CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: HOLDING HER, HE SAID: I MISS YOU

It was already past ten when I got back from The Grand Eatery.

Sophia Lowell sat in the car, staring at an old photo on her phone.

She’d snapped this picture secretly from Autumn Lowell—it was her biological father.

She’d lived overseas all this time, and Autumn never agreed for her to come back home.

She’d given every excuse she could think of, and Autumn finally relented—just barely.

Her purpose in coming back was precisely to find this father she hadn’t seen in over twenty years.

She wanted to see if the guy was dead or alive.

She wanted to figure out if he had some earth-shattering ambition so important that he could abandon his wife and daughter for two decades without a thought.

If Autumn knew about this, she’d probably scold her to death.

All these years, Autumn hadn’t mentioned that man even once—she’d done a good job hiding him.

Sophia originally thought that after a year or two, Autumn would force her back again. Who would’ve guessed she’d have a flash marriage instead—it looked like she wouldn’t let Autumn have her way this time.

The guy she met today—his side profile was really similar to the man in the photo.

Her heart was pounding, nerves twisted up in her chest, and her palms were sweating buckets.

But she wasn’t in a rush.

Today, Tim Sawyer invited her to his birthday party next Saturday night.

He said his dad was helping organize it. By then, she’d probably get to see him too.

That night, she was completely unable to sleep.

——

On Monday, she was a mess.

After yesterday’s game, her whole body ached, and with no sleep, her dark circles were darker than Ethan Sinclair’s.

She’d just stepped in the elevator when she ran into Ethan, hugging a stack of files.

"Is your boss’s phone broken?" Sophia leaned on the handrail.

"No?" Ethan looked puzzled.

"Signal on the 30th floor that bad?"

"It’s fine!"

Sophia sighed. "Then it must be my phone’s crappy signal."

Ethan chuckled, "What happened?"

"My phone is dead silent all day. I’m starting to feel like a widow."

"Pfft—" Ethan couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

"Does your boss have some kind of cleanliness obsession?"

"Haha..." Ethan was almost shaking with laughter, holding his forehead. "Boss says, whatever fetish you want, he can learn it, haha..."

It was only then Sophia realized Ethan was wearing headphones!

"I—!" Sophia nearly blurted out "fuck" but caught herself. "Did he hear all that?"

Ethan nodded frantically, pulled off his earbuds, and nearly doubled over with laughter in the elevator.

"Did he say anything about me?" she asked in a whisper.

"He just keeps laughing," Ethan replied.

"You didn’t warn me?!"

Sophia started half-punching, half-kicking him!

She was honestly dying of embarrassment—she almost wanted to jump off the elevator right then.

Ding—

The 28th floor.

That instant, her mind snapped back from rage to clarity.

A couple coworkers outside the elevator saw the spectacle and covered their mouths, quietly giggling.

Sophia, red-faced, collapsed into her seat.

"God, that was mortifying!" she cursed herself fiercely.

"What happened, Master Designer Lowell?" Lily Ellison powered on her computer.

"Nothing. Just ran into a complete idiot early in the morning."

The two of them chatted as they started work.

Sophia opened her computer and logged in to WhatsApp.

Ding—

A string of WhatsApp notifications sounded one after the other.

Lily snuck a curious glance over at Sophia’s screen.

Usually no one really messaged Sophia, but this morning she had several unread notifications.

Sophia, also curious, tapped on the little red badge—and saw the word ’Husband’ pop up.

"!!"

Sophia jumped so far back in her chair, she almost dropped her mouse.

Lily jumped too. "Oh my god—!"

She recognized that familiar avatar—so obvious...

The avatar was a slender, well-boned hand holding a black tulip.

Sophia clapped a hand over Lily’s mouth. "Shut up!"

Lily’s eyes went huge; she nodded hard, mumbling through sealed lips.

Seeing Lily’s reaction, Sophia finally released her hand.

She scrambled to minimize the chat window.

Her heart was pounding so hard it was in her throat.

Why on earth was that iceberg sending her messages this early in the morning?

"Who’s this ’husband’?" Lily leaned in closer.

Sophia’s entire face went crimson.

Lily grabbed her phone, opened the Spectra group, tapped on Zane Sterling’s profile on WhatsApp, shoved it in Sophia’s face. "It’s him, right?"

Sophia covered her face, but nodded.

"Holy shit! Holy shit!" Lily squealed in a suppressed voice, nearly vibrating with excitement.

It took them several minutes just to calm down.

Sophia told Lily the entire story in detail, from start to finish.

Lily listened with an incredulous look. "Even TV dramas aren’t this dramatic."

"Keep your mouth shut," Sophia threatened, "or I’ll kill you tonight."

Lily zipped her lips, then ran her finger across her mouth to signal sealing it.

Sophia took a deep breath. She didn’t dare open WhatsApp on her computer and instead pulled out her phone to check.

[Morning, Sophia.]

[I don’t have any fetishes.]

[Come upstairs at noon.]

...

Sophia turned off her phone screen and shoved it in her pocket.

Her ears were blazing red, and despite it being winter, she felt hot all over.

He called her "Sophia."

This had to be Ethan’s doing.

She’d thought Zane Sterling wasn’t the chatty type—turns out he’s just emotionally clueless.

He didn’t even know how to message his own wife.

She really ought to thank Ethan; otherwise Zane would probably stay single forever.

Should I reply?

How do I even reply?

Use his full name?

Or call him Zane-eh?

Or Zee?

Sophia got goosebumps just thinking about it.

She didn’t dare send a single word.

——

At noon, everyone went off for lunch.

Sophia seized her chance, scanned herself in, and took the elevator to the 30th floor.

"Ugh, dammit, don’t be nervous..."

She swallowed, making her way toward the CEO’s office.

Knock knock knock—

"Come in."

How could a person be this nervous?

He wasn’t some monster—he was her husband.

Her husband! What’s there to be scared of?

She wondered what weird advice Ethan had given him this time...

He was sitting on the sofa, wearing the white shirt Sophia had designed for him.

No tie. Vest tossed on the side. He looked like he hadn’t slept all night.

"Zane," she called.

"Mm."

He lifted his eyes—it seemed like they had a bit more warmth since seeing her.

He crooked a finger at her. "Come here."

Sophia walked over, intending to sit beside him.

Who knew he’d just grab her wrist in one motion and pull her right onto his lap.

Sophia was so startled she grabbed his arm for balance.

Before she could react, Zane had already wrapped his arms around her. "Don’t move, I just want to hold you."

Sophia didn’t dare budge, freezing up instantly.

His big hand rested on her lower back—for a moment, even through her coat, she could feel the heat.

The office’s heater was working overtime, and she immediately started sweating.

He’d been working like crazy these last several days; Ethan said it was to clear his schedule so he could spend New Year’s with her.

And with all the finance and designer drama, he was probably ready to explode.

He must be exhausted.

Sophia swallowed, and all she could hear was his heavy breathing in her ear.

Their ears brushed together—her heart almost jumped out of her chest.

"Is something bothering you?" She gingerly reached up to pat his back like she was soothing a child.

"No," Zane replied.

"Then why are you..."

"Just missed you," he said.

"..."

What kind of 21st-century excuse is that?

He hugged her for a long time—and that really was all. He just held her.

Sophia didn’t even dare to breathe too loud.

Until the door to the CEO’s office sounded.

Sophia tried to stand, but he just held her tighter.

"Come in," he said, his voice low and raspy.

"Zane..." Sophia tried to squirm out of his arms but he only hugged her more fiercely.

"Hmm?" Zane replied.

Sophia was so panicked she buried her face in his neck, praying nobody would see her.

Thank god, it was Bianca White—she’d brought their lunch.

Thankfully, she was tactful and left as soon as she put down the food.