CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: SWEETHEART

——Looks like I really need to put in some effort to get Mrs. Sterling to dote on me, or else I’ll just be left hungry without even a taste of the soup.

That’s something he said when he was in The S Republic.

So, what he meant by wanting a sip of soup was probably...

Indeed, words from someone who has read a few more books do sound nicer.

No matter how vulgar the words, they gain a touch of culture coming from him.

She stood there, stunned, her face reddening.

Should she say he’s gentlemanly and polite, or full of tricks?

Agreeing is not right, but refusing isn’t good either.

Suddenly, the pressure unexpectedly increased.

It almost made her feel like she was treating him unfairly.

Ha, men, always good at passing the choice to others, putting them in a difficult spot.

Sophia turned to face him, reaching out to wrap her arms around his solid waist. "There might not be soup, but I can offer you a little bit of dew."

Just two seconds, she let go and began walking away.

Zane didn’t even have time to reach out and hold her before she had already walked away in her high heels.

She calls that dew?

Alright, it’s considered progress anyway.

His pupils hinted at a fiery intensity, like a ravenous beast, his eyes focusing as he followed her towards the car.

——

"Um, I had my car towed for repairs. Is there a more ordinary car at home?" Sophia sat in the passenger seat, watching Zane drive seriously.

The underground garage was filled with cars worth hundreds of thousands or even millions; she didn’t dare to drive any, some she couldn’t even name.

"What’s wrong with the car?"

"Got rear-ended..."

"Are you hurt?"

He interrupted her, urgently scanning her up and down.

"No, just the car might not be ready any time soon."

"I’ll have someone bring another one over tomorrow."

"Okay."

They arrived at the underground parking lot of the supermarket.

Zane made a phone call in the car, so Sophia, not wanting to disturb him, stepped out.

As soon as she got out, she saw Sienna also just getting out of her car.

She seemed to be in better spirits, with light makeup making her look more energized.

She wore a loose wool coat, and without taking a closer look, it wasn’t obvious she was pregnant.

Sophia smirked lightly, pretending not to see, but was stopped by her.

"Sophia," Sienna said with a mocking smile on her lips.

It really was...

"Hello, Third Sister," said Sophia.

At the mention of "Third Sister," the smile vanished from Sienna’s face, but she soon didn’t mind, continuing to talk to Sophia with an air of superiority.

"What? Already done with your recovery period? Where’s your man?"

She didn’t call him a wild man, but just a man, perhaps due to the aftermath of that slap.

Sophia glanced at the car behind her; evidently, Sienna didn’t recognize it as Zane’s car, or she would have kept her distance.

"Sienna, being pregnant means you shouldn’t think about other men; it’s not good for the baby."

Sienna swallowed, visibly angry. "Do you think I’m you, throwing myself at the boss’s bed?"

"I’m definitely not you, I don’t take trash; you’re different, grabbing what I don’t want without feeling it’s dirty." Sophia didn’t usually like to use harsh words, but surprisingly managed to avoid using any vulgar terms this time.

Sienna wasn’t satisfied, her neck craning with sarcasm: "You can’t even keep a man, and yet you have that coquettish face!"

"I’ll take that as a compliment, but, good men don’t need keeping, those who leave are just trouble, I should thank you for taking unnecessary trouble off my hands."

Sophia crossed her arms, exuding the demeanor of a cold, abstinent female executive.

Today she wore a white blouse, high-waisted long leather skirt, with a black wool coat draped over, her seductive eyes coldly scanning her.

"And, just to clarify, I’m not pregnant, and I don’t need to crawl into the boss’s bed..."

"She’s right, she doesn’t need to crawl onto my bed, it was me who coaxed her, tricked her, and shamelessly held her on."

Zane stood by the driver’s side, his eyes cold and sharp like daggers.

Sophia froze for a moment, turning her gaze back.

How could he say that so casually?

He gently closed the car door and walked towards Sophia, naturally wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Is Miss Lawson so concerned about the person in my heart?"

The person in his heart? That’s overstating it...

At most, a one-night stand.

"Ha ha, not really..." Sienna said.

Apparently, at the moment he spoke, Sienna started breaking out in cold sweat, unable to forget the time in the hospital when she was slapped.

It was her first time seeing a man hit a woman.

Rumors had it that Zane was cunningly gentle, with highly skilled tactics, but she never expected him to publicly fight for Sophia.

Ultimately, even the news she released was suppressed by him, proving his formidable power.

The thought of it made her anxious, prompting her to signal the attendant next to her and leave.

Watching from a distance near a pillar, Henry witnessed everything.

Seeing Zane acting so intimate with Sophia, without her rejecting it.

Moreover, she wore the high heels she used to find tiring, looking even better than before.

The glow on her face was undeniable, she really had changed.

His heart ached with piercing pain, clenching his back teeth, hands fisted tightly, he seemed to resolve something internally, turning around to quietly walk towards the elevator.

With Sienna gone, Sophia breathed a sigh of relief, lifting her gaze slightly to look at Zane. "You think I didn’t perform well?"

"No, it was quite good," Zane replied.

"Quite good, but next time don’t interrupt."

"..."

Sophia pulled away his hand, heading straight for the supermarket entrance.

Zane followed, "Did I do something wrong?"

Sophia didn’t want to talk to him, "You did it well, just don’t do it next time."

A big boss saying such things without feeling embarrassed.

Sophia didn’t want his interference; after all, such matters aren’t honorable and could harm him if they spread.

Besides, they were in a concealed marriage now, and she didn’t want too many people to know.

She really wasn’t good at handling family matters; what if she couldn’t do well in the role of Mrs. Sterling, it would be embarrassing for both of them, especially since he was a public figure.

Zane chose not to press further, since she was like a hedgehog, all sharp spikes outside, making people hesitant to approach.

Inside, she was soft and gentle, as long as you got a little closer, she’d treat you tenderly.

She’d always protected herself this way all these years, so naturally, Zane’s protection was something she couldn’t adapt to immediately.

"I was wrong, I’ll listen to you next time." Zane cautiously took her hand, and she didn’t refuse, instead squeezing his sturdy hand tightly.

He chuckled, his thumb caressing her small hand.

Sophia’s lips curled slightly. "You, are you really staying at the office just because of work?"

She tested with caution.

The office was only about a ten-minute drive from the apartment, perhaps he was used to staying there; after all, when she first moved in, the place was like a hotel, nothing personal.

Compared to that, the suite in the executive office felt like someone lived there all the time.

Zane turned to look at her, that question carried multiple implications.

It could be a wife questioning her husband.

It could also be an employee concerned for the boss.

Or it could be longing for a partner.

"I didn’t mean anything, just wondered if I should leave the door open for you, I don’t sleep well at night." Sophia hurriedly explained.

Zane just smiled, saying nothing.