Chapter 48

Sophia frowned at him.

She was about to speak.

A surprised voice suddenly cut in. "Sophia?!"

Charlie Lowell had just finished a dinner engagement.

He spotted the two figures through the café's floor-to-ceiling window while passing by.

Sebastian Evans and Sophia Sullivan?

He thought his eyes were deceiving him.

He rubbed his eyes.

He confirmed it was them.

A complex expression crossed Charlie's face as he pushed the door open.

His gaze shifted between the two of them.

Sophia abandoned her intention to continue the conversation.

She forced a faint smile. "What a coincidence."

She picked up her bag and stood. "I should get going."

Charlie slid into the seat she had just vacated.

He looked across at Sebastian. "Are you actually serious about this?"

Sebastian took a slow, deliberate sip of his coffee.

"Serious about what?"

"Sophia would never accept you." Charlie shook his head.

Sebastian paused. "Why not?"

"First, you're not her type. Second, there's your history with Ethan."

Sebastian let out a soft, derisive sound.

Charlie leaned closer, lowering his voice. "When did you start having designs on Sophia?"

Sebastian looked out the window.

"A long time ago," he said evenly. "Roughly around the time she first got together with Ethan."

"You animal!" Charlie gritted his teeth. "Coveting your friend's woman!"

"What did I do while they were together?" Sebastian retorted coldly. "They're broken up now. Am I not allowed to have feelings?"

"Just having those feelings back then was wrong!"

"Weren't you and Julian Winston both into the same girl in high school?"

Charlie was stung. "That was... immature... You can't control who you like..."

"And I can control it?"

Ethan Roscente didn't know how to cherish her.

Naturally, someone else would.

He hadn't stolen her away.

He waited until now to make a move.

That was already showing considerable regard for their past friendship.

Charlie ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Just give up. Forced fruit isn't sweet."

Ethan had already turned against Sebastian.

He declared their friendship over.

He demanded that Sebastian be excluded from any gathering he attended.

Their circle didn't dare comment much.

Rumors about the reason for their fallout varied.

Some said a business collaboration failed due to uneven profit distribution.

Others guessed there was tension between their families.

There was even a rumor about them fighting over an escort.

This last rumor was the most widespread.

Charlie brushed it off outwardly.

But inwardly, he blamed Sebastian for being dishonorable.

Sebastian shrugged indifferently. "Save your breath. You don't know if it's sweet until you taste it."

...

Sophia left the café.

She went to the mall and bought a new scarf and a cashmere coat.

Then she went grocery shopping.

By the time she emerged, the sky was dark.

Winter nights came early.

She quickened her pace home.

It was completely dark by the time she reached her apartment building.

A figure suddenly rushed out from the shadows of a nearby alley.

She thought it was a homeless person.

A chill ran down her spine, her hair standing on end.

She only relaxed when she recognized Ethan Roscente.

But he reeked of alcohol and was swaying unsteadily.

Her frown returned.

Ethan had been waiting a long time.

The cold had turned the tip of his nose red.

Emboldened by drink, he grabbed her wrist.

"Mimi..."

"Let go." Sophia tried to pull away.

She didn't know when it started.

But she could no longer stand his touch.

"I won't! Not unless you come back!"

Sophia didn't know what had gotten into him.

"You're drunk."

"Mimi... I'm serious..."

He was the second man today to say he was serious.

Ethan continued, "Before, you asked if I came back to be the other man? I've broken up with Isabella Langley now. I can pretend what happened with Sebastian never happened."

"I spoke out of turn yesterday. I apologize. You can hit me, yell at me, whatever you want."

The night was deep, and few people were around.

The weather forecast said today was the coldest day of the winter so far.

A chill seeped into Sophia's back, and the air she breathed felt icy.

"I'm sorry." Her lashes fluttered slightly as she looked down. "We can't go back."

This stubborn, proud man was finally yielding.

But she no longer cared.

"Your stomach is weak. You should drink less."

She pulled her hand free and turned to leave.

Drink less...

She still cared about him!

Ethan's eyes lit up with hope. He chased after her and grabbed her arm.

He pulled her tightly into his embrace.

"Mimi, you still care about me, don't you? Can we start over?"

He urgently tried to kiss her.

Sophia's eyes widened. She pushed him away.

She wiped her mouth with disgust. "Don't touch me!"

Ethan froze completely.

Her disdainful gesture, her disgusted look —they were like sharp knives, stabbing him until he bled.

The alcohol-induced warmth vanished instantly, leaving only a cold sober.

Sophia spoke calmly. "The truth is, I knew all along. During all those years we were together, you slept with more than one other woman. You thought you hid it well. But a woman in love is a detective. Did you really think I couldn't see all those traces you failed to clean up?"

The first time she noticed something was wrong was when he returned from a business trip.

She found a corner of a condom wrapper while unpacking his suitcase.

It was smaller than a fingernail.

But she recognized instantly it wasn't the brand they used.