Chapter 7
Ethan Roscente stepped closer.
He finally noticed Sophia Sullivan's signature curls had been straightened.
Even her beloved red hair was dyed back to black.
No makeup.
A plain white t-shirt.
She looked unnaturally clean.
Only her eyes remained startlingly bright.
There was no trace of post-breakup despair.
If this was an act, her performance was flawless.
So good it inexplicably infuriated him.
Sophia frowned.
That expression was all too familiar.
A precursor to his rage.
“Tch.” The man sneereded. “Your taste is truly awful. After being with me for so long, your judgment hasn't improved at all? You'd settle for that trash? Even I, as your ex, feel embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed?” Sophia almost laughed.
Her smile held a trace of bitterness.
Ethan didn't notice.
His mind was filled with the image of Sophia smiling at another man.
The thought agitated him more.
He blamed it on primal male possessiveness.
Sophia was his.
Even if he discarded her, no stray dog had the right to touch her.
“I have things to do. I'm leaving.” Sophia wanted no further entanglement.
“Leave? Where will you go? Back to Olivia Lopez's place? You've learned this time, bringing money and documents. What, planning something big?”
Sophia's heart stung.
She knew he had a terrible temper, was moody.
But hearing it still hurt.
Did he think this was a game?
Sophia took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions.
She forced a smile. “First, Mr. Lopez and I are just friends. It's not the dirty scenario you imagine.”
“Second, we are broken up. Your thoughts are no longer my concern.”
A rideshare car pulled up.
She opened the door and got in. “Driver, please go.”
Ethan's eyes turned icy.
Sophia had really grown a backbone.
Three months ago during a fight, she’d pulled this same stunt.
This time was worse, bringing some random man to provoke him right in front of his face.
Who gave her the nerve?
Suddenly, a pair of soft hands looped through his arm.
Sophia Clementson pressed close, her voice syrupy. “Ethan, you walked so fast, you didn’t wait for me…”
A strong wave of perfume hit him.
Ethan frowned but didn’t push her away. Instead, he pulled her closer by the waist. “What? Want to come with me?”
She could find a man. Couldn’t he find a woman?
In the car.
Sophia watched the embracing couple in the rearview mirror, her lips curling in self-mockery.
So it wasn't just Isabella Langley.
Six years. It was all a wasted effort after all.
The taxi drove away.
Ethan’s expression instantly changed.
He coldly shoved Sophia Clementson away.
Sophia Clementson was stunned, trying to lean in again.
He shoved her forcefully.
The man walked away without a backward glance.
“Ethan! Ethan Roscente! Wait for me!”
The woman stamped her foot in frustration.
Ethan got into his car, started the engine, and directly called Amelia Roscente.
“…Brother? Aren’t you on your date?”
Ethan’s tone was dark. “Did you tell Sophia Sullivan about today’s blind date?”
“Are you out of your mind? Blabbing everything? Mom forced me into this, and instead of covering for me, you tip her off? Letting her find some random man to piss me off? Was that your intention?”
Amelia was yelled into confusion. “Brother, what are you talking about? When did I ever—”
The call was cut off.
She stared at her phone, utterly bewildered.
“…What did I do wrong?”
The butler approached with a gift list. “Miss, please review this.”
Amelia scanned it. All expensive items.
She checked carefully, confirming everything was correct.
“These are for Professor Eleanor Watson. Prepare them meticulously. No mistakes allowed.”
“Understood.”
…
“Miss Sullivan, this is truly the best apartment near MIT. Look at the light, the environment. Many people are competing for it. If you don’t decide now, it’ll be gone.”
The agent pushed hard.
Sophia inspected it thoroughly.
The apartment wasn’t large. Two bedrooms, one living room.
The decor was old. A walk-up.
But the advantages were clear.
Close to MIT, next to the library, convenient transportation.
Good light and environment.
Suitable for a fresh start.
“Okay, I’ll take it.”
She signed a one-year lease directly.
Olivia Lopez returned home to see an open suitcase.
“You’re moving out?”
Sophia was packing clothes. “Yes, found a place.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow. “Did Ethan contact you? Not bad, lasting a whole week this time. Should make him wait,免得 he really thinks he’s some prized catch…”
Sophia stopped, looked at her.
“Vivi, this time it’s real. I’m not going back.”
Olivia was stunned.
Six years.
She’d watched Sophia hide herself away for Ethan, dim her own light, become a shadow orbiting a man.
Worse than a homemaker.
Ethan was simply wasting her.
“Good riddance! Should have done it ages ago! Plenty of men in the world. He’s not special!”
“Yeah.” Sophia nodded.
“So… this is for real? Not going to run back in a couple days?”
“…” Sophia laughed softly.
On her way back, she stopped by the market.
The apartment was old, paint peeling.
The furniture was ancient.
She bought eco-friendly paint, planning to repaint.
“Sir, thank you for your trouble.”
The driver helped her unload the paint cans.
Sophia looked up at the seventh floor.
She had to climb.
To paint, all the furniture needed moving.
She left the door open, hauling the cans up one by one.
The paint was heavy.
Sophia climbed two flights, rested, breathless.
After moving all the cans, she was nearly exhausted.
She rested a few minutes, splashed cold water on her face.
Her strength slowly returned.
She picked up a brush, gauged the wall.
Then—
Rolled up her sleeves, and got to work.