Chapter 64
Sebastian Evans left the restaurant, brushing past Ethan Roscente who was arriving for a meal.
Ethan's gaze swept across the room.
He didn't see Sophia Sullivan.
Isabella Langley looped her arm through his. "Looking for something?"
He withdrew his gaze. "You have a leg injury. You shouldn't be out."
"Lying down for too long is suffocating. I needed some air." She stuck out her tongue playfully. "Any longer and I'd grow mold."
Ethan gave a noncommittal hum. "What do you want to eat?"
"A sandwich and milk, please. Thanks, baby~"
By noon, Ethan had searched every restaurant on the island.
Sophia was nowhere to be found.
In the afternoon, he walked along the beach.
Still no sign of her.
At the Chinese restaurant that evening, he only saw Olivia Lopez.
Sophia was still absent.
Stranger still, Sebastian Evans hadn't been seen since morning.
Had they left together?
The thought made Ethan stand up abruptly.
He picked up the shawl draped over Isabella's chair.
A common style on the island. Sophia had one just like it.
He walked over to Olivia—
"This is the shawl Sophia left at lunch. Can you take it to her?"
Olivia was laughing with her male companion and answered without thinking. "Lunch? She's already back to—"
She suddenly stopped.
Her eyes widened. "Ethan Roscente, are you tricking me?"
The man's gaze was sharp. "She went back to the country?"
Olivia pouted irritably. "What's it to you?"
Ethan had his answer. He turned and left.
If Sophia was gone, Sebastian must have gone with her.
Olivia clapped a hand over her mouth in angry.
Ethan walked away, already on the phone. "Book the earliest flight back—"
Liam Evans asked, "Will Miss Isabella be joining?"
The man's steps faltered slightly.
"Baby, I heard there's a yacht gala the day after tomorrow. Let's go?" Isabella held his arm. "Since we can't go back yet, we might as well enjoy a few more days?"
Ethan was silent for a moment.
Liam's voice came through the phone. "Mr. Roscente?"
"...Cancel the booking for now."
"Understood."
Isabella looked apologetic. "You were on a call? I didn't notice..."
"It's fine."
She smiled. "The doctor said the wound isn't infected..."
Mention of her injury softened his expression slightly.
"Can we please go to the yacht gala?" she wheedled. "I've never been to one..."
He finally nodded. "If you wish."
"Thank you, baby~"
…
The wind at Kyoto Airport was bitterly cold.
Sophia Sullivan bundled her down coat tighter, but still couldn't suppress a sneeze.
After the freezing rain, the streets were glazed with ice.
Traffic was sparse late at night. The ride-hailing app showed a half-hour wait.
She blew on her hands, white puffs of air forming, and stomped her feet continuously.
A black sedan pulled up slowly.
The window rolled down, revealing Alexander Laurent's refined profile.
A grey turtleneck sweater accentuated his gentle demeanor.
"Taxis are scarce. I can give you a ride; it's on my way."
The car's interior was warmly heated.
Alexander handed her a hand warmer. "Warm up with this first."
Sophia's frozen fingers gradually regained feeling.
"I almost thought I'd freeze to death here," she sniffled. "Thank you."
Alexander adjusted the air vent. "There's a traffic control measure recently. Fewer cars are out."
She understood. "No wonder I couldn't get a cab..."
Then she grew curious. "What are you doing at the airport?"
"Picking up an elder relative, but she left already." He turned the steering wheel lightly. "I happened to see you."
The light turned red.
Alexander glanced at her. "Warmer now?"
"Much better." She smiled sheepishly. "Coming back from the tropics, it's taking some adjustment."
Suddenly remembering something, she took a small box from her bag.
"A gift for you."
Alexander seemed slightly taken aback. "A gift?"
"The Professor has one too." She handed over a sculpted doll. "It reminded me of you."
The doll wore gold-rimmed glasses and held a book, looking both cute and slightly absurd.
The man examined it for a moment. "Aside from the glasses, the resemblance seems slight."