what? A computer? An iPad?"

David's eyes widened. "How did you know? Did you peek at my shopping history?"

Last week, Sophia had mentioned offhandedly that she wanted an iPad mini for portability. She didn't expect David not only to remember but actually buy it...

"Thank you, Dad! This is really practical. I love it!"

"Hehe... I wanted it to be a surprise. Your mom ruined it..."

Isabella laughed. "Your dad really went all out this time. Did his research early. Someone who never watches live streams camped out for half a day just to grab a coupon. Paid for it with his private stash in the end."

He was heartbroken about it...