Chapter 496
Sophia, That's Not Fair
Her phone screen lit up.
Nine missed calls from Julian Winston.
And one... from Alexander Laurent.
A new WeChat message popped up.
Forty messages from Julian.
Olivia Lopez skimmed them.
[Having dinner with a man behind my back?]
[Thought it was a girls' night?]
[Isn't Zachary Lowell a man?]
[Olivia, you're such a hypocrite!]
...
[Reply to me!]
...
[Answer your phone!]
...
[I'm dealing with you tonight!]
Olivia scrolled to the bottom.
She rolled her eyes.
Replied: [Piss off]
Julian responded instantly: [Finally decided to grace me with a reply?]
[Olivia, you're heartless]
...
A string of messages flooded in.
Olivia couldn't be bothered to read them.
She exited the chat.
Opened Alexander's WeChat.
Only two messages.
[Where are you and Sophia Sullivan?]
[Is Zachary Lowell there too?]
Olivia raised an eyebrow.
Their last message was from a month ago.
She had only replied with a curt 'Yeah'.
He was usually so sparing with words.
Now he was actively asking about her whereabouts.
And it was about Sophia.
Something was off.
A sly glint flashed in Olivia's eyes.
She found the photo she had secretly taken earlier.
Tapped send with her fingertip.
The stopwatch began counting.
Five seconds.
Her phone vibrated.
Alexander: [Address]
Olivia's eyes widened.
She had guessed right.
She pondered for a moment.
Replied: [Bro, don't Sophia and Zachary make a cute couple?]
Silence from the other end for a few seconds.
[No]
Olivia was shocked.
So direct?
She pressed further: [Why not? Sophia's been single for two years. It's time she started dating.]
Alexander: [They're not suited at all.]
Olivia: "..."
[Do you like Sophia?]
A direct hit.
There was no further reply from the other end.
Olivia felt restless all afternoon.
Even her new handbag felt dull and uninteresting.
Sophia looked at her, puzzled.
After dinner that evening.
Olivia dropped her off at the entrance of the alley.
"I'm heading in, Liv."
"...Okay."
Sophia got out of the car.
"Sophia!" Olivia suddenly called out to her.
"Yeah?"
"Be careful..."
"Got it. Bye."
Sophia walked into the alley.
Olivia watched her enter the apartment building.
Then she drove away.
Back at her apartment, she was still distracted.
Did her brother like Sophia?
Since when?
This was Alexander Laurent they were talking about.
A research fanatic.
A stoic professor.
Had he actually developed feelings?
Aunt Sylvia would lose her mind if she found out.
As she was lost in thought.
Warm breath brushed against her neck.
A damp sensation followed.
Olivia jumped.
Swung her hand back instinctively.
Julian didn't dodge in time.
Took the hit on his forehead.
"Damn—trying to kill your man?"
Olivia frowned: "Sneaking up on me? Serves you right!"
"Which other man were you thinking about? Zachary Lowell?"
"Yep. Handsome and good at magic tricks."
"Pfft—just cheap tricks to pick up girls."
"Experience is good. Means he knows how to treat a woman~"
"You—" Julian gritted his teeth, "What's so good about a rookie?"
"I think he's fine... Wait, how did you get in?"
"Ahem!" The man's eyes darted away.
"Julian—"
"Don't argue. Save your energy for later."
"Get lost."
The man grinned roguishly: "Haven't touched you in two days. Don't miss it?"
A flicker of emotion passed through Olivia's eyes.
The next moment, the world spun.
She was thrown onto the bed.
Julian tore off his shirt and pinned her down: "Told you I'd deal with you tonight. A promise is a promise."
Olivia pushed herself up: "You?"
"Try me."
The night deepened.
Spring's allure filled the air.
Some indulged in pleasure.
Others endured torment.
The bedroom was dark.
Moonlight slanted in through the window.
Alexander stood before it.
His silhouette lonely.
His gaze fixed on the distance.
But without focus.
The photo from earlier surfaced in his mind.
Before the floor-to-ceiling window.
Sophia wore a knit maxi dress.
A short cardigan accentuated her slender waist.
She listened attentively as Zachary spoke.
The man looked down at her.
His gaze intense and affectionate.
Sunlight bathed them both.
Like a natural filter.
A painfully perfect match.
The moment he saw the photo.
A vein throbbed at his temple.
His calm eyes churned with stormy waves.
Didn't she say her studies came first?
Didn't she refuse to date?
He knew Sophia.
If she didn't agree.
She wouldn't have accepted the dinner invitation.
If she wasn't at least somewhat interested.
She wouldn't listen so intently.
She certainly wouldn't have accepted that bouquet.
Why?
"Sophia, that's not fair..."
The whisper dissolved into the night.
No one answered.
Alexander clenched his fist.
Took a deep breath.
Tried to suppress the surging jealousy.
And desire.
His emotions were spiraling out of control.
Reason teetered on the edge.
He didn't know how much longer he could hold on.
If he couldn't next time...
What would he do?
Would he end up hurting her?
Resentment and longing intertwined.
Impossible to suppress.
It had been impossible for a long time now.
In the darkness.
The man let out a low laugh.
Self-mocking and helpless.
Alexander Laurent.
Look at you now.