CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: NO BOYFRIEND, BUT ALREADY MARRIED

Zane Sterling, who was handling documents in the office, saw the message and opened the video.

She was so happy after winning the game, her whole body brimming with energy.

She even high-fived the man next to her.

He could clearly see the two on the opposite side who had been defeated.

He frowned slightly, remembering the man who had escorted her back to the hotel in The S Republic.

It was him.

"Faye Ellison."

He murmured.

"Mr. Sterling, please take a look at this report, the figures don’t match."

The executive next to him reminded the daydreaming Zane Sterling.

He snapped out of it, put his phone down, and continued to focus on work.

——

"That ancient log, responding but not replying after reading the message." Miles Lockwood stared at the page showing Zane Sterling typing but not responding.

"Sister-in-law is quite amazing." Melora Vance sat with her legs crossed watching Sophia Lowell, noticing her precise movements in both defense and attack.

No wonder Faye Ellison had been bragging about having a formidable opponent earlier.

It’s likely that even Miles Lockwood and Melora Vance together couldn’t beat her.

"Sterling’s really something; I invited him yesterday and he didn’t come, now he doesn’t even care that his wife has been asked out by someone else."

"With both an ex-girlfriend and current wife present, he’d probably get a headache even if he came." Melora lit a cigarette and asked, "Does sister-in-law know about Tim Sawyer and Sterling?"

"You better not mention it. If I’d known Tim Sawyer was coming, I wouldn’t have come today either."

"President Lockwood, it’s your turn." Tim Sawyer came over to Miles Lockwood, panting.

Her coquettish voice, accompanied by panting, had a misleading tone.

"Manager Sawyer, your stamina and skills probably need more practice, not as good as the new girl."

Miles Lockwood and Melora Vance got up with sly smiles and casually walked onto the court.

Tim Sawyer thought she must have misheard; they actually spoke to her like that.

Implying she wasn’t as good as Sophia Lowell, with some hidden meaning inside.

Back when she was with Zane Sterling, they never behaved so flippantly.

Now, they were teasing her with someone they’d just met today, like Sophia Lowell.

She was a bit displeased.

"Young Master Lockwood is just like that, don’t mind it too much." Eli Young tried to mediate.

Even any man could get Miles Lockwood’s suggestive meaning.

Having won three or four games in a row, Sophia Lowell and Faye Ellison took a break.

The match reached halftime.

"Ms. Lowell, your ball skills are impressive." Eli Young handed her a bottle of water.

Faye Ellison, who was about to offer her water, paused mid-air.

"Thank you, Manager Young, but it’s Faye who led the team well; I’m just tagging along." Sophia Lowell twisted open the cap and took a small sip.

"Sophia used to be on our badminton team, her skills are naturally impeccable." Faye Ellison subtly put the water back down.

"Looks like I need to learn from Ms. Lowell." Tim Sawyer.

"Even we couldn’t beat her. Miss Sawyer should definitely learn more." Miles Lockwood.

"..."

Sophia Lowell felt Miles Lockwood was trying to help her gain animosity.

Some engaged in casual chatting and even arranged to have dinner at The Grand Eatery tonight at eight.

Sophia finally accepted the invitation despite feeling awkward.

In the latter half, she dared not win, switched partners, teamed up with Eli Young, and experienced few ups and downs in wins and losses.

At six, they all dispersed to go home and freshen up.

——

At seven, The Spectra Tower.

"After-dinner dessert, ’pity the jade’!" Ethan Sinclair came up with a big bag of sweets and carefully placed it on the conference room table.

Everyone who had just finished eating turned to look at Ethan Sinclair.

Zane Sterling, who was seriously reading the documents, glanced over, recognizing the familiar bag and name, and a certain person’s figure flashed in his mind.

"Mrs. Sterling sent it; don’t be shy, everybody." Ethan said as he opened the bag, "Come on over, what’s the hold up? Do I need to hand it out?"

"Thanks, Mr. Sterling! Thanks, Mrs. Sterling!"

"Thanks, Mr. Sterling! Thanks, Mrs. Sterling!"

...

Zane Sterling was momentarily stunned.

He checked his phone, opened his wife’s contact.

There was no message.

At that moment, Ethan Sinclair brought over a labeled dessert.

"Mr. Sterling, yours is ’nine parts sweet’."

"Why nine parts? What about the other part?"

"..."

At twenty-eight years old, with the internet speed of an eighty-two-year-old.

Ethan Sinclair spent several minutes explaining it to him.

Zane Sterling [The dessert was delicious, thank you.]

Sophia Lowell [You’re welcome.]

Sophia, after her shower, was sitting at the dressing table looking at his message, watching the screen showing typing...

Zane Sterling was also looking at his phone, watching the typing above...

In the end, neither sent a message.

This made Ethan Sinclair quite anxious.

One’s a passionate lover who can’t express it.

The other’s stubborn to the core, with a heart sealed like cement, distrusting love.

"Who exactly is Mrs. Sterling?"

"It’s been so long, yet we’ve never seen her."

"Mr. Sterling’s wearing his wedding ring for two months already; is this a shotgun wedding?"

...

They were sipping their sweet water and gossiping.

Zane Sterling heard them but didn’t react.

——

The Grand Eatery

As Sophia Lowell just sat down, Miles Lockwood and Melora Vance quickly but politely sat on either side of her.

She looked at the two men a bit nervously, feeling something strange.

The three who came in afterward all looked at these three sitting oddly.

Sophia seemed like a protected little princess in the middle, with two dutiful black-clad guards beside her.

Both were dressed in black suits, top them off with sunglasses, and they truly resembled bodyguards.

Miles had already ordered, and dishes began coming in one after another.

"Miss Lowell, do you have a partner?" Melora

Everyone turned their curious gazes toward her.

Just as she was stuffing half a water chestnut into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up.

"I don’t have a partner, but I’m married." Knowing that the two sitting beside her seemed like nothing good, she decided to tell the truth.

Faye Ellison chuckled.

In his eyes, Sophia Lowell wasn’t the type to get married straightforwardly; it was likely a lie to ward off the two.

Miles and Melora made a meaningful ’Oh—’ sound.

They thought everyone would believe it, yet no one actually did.

As soon as Eli Young arrived at The Spectra, he noticed her and asked others about her situation.

He only knew she had been heartbroken not long ago.

Sophia chuckled and continued eating.

Midway, she went to the restroom but stumbled upon a startling scene.

Tim Sawyer was cozily acting cutesy with a middle-aged man.

"Sawyer, please help me, come on~"

"Tim, matters of the heart are never that simple; being too fast leads to hasty gains."

The man had a familiar build...

He wasn’t too thin nor too fat, appeared well-built, stood above 175 cm tall.

His facial features distinct, cheekbones perfect, his freshly shaved jawline showing stubble marks.

But his face couldn’t be seen clearly.

Sophia quickly took out her phone, opened the album, and nervously scrolled through.

She watched both them and her screen.

Found it.

It was an old photo from over twenty years ago, the man was handsome, had a clear expression, full of spirit.

She hurriedly glanced toward Tim’s direction, the man was about to leave.

She rushed over.

"Hey..."

A waitress carrying a teapot accidentally bumped into her.

Tea spilled everywhere, thankfully no one got burned.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry..." Sophia hastily helped clean up.

After dealing with it, the man was already gone.

"Ms. Lowell, what’s wrong?" Tim Sawyer happened to return.

"Manager Sawyer, nothing."

"That’s good, let’s go."

Tim pursed her lips, looking very pleased with herself.

"The person you were talking to just now is..." Sophia asked.

"My dad." Tim Sawyer.

"Your dad?"

"Mm!"

"..."

Sophia felt a wave of oppression within, a stifling pressure.