Finn and Patrick had some interactions in business before.
Last time, when he and Sophia ran into Patrick, she said that this man didn't know her, so Finn didn't
think much about it.
After all, how could someone like Patrick Evans care about the personal life of one of his employees?
Finn didn't know Patrick personally.
He thought that Patrick wouldn't bother to interfere in this matter.
After all, this involved the privacy of a man and a woman's relationship.
However, he might've underestimated his kindness.
"Mr.Evans..."
Finn blurted out and hesitated.He found it difficult to answer Patrick's question.
Sophia also seemed to have noticed Finn's hesitation, which made her confused.She looked at him
and waited for an answer.
After a long moment of pause, he finally managed a few words, "She's...my client."
No matter how much he thought about it, Finn didn't know how to answer Patrick.
He didn't know how to define his relationship with Sophia.
Patrick raised his eyebrows and looked at Sophia, but she did not return his gaze.
"Oh, so it's just a client.At first look, I thought it was Mrs.Bower.
He turned his head to look at Finn, who seemed to want to run and escape at any moment now.
"I just met her two days ago, apologies if I don't remember” Patrick added.
Still, the couple sat in silence, and so Patrick continued to say, "I just wanted to come over and say
hello, and I didn't mean to disturb you from your work meeting.Again, I apologize’
After that, Patrick strode out of the restaurant with his long legs.
The scenario earlier seemed like it was just a coincidence, and there was no special meaning.
But on the other hand, Sophia's mind whirled thinking about this discovery.She had a gentle nature, but
that did not mean that she was a fool.
Now, she finally understood what Patrick meant last night.
It turned out that Finn never had a divorce.
‘Then why has he been thoughtfully accompanying me these days?’ Sophia thought.
'Was it because of that suggestion just now? Living together?’ She was almost grateful that Patrick left
her five years ago.
Because of the trauma, she was able to remain calm at several frustrating moments, such as this one.
Sophia stood up without a word.She walked out, leaving Finn alone at the table, and she did not bother
anymore to say goodbye.
For this kind of man, saying one more word would be an insult to herself.
When she returned to the Evans Company, her eyes caught Patrick walking into the president's
exclusive elevator.She hurriedly ran to catch up.
Luckily, she was able to step inside the elevator before the doors closed.
When she came face to face with Patrick, there was no hesitation in her voice, "You knew what kind of
person Finn was, right? Did you ask me to come to your apartment last night just to warn me?"
Patrick's face remained passive.
"Well, we live in the same community, and I occasionally meet him and his wife; he said like it wasn't
new information to him.
"They never had a divorce."
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" She retorted.
Patrick sighed.
"Look, if you can't accept it, I'm sorry.Most of the time, Sophia's ex-husband could be an absolute
gentleman.He would just immediately apologize rather than respond with more cruel words, even
though he didn't do anything wrong.
This might be one of the three good personality traits that made him most popular in Frostford City.
But for Sophia, this time, he was wrong.
It wasn't because she could not accept the truth.
Heck, she did not even care about Finn's feelings.
Just the thought of being deceived made her boil with anger.
It could be said that this kind of deception was unacceptable, not only for Sophia but for any woman.
Sophia did not realize that she had forgotten to click the button for the middle floor, as the exclusive
elevator kept rising straight to the top floor, where the president's office was located.
It wasn't until John began to report his work schedule to Patrick that Sophia snapped back into reality.
She realized that she had been too impulsive, barging in the exclusive elevator just like this.
If rumors about this spread, it would only make her situation as a small employee in this company even
more awkward.
Meanwhile, Patrick was just silent, not saying another word.
No one was able to know what he was thinking.
His expression was always so deep that it was hard to determine what was inside his mind.
With a "ding" sound, the elevator slowed to a stop.
Patrick strode out of the elevator, and John followed closely behind.
Sophia awkwardly stood inside the elevator.
She wanted to say "thank you" to Patrick, but he put on a reproachable look that would make you want
to stay a thousand miles away from him.
Plus, now he seemed to be a different person from the man she had encountered earlier in the
restaurant.
Also, Sophia was afraid that her unnecessary actions would cause misinterpretation on his side and
thought that she had any ulterior motives behind it.
‘‘It's probably better to go home” she pondered.
With that in mind, Sophia thought she'd better know her place, so when she recalled her life in the
future, there would be some warmth in her memories with Patrick rather than complete
indifference.She clicked the button that would get her back to the evaluation department.
As the elevator began to descend, she fished out her phone to text her friend, Fiona, about what
happened.She just needed someone to vent to.
When she finally got there, Fiona called.
Sophia ran to the bathroom to answer the call, but before she could even say hello, her friend's voice
cut her off.
"I saw your text! My gosh, why is my neighbor so immoral?! Ugh, introducing someone new to that Finn
when in the first place, he isn't even divorced!" Fiona exasperatedly vented.
"But speaking of which.."
Suddenly, she changed her tone into a curious one, "Why do you think Patrick did that?"
Sophia leaned on the bathroom counter.
"I'm not sure, really.But I think he doesn't mean anything about it.After all, I am an employee of his unit,
and Finn is also in his business circle.If something happens, he will have to deal with the aftermath,
whether he's involved or not"
She paused for a second, reassessing the whole situation.
"I'm sure he has reasons for doing so."
Sophia decided not to think about it too much.She just thought that it might've been instinctive care for
his employees, especially for his business.
"You"
Fiona’s voice had an obvious sound of disbelief.
"How can you be so naive?"
Before Sophia could answer back, Fiona seemed to have thought of something and gasped, "Sophia,
do you think that Patrick still loves you?"
Sophia interrupted in a cold voice, "Nothing happened between us before.There's nothing he needs to
get over with.Alright, I'm hanging up now.Bye"
Upon pressing the end call button, Sophia's mind whirled again.
She felt confused about this whole situation in addition to Patrick's actions.
However, she consoled herself that not long from now, she would be able to leave this place
immediately.So, she needed to wait patiently for that time.
At five o'clock, Brandon's black VIP car stopped at the entrance of Evans Company building on time,
waiting for Sophia to get off work.
On the other hand, it was rare for Patrick to get off work on time.
Just as he walked out of the hall, John followed behind him and said, "Mr.Evans, Zandra called to say
that Quentin is sick!"
"Isn't Adriana taking care of him?" Patrick asked.
"I heard that she is preparing to enter the company recently.I guess she's very busy, so..." John
faltered.
Patrick seemed to not care about this.
"So, she doesn't have time to take care of my son?" he asked.
John went silent, and so, Patrick did not speak anymore.
The two of them stepped down the stairs, one after the other.
Outside, Brandon, who was half leaning on his car, noticed the two men walking out of the building.
"Mr.Evans" he greeted.
"What a coincidence."
"Mr.Phillips; Patrick greeted back and asked politely, "are you waiting for someone?"
"I'm waiting for Sophia to get off work.We'll be having dinner together, '' Brandon answered.
Patrick raised his eyebrows.
And for a moment, his eyes seemed to darken a bit, but eventually, he blinked and nodded.
"I see.Well, I would love to talk with you, but unfortunately, I still have something to do.If you'll excuse
me" he said and went right to his car.
Brandon understood and just waved goodbye.
The Rolls-Royce had just started when he saw a woman walking towards Brandon's car.
He could not hear what they were talking about, but she seemed to be in a good mood, judging from
the smile that stayed on her lips.
Patrick forced himself to turn around, ignoring the unknown emotions stirring up inside him.
And then, he ordered, "Drive back to the Evans family house."
Sophia stretched his arms when she got out of the building, relaxing her body after hours of work.She
wasn't surprised to see Brandon waiting for her outside.
After knowing him for many years, she expected him to keep his word.
"Are you eating well these days?"
Brandon raised his hand to pinch her face, "You seem to have lost weight"
Sophia leaned her head back to avoid his hand, "I have been eating and sleeping soundly recently.I am
extremely well’ she said with a flat tone.
"Are you angry?" Brandon laughed.
"Why would I be angry?" Sophia retorted.
"I'm not angry, as long as you don't follow me around" she joked.
The more Sophia resisted, the more Brandon desired to make her his.
Five years ago, he had personally seen Sophia get deeply hurt and travel far away for several years.
Every night, he would remember how much of a coward he was in the past and a fool for being hesitant
to show his affection for the woman.
He loathed himself for it.
Five years later, he, Brandon Phillips, bid farewell to his immaturity and cowardice.
He was so powerful now, and all that he could think of was how he could easily get a hold of the
woman he badly wanted and protect her with all his life.
No matter what or who was in her past, he would make sure that from this day onwards, only one
man's name would appear in her name and life, and that was him, Brandon Phillips.
"Let's go.I'll take you to dinner"
Brandon said as he opened the car door like a gentleman and made a gesture of invitation.
But Sophia's eyes didn't fall on the car in front of her, instead, she saw the road that led to the bus stop
not far away from where they were standing.
The bus waiting at the stop was the one she had taken earlier.
Without a second thought, Sophia retreated slowly, turned around, and ran fast.
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