Chapter 444

Sebastian Evans's gaze was heavy.

Ethan Roscente felt uneasy under his stare.

"Heh," Sebastian suddenly laughed. "You're here to watch the show."

Ethan nodded frankly. "Yes."

"If you're here for the show, why leave before it's over?"

Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Grandpa and Grandma had a falling out with my mother."

"So?" What did that have to do with him?

Sebastian sighed softly. "My mother is an adopted daughter of the Atlante family."

Ethan froze instantly.

"Sophia and I share no blood relation." He exhaled a plume of smoke, his tone flat.

"Tch—" Ethan sneered. "Blood relation doesn't matter. The moment the old man publicly announced Sophia Sullivan's status, you could only be her cousin! The outside world will only see you as siblings."

"Even though Sophia and I are separated, we were together for so many years. I know her. With the label of 'cousin,' even if it's just in name, she won't choose you."

"Sebastian Evans, you're out of the game. Understand?"

The corner of Ethan's mouth lifted in a mocking, challenging smile.

Sebastian looked at him coldly. After a long moment, he suddenly laughed.

"If you know her, you should know how much she values family. Even if we can't be together, I can stay by her side as family. Care for her. Protect her. As for you—"

"Getting close to her is a luxury you can't afford."

"From beginning to end, the one who hasn't faced reality is you—Ethan Roscente."

Sebastian's words struck deep, each one a precise hit.

Ethan trembled all over, his eyes red. "The days are long. We'll see!"

He threw down the harsh words, turned, and left.

He had never won, yet he insisted on coming to provoke.

And Sebastian…

He had won, yet he couldn't bring himself to smile.

...

Meanwhile, Sophia Sullivan returned to the Atlante residence with her parents.

Isabella Sullivan was exhausted. She rubbed her legs as soon as she entered. "Socializing is more tiring than writing. These heels hurt my feet. I'm avoiding these events whenever possible from now on…"

David Sullivan knelt to massage them for her, agreeing readily. "Yes, yes, we'll go less often. Go lie down in the room. I'll give you a proper massage."

"Okay…"

The couple chatted, heading upstairs by themselves.

Sophia, left behind in the living room: ?

Her phone suddenly rang.

Seeing the name on the screen, her gaze softened.

"Hello, Professor?"

"Sophia, congratulations."

"Thank you for coming."

She had only invited Olivia Lopez and Alexander Laurent separately.

Both had come.

"You today... are very beautiful." The man's voice was slightly halting, as if unaccustomed to saying such things.

Sophia was taken aback. A smile unconsciously touched her lips. "Only today?"

"...Ah?" He paused on the other end, flustered. "No... I meant you're especially beautiful today. You're always beautiful…"

"Really?" she asked, laughing.

"Yes!" he answered earnestly.

Sophia couldn't help but laugh.

On the other end, Alexander Laurent held his phone, scratching his head in embarrassment.

...

The Lunar New Year period ended, and with it, the winter break.

School was about to start. David Sullivan had to return to his city.

Isabella planned to go to Hong Kong with Stone Macmillan to discuss international copyrights.

Though the old couple was reluctant, they understood their daughter and son-in-law had their own work and lives. They were accustomed to living in their city and couldn't stay long in Kyoto.

It was already rare for them to come for New Year's Eve and stay for these extra days.

They couldn't ask for more.

Just one day after the couple left, the old house suddenly felt too quiet. Florence Atlante felt unaccustomed to it.

Life had been like this before, but now...

It could only be said that it's easy to adapt to luxury, but hard to return to simplicity!

Having tasted the comfort of having her daughter and son-in-law around, how could she bear the loneliness and quiet now?

"No," the old lady said suddenly, getting up. "I'm going to their city!"

Isaac Atlante looked utterly helpless. "Don't be unreasonable. Isabella hasn't returned from Hong Kong yet. What will you do there alone?"

"I... I can go see David, can't I? Or... go to Hong Kong! I can't stand being in this house anymore!"

Isaac sighed. "David leaves early and returns late, teaching and nurturing minds. He's taking on homeroom teacher duties this semester. Wouldn't you just be adding to his burden if you went now?"

"I—I won't disturb him. Can't I just stay home? I could even cook for him, wait for Isabella to return from Hong Kong…"

"You, at your age, are regressing. Can't you be apart from the children?"

Florence snorted lightly. "I don't believe you don't want to go!"

Isaac was speechless.

Alright, he did want to go.

The old lady: "If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain. Are you coming with me or not?"

Isaac: "..."

Early the next morning, the old lady got up, had breakfast, and started sighing again.

The old man remained calm, wearing his reading glasses and looking at something on his tablet.

The old lady sat beside him, uninterested in what he was doing. She looked at the fruit on the coffee table and thought of Isabella again.

She missed her one moment, felt sad the next.

The old man couldn't stand it anymore and handed her the tablet. "Here, pick one you like."

"?"

The old lady took it suspiciously and found pictures of villas and townhouses on the screen.

"This…"

Isaac: "Weren't we planning to buy a place in their city anyway? If our daughter can't come to Kyoto, we can go to her."

"We hadn't found a suitable property, so we held off. A couple of days ago, Assistant Jiang called saying he found a few good options. Told me to look and decide which one to buy…"

"These three are all good. Move-in ready, fully furnished. The decision is yours."

Florence shot him a mock-annoyed look, immediately beaming. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Made me upset for two days… This one is good! This villa is right in Isabella's neighborhood!"

Isaac glanced down. "I knew it…"

"You knew and still asked me?"

He rubbed his nose. "Wasn't I worried living too close to the young ones might cause friction? Really not considering the others? These two are also quite close, just a ten-minute walk."

Florence: "You said it yourself—a ten-minute walk! That's not close? I believe David isn't a difficult person. We'll get along fine! I guarantee no friction!"

"Fine, this one it is! I'll handle the paperwork immediately." The old man finalized the decision.

The old lady, thinking she could soon live in the same neighborhood as her daughter, instantly felt her gloom vanish. She was refreshed and energized.

Just then, a servant came in and said Irene Valdemar was at the gate, asking if she should be let in.

The old couple exchanged a look. "No, tell her to leave."

"But…"

Florence: "What is it?"

"Miss— I mean, Irene Valdemar says… Theodore Valdemar wants a divorce."