CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104: I WILL NEVER GIVE HIM UP

After breakfast, Zane Sterling invited the family doctor over.

Sophia Lowell had a slight fever, but otherwise felt fine; after taking some medicine, she felt much better.

She sat beside the side wing in the backyard garden, cross-legged on a meditation mat, staring blankly at her phone.

Looking at the report Professor Carter had sent her, the corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly, her eyes tinged with a faint melancholy.

It was information on Autumn Lowell and Nancy Sawyer, as well as Tim’s mother from back then.

She’d never used this connection before—this was the first time.

Professor Carter: [Let me know if you need help.]

Sophia Lowell: [Thank you, Professor.]

There were many unread messages on her phone.

Most were greetings from people at Zane Sterling’s Residence, which she replied to one by one.

The last was from Nathan Jennings.

Nathan Jennings: [Pass me Mr. Gable’s WhatsApp contact.]

Sophia Lowell was very curious—was something going on between them?

She didn’t have Clay Gable’s WhatsApp.

Nathan Jennings was embarrassed to ask the family, so Sophia had to get the number from Elder Jennings for her.

[You and him...]

Nathan quickly replied: [His tie ended up here the other day.]

Sophia Lowell responded with meaningful ambiguity: [Oh...]

[It’s "Oh." Not "Oh..." There’s no epic story between us.]

Sophia snorted with laughter; she hadn’t even said anything, and yet Nathan rushed to explain.

After that conversation ended, she saw a message from an unknown number.

[Sophia, can you let Zane come see her? Just one look—even just a glance. Tim can’t go like this, I’m begging you all...]

Attached were several photos of Tim Sawyer’s suicide attempt.

The scene was bloody—enough to make one sick.

Tim’s deathly pale face lay on the hospital bed, her eyes wide open staring up at the ceiling, as if waiting for death itself.

Sophia was so startled her hands shook and the phone dropped onto the tea table.

Nearby, Zane and Ian Lynch, who were chatting, both froze.

Zane’s gaze landed on the photo displayed on her phone.

He picked it up and paged through the messages.

His brows knitted together.

Ian leaned in, his frown deepening with every second.

Zane put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her, "Let me handle this."

Tim’s situation was causing them a lot of trouble.

Zane had thought Nancy Sawyer was just calling them up—he hadn’t expected she’d send Sophia a text. It was infuriating.

The Sterling family ignored her, so now they were targeting Sophia—truly despicable.

Ian gave a sarcastic laugh, "Is Nancy trying to beg you to give up your own husband so her daughter can have him?"

Give up her husband to her daughter?

Ha—

Which daughter?

Sophia regained her composure and said quietly, "This started because of me. Let me handle it."

This matter concerned Autumn; she didn’t want Autumn dragged in, nor did she want too many people to know about it.

"You don’t have to get involved," Zane said, voice low.

Sophia looked at Ian, paused, then turned to Zane: "Come with me to the hospital."

"Alright."

Zane agreed without even thinking.

Ian didn’t say much; he just asked for the hospital name and room number, then watched as they left.

He made a call, reporting the hospital name and room number he’d just learned.

Zane drove; Sophia sat in the passenger seat.

"Sophia, honestly, you don’t have to deal with this." Zane reminded her again.

She wrestled with it for a while, then said, "Nancy Sawyer is my father."

"..."

Zane’s hands nearly slipped from the steering wheel!

He pulled over, turned to look at her, searching her face for answers.

Sophia swallowed, "Nancy Sawyer is my father, and Tim Sawyer is my half-sister."

Now Zane understood why she’d cried so hard last night.

He realized now why she was so conflicted—was it because she looked like Tim that he liked her?

So this was what it all came down to.

This girl—was she thinking she was just Tim’s substitute, is that why she was so devastated?

Zane reached out and patted her head.

"I only found out recently. I had no intention of making contact, but last night Nancy sought me out, and Tim happened to overhear. It hit her hard. Maybe it’s all because of me, so...there are things, I need to tell her face to face." Self-reproach filled her voice.

She really shouldn’t have come back looking for that bastard.

That bastard had a wife and daughter, yet still chased after others—and took no responsibility for it.

Zane unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled her into his arms. "None of this is your fault..."

Sophia never did learn the whole story of what happened back then, but still, no matter what, it was worth seeing for herself.

From the estate to the hospital, it was a half-hour drive.

As soon as she arrived, Sophia felt like eyes were following her.

She was very uneasy, glanced around, but couldn’t spot anything unusual.

They found Nancy Sawyer at the door of the ward.

"Sophia! Zane! You’re here!"

Nancy burst into tears from joy, reaching out to grab their hands.

Zane pulled Sophia close, taking a step back.

At some point, two security guards had appeared beside them.

Seeing this setup, Nancy didn’t dare take another step forward.

Zane sneered, "Go on, what do you want?"

Nancy’s face changed. Seeing their expressions, were they here to kick her when she’s down?

She steadied herself, clinging to hope that she could get their help.

"Tim couldn’t take the shock. She tried to kill herself—I truly didn’t know what to do. She kept calling your name; I’m really out of options..."

Sophia replied coldly, "Whatever happened between Tim and Zane is long over. If she can’t move on, that’s her problem. If it has to do with this, then sorry, I won’t hand him over—he’s my man!"

He’s my man!

Zane smiled almost imperceptibly; this was the real Sophia.

His hand slid from her shoulder, fingers interlacing with hers.

Sophia went on, "If Zane helps you today—if he helps her—then what? Every time she thinks of Zane, are you going to let her use this trick to keep him around? To drain my relationship with Zane?"

Nancy was shocked; she hadn’t expected Sophia to be this shrewd.

"Sophia, it’s not like that! Tim just isn’t doing well right now; if she could just get through this, if you let her catch her breath, she wouldn’t bother you again! No matter what, she’s still your sister!"

Sophia snorted.

"You will never be my father, so she will never be my sister!"

She opened her phone and pulled up a file, showing the petroleum company’s accounting records.

Just one look and Nancy’s legs nearly collapsed!

Nancy runs several companies; her oil company began declining a few years ago. That month, she didn’t visit Autumn, but went into hiding from creditors.

As for Tim, being sent abroad was just to hide her away.

Her mother couldn’t stand the harassment from the creditors and jumped to her death.

Zane had not seen whatever was on Sophia’s screen, didn’t understand why Nancy looked so frightened.

He just felt that this woman—after crying a whole night—hadn’t wasted those tears.

Got up with a low fever, yet still managed to be this fierce.

And him? He was just her sidekick, apparently.

For the first time Zane found himself useless.

"How! How did you even find out?!" Nancy staggered backward.

There were government officials mixed up in this mess too. They’d suppressed it for ages—if the authorities came down to investigate, no one would survive!

How had Sophia managed to dig this up?!

Was The Sterling Family helping?

But The Sterling Family had always kept their hands clean—why would they risk themselves for her?

"How I found out isn’t your concern. What matters is this: You listen to me closely! What happened with my mom and you was set in stone from the beginning.

If Tim tries to kill herself over this, it’s on you, Nancy. Your values are fucked up, you’re indecisive, always wanting everything at once—serves you right!"

She would never allow anyone to slander Autumn Lowell!