CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76: YOU POINT, I STRIKE

She found him in the parking lot outside the hospital.

He was sitting in the car, one hand hanging out the window with a cigarette clamped between his fingers.

The ash had formed a small tip and was lightly blown away by the wind.

Sophia opened the passenger side door and got in the car.

Zane glanced at her, then turned his gaze back out the window.

She placed the thermos on the back seat and handed him a coat, "Put it on, don’t catch a cold."

He didn’t say anything, flicked the cigarette butt away, and took the coat, putting it on.

"Should I drive?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah."

She got out of the car and walked around the front to the driver’s seat.

Zane had already moved from the driver’s seat to the passenger side.

This man wasn’t willing to take an extra step.

As soon as she sat in the driver’s seat, she became nervous; she hadn’t driven this car before.

She glanced around, her fingers gently tapping the steering wheel, biting her lip as she fumbled to start the car.

Before she could start it, a distinctly bony hand appeared in her line of sight.

Zane took her right hand, observing the plain ring on her ring finger.

He then glanced at her neck.

She wore a turtleneck, so he couldn’t see the necklace.

But he clearly remembered it was the necklace ring he had given Sophia.

She had taken it off, but now she was wearing it again.

When had she put it back on?

His hand was cold, probably from the wind earlier.

Sophia blushed, pulled her hand back, reminding him to buckle his seatbelt, then started the car.

Zane’s lips finally curled into a slight smile, leaning back comfortably into the seat.

The car headed back to the villa.

"Anything important to handle these days?" Sophia asked, seeing Zane with his eyes closed, knowing he wasn’t sleeping.

"No."

"Then wait for me in the car."

"..." He suddenly opened his eyes, unsure of what she was planning.

She got out of the car and walked upstairs.

When she came back down, she had an additional suitcase in her hand.

After stuffing the suitcase back into the car, she sat back in the driver’s seat.

"Where to?" he asked.

"Taking you on a trip."

She fastened her seatbelt, snatched his phone, and turned it off directly.

A trip?

A forced trip?

Was this to leave Sylvia Coldwell hanging?

Zane looked at her, her plump little face looked as if she could be blown apart, he really wanted to touch it, and maybe steal a kiss or two.

He didn’t ask more, sat quietly in the passenger seat, letting her take the lead.

——

The car stopped in front of Mountainview Farmstead.

It was a large farmstead with food, drink, and entertainment, a place for the wealthy to relax.

Sophia was stunned.

Zane in the passenger seat also frowned, turning his head to look at her seriously, "You brought me here for your deceased ex-boyfriend’s memorial?"

She was equally shocked, not expecting today to be Henry Quinn and Sienna Lawson’s wedding.

Moreover, it was a lawn wedding.

Henry had once asked her if she preferred church or hotel weddings.

Sophia unhesitatingly chose an outdoor lawn wedding, saying it was romantic and free.

Looking at the striking wedding letters on the billboard at the entrance, she was speechless.

She simply wanted to take this sad man out for some relaxation, never expecting to encounter such a situation.

"If I say it’s not, would you believe me?"

"Yes." He answered without hesitation, then asked, "What now? Want to crash the event or stage a dramatic wedding heist?"

"..."

She wanted to laugh, wondering what was going through this man’s head.

"Or do you want to rekindle an old flame?" His tone was indifferent.

Sophia looked at him, his eyes like a humbled big wolf dog.

Such a strong man showing this kind of expression.

"Let’s go somewhere else," she said.

As soon as she said this, she intended to start the car.

She didn’t want to go inside, seeing it just made her upset.

Besides, her current little life was quite pleasant.

"No need." Zane had already unfastened his seatbelt.

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll rekindle old feelings?"

"Afraid? I’ll crash the event for him later."

"..."

"What? Feeling sympathetic?"

"..."

This time, she’s the one who should be emo.

Suddenly, he seemed so childish to her.

"Let’s just find another place," Sophia said.

"Am I so disgraceful?"

"No."

She couldn’t put her finger on the feeling; it was meant to be a relaxing trip for him, but now his heart seemed fine, while hers felt troubled.

"No? Then get out of the car." He was angry.

"Just don’t hit anyone." She murmured softly.

Zane chuckled.

Hitting someone—

Given his temper, the probability of a fight was high.

He wasn’t gentle when it came to throwing punches.

The incident with Evan Coleman had made the rounds wildly.

Evan was caught for embezzlement, with his hand crippled because he had tried to grope Sophia.

Zane never admitted it, afraid she’d think he was violent, but Ethan Sinclair eventually said it.

If two million only resulted in a crippled hand, wouldn’t it be more worthwhile to have him serve a couple of years?

Zane had Evan’s hand incapacitated and called the police; Evan thought it was due to the embezzlement issue and signed a settlement agreement.

He thought he’d escape punishment, but didn’t realize these were two separate issues, but since the settlement was signed, he couldn’t pursue Zane anymore.

Zane was pretty smart.

Since then, Sophia had been wearing that ring.

Zane: "I listen to you."

Sophia: "Hmm? You listen to me?"

"Yeah."

Sophia proudly asked, "Wherever I say, you’ll hit?"

"Yeah."

She chuckled and got out of the car.

——

Zane pulled the suitcase while Sophia followed alongside him, their distance making them look unfamiliar with one another.

They looked like young lovers sneaking away for a motel stay.

The front desk said there were no rooms; all the B&Bs had been booked in advance, especially for weekends when options were limited.

Her heart sank a little; she seemed a bit disappointed.

Zane glanced at her, handed her the suitcase, and told her to wait over there for a bit.

She obediently did as told, sitting down on the lobby sofa.

She watched as he spoke to the staff, who was all smiles.

Sophia observed him but couldn’t hear what he was saying.

Less than two minutes later, the front desk handed him a room key.

He took the key card and walked over to Sophia.

"Weren’t there no rooms?" Sophia asked.

"Hmm."

"Then you..."

"You need to understand me a bit more."

Sophia watched as he naturally took back the suitcase from her and followed happily behind him.

Their room was by the lake on the large lawn, surrounded by sequoia trees.

The lakeside rooms were independent, like a bubble of air, appearing both romantic and luxurious, each room about twenty meters apart, costing tens of thousands per night...

They didn’t need to walk; a dedicated sightseeing car from the B&B took them there.

Ironically, the sightseeing car stopped halfway, stopping in front of a group of familiar strangers.

An astonished Henry Quinn, a heavily made-up yet pale-faced Sienna Lawson, and a grinning Clay Gable—

Surrounded by a line of bridesmaids and accompanying photographers and makeup artists.

The scene was unusually quiet.

Sophia only felt the large hand on her waist tighten, and his deep, magnetic voice reached her ear.

"Shall we crash it?"