Chapter 51
Ethan was standing there with Isabella.
"Ethan... sit!"
He hurriedly poured a drink.
While Isabella was in the restroom.
Charlie leaned in. "Dude, I thought you broke up?"
Ethan downed his whiskey.
"She's young."
Charlie winced.
A college student is young?
"What about Sophia..."
"I'll handle it."
"So you're two-timing?"
"Just keeping Isabella calm for now."
Charlie swallowed his words.
This was heading for disaster.
...
The party broke up in the early hours.
Charlie drunkenly signed the tab.
Julian headed straight for the hotel.
Only the two of them were left on the curb.
Isabella snuggled closer.
"Should we go to the mansion tonight?"
The implication was clear.
Ethan was silent for a moment.
"You have class tomorrow. Go back to the dorm."
Her smile faded.
She still nodded obediently. "Okay."
The gates of Caltech slowly closed.
Ethan withdrew his gaze.
The driver waited for instructions.
But he suddenly pushed the car door open.
"Drive it back yourself."
The night breeze was cool.
His feet moved on their own.
Stopping before a familiar school gate.
A place he once waited day and night.
Just to catch one more glimpse of her.
The alley was narrow and dark.
Beer bottles clattered.
The sour smell of garbage filled the air.
He knocked on the metal door.
The sound echoed in the night.
"Sophia, open the door."
I know you're in there.
Open the door.
We need to talk.
Sophia Sullivan!
Do you hear me?
Fine.
Sophia Sullivan.
You're something else.
Won't open the door?
You think I can't get in?
Ethan Roscente's voice shifted from pleading to calm.
Then it finally erupted in full-blown rage.
His patience snapped.
He turned to leave.
He abruptly met a pair of cold, sharp eyes.
Ethan froze.
He frowned deeply.
The narrow stairwell was dimly lit.
Alexander Laurent stood on the steps.
He had just reached this floor.
His appearance here, at this hour, spoke volumes.
After Sebastian Evans's recent drama.
Now Alexander Laurent shows up.
Amid his irritation, Ethan finally realized the men around Sophia weren't simple.
He had calmed down and immediately looked into Alexander's background.
Turns out he's the third son of the Laurent family.
No wonder Sebastian backed off.
Ethan: Here for Sophia?
Alexander spoke coolly: What if I am?
What if I'm not?
You should know what my relationship with her is.
So?
Ethan narrowed his eyes: If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from her.
Sorry.
I'm famously bad at knowing what's good for me.
Sophia is mine!
She always was.
She's just throwing a tantrum now.
In the future, she'll still only be mine.
Alexander frowned: She's a person.
Not an object.
She doesn't belong to anyone.
If you must say she belongs to someone.
Then she only belongs to herself.
Ethan sneered: Professor Laurent, you've read a lot of books.
But you don't understand women.
The deepest love breeds the fiercest hate.
The reason Sophia is causing such a scene with me.
Is because she loves me too much.
If you don't believe me, knock.
She won't open it for you either.
Stop coveting things that aren't yours.
It's a waste of energy.
Finished speaking.
Ethan pushed past him and strode down the stairs.
Alexander watched him leave.
His gaze swept over Sophia's door.
He frowned in confusion.
Of course he knew Sophia wouldn't open the door.
To be precise.
She wouldn't open it for anyone.
Because—
She simply wasn't home.
...
Maldives.
Blue skies, white clouds.
The sound of waves.
The turquoise water was crystal clear.
Fish were visible, swimming about.
The sun was warm.
The breeze gentle.
Waves lapped.
Three days ago.
Sophia got a call from Olivia Lopez.
Her project was finished and delivered.
Her boytoy had gone back to his hometown for winter break.
She had slept for two straight days at home.
Bored out of her mind.
She proposed an impromptu trip to Sophia.
As for the destination…
Olivia rested her chin on her hand: Let's do the Maldives.
Sophia thought for two seconds: Okay.
Partly to avoid the mess with Sebastian and Ethan.
Partly to relax.
Sophia loved reading and delving into research.
But she also knew being wound too tight wasn't good.
A balance of work and rest was necessary for the long haul.
Right now.
The azure sea stretched under a cloudless sky.
She lay on a beach chair, listening to waves crash against the rocks.
She enjoyed the warm sun.
Feeling more and more that this trip was the right decision.
She picked up her mango juice and took a sip.
Not too sweet, not too bland. Just right.
Not far away.
Olivia, dressed in something sexy, walked across the sand.
Seeing Sophia's lazy look, she simply lay down on the adjacent chair: So comfortable~ You really know how to enjoy yourself.
She put on her sunglasses.
Took a sip of coconut water, imitating Sophia's pose.
A content smile touched her lips.
Sophia crossed her long legs and turned over leisurely: Weren't you off on a date?
Olivia made a disgusted face: That blond guy was all muscle.
Thought he'd be impressive.
Turned out to be all show.
Not as good as my boytoy.
Sophia smiled: The last one… Kevin?
Switched him out ages ago.
This puppy is the sunny type.
Cute looks, cute personality.
Smells amazing all over.
And the key point? He can cook!
Unbelievably good!
What about you?
Olivia looked at her through her sunglasses, teasing: Not planning to find someone new?
Hanging yourself on one tree is so boring?
Dating different people is what's fun!
Sophia looked out at the vast sea: Not considering it.
No time, no energy, no need.
True.
Olivia clicked her tongue: Men just mess with a top student's problem-solving efficiency and drag down exam scores.
She stretched, her gaze drifting: Saw a blue-eyed hottie earlier.
I'm going to catch up with him for a chat.
You entertain yourself for now.
Bye~
Sophia raised her glass in a toast: Have fun.
...
Did you find out?
Ethan stood by his office's floor-to-ceiling window.
His sharp gaze landed on his assistant.
This time it's not wrong again, is it?
The assistant was apprehensive: Sorry, Mr. Roscente.
Last time… I was careless.
It's clear now.
Miss Sullivan didn't fly to Harbin.
She went to the Maldives.
Sure?
Here's the flight boarding information.
Miss Sullivan's name is on the passenger manifest.
Ethan didn't look closely.
He believed it wouldn't be wrong this time.
The last mistake wasn't entirely the assistant's fault.
Who could have guessed Sebastian would be so underhanded.
He actually swapped Sophia's information with another passenger's.
Intentionally misleading the investigation.
Giving false information.
Ethan: Book me the earliest flight.
The assistant took out his phone to check: Mr. Roscente.
The earliest flight is tomorrow morning at seven.
Then that one.
Okay.
If there's nothing else.
Shall I step out?
Ethan waved his hand.
The assistant turned to leave.
Remembering to close the door respectfully.
Assistant Lin.
Why are you sweating so much?
Did Mr. Roscente yell at you?
Lin Ming waved his hand: Don't even ask.
By the way.
Help Mr. Roscente book a ticket for the seven AM flight to the Maldives tomorrow.
I'm out of time.
I have to go.
Okay.
Don't worry, go to Emma's parent-teacher conference.
I've got this here!
Lin Ming chuckled: You've only been here a few days?
Don't boast, it's easy to get slapped in the face.
Relax.
How could I mess up booking a ticket?
You're really underestimating me.
Alright.
Get it done quickly.
Won't chat anymore.
If I'm really late.
Emma will nag me for a month...
The female assistant immediately took out her work phone and started booking the ticket.
Her phone happened to have saved traveler information.
At checkout, it showed two tickets were about to be booked.
Her first instinct was to call Lin Ming and clarify.
Was it just for Mr. Roscente alone?
Or should she book two tickets, including the other saved traveler, Isabella Langley.
But the phone only rang twice before the call was dropped on the other end.
The female assistant didn't dare ask Ethan directly.
Coupled with Lin Ming's earlier implication that this ticket was needed urgently.
After much internal debate, she booked two tickets.
Her reasoning was sound—
Mr. Roscente going to the Maldives couldn't be for business, right?
Since it's a vacation, he must be taking his girlfriend.
Right.
Two tickets shouldn't be wrong!