"Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
Patrick suddenly blurted out, interrupting Sophia's thoughts.His well-defined hands maneuvered the
steering wheel deftly.Patrick's question bothered her in so many ways.
"I just said those things to tease Lilith, Mr.Evans.You don't have to take it seriously" Sophia explained.
She then lowered her head after she said those words.
There was a moment when Sophia felt like she was about to show her true feelings, so she
immediately hid it.
Just like what she just told Lilith, even if Sophia knew that it was true, she would still deny the truth.
Sophia was used to hiding and ignoring the truth.It became her habit and a sort of shield, among
others.
Even if the person sitting next to her was Patrick, she couldn't have great expectations.
"Oh, is that it?"
The car abruptly stopped when Patrick suddenly stepped on the brake that almost made Sophia hit her
head on the dash.
"Get out, '' Patrick ordered without any emotion visible on his face.Sophia kept her head down so she
could keep her face hidden from Patrick.
Before her tears fell, she quickly opened the door and got out.She had no sense of direction and had
no idea where she was, but she walked in the opposite direction of Patrick's car unconsciously.
As Sophia walked away from his car, Patrick still looked at her in his rearview mirror.He had no idea
where his sudden outburst came from.
However, he had to admit that he had lost control of his emotions tonight.The gloomy sky darkened
even more.
As the rain began to fall, thunder erupted, and lightning flashed in all directions.
The city's neon lights looked blurry, and the cold weather started to get heavier.
Sophia slowly raised her head and looked directly at the sky.She liked the feeling of the raindrops as
they touched her face.
Somehow, she felt refreshed and satisfied with just standing in the rain.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have any other options to let go of her frustrations, and it would just be bottled
up inside of her, which could eventually make her crazy.
As she was enjoying the rain, another car slowly pulled over and stopped at where she was standing.
Was this the same car that had been following them earlier? Sophia couldn't see anything on the inside
because the car's windows were tinted.
Suddenly, the car door opened and out came a man who opened an umbrella for her.
It took so long for her to recognize the man, but she realized that it was Brandon.He immediately pulled
her into his arms.
"Sophia, what are you doing? Is this your way of letting out your sadness and problems?" Brandon
carefully asked.
Sophia felt so lonely.
How come it was so easy for Brandon to understand her? Her stubbornness, sadness, worries, moods,
and even her heart? While the other person who she cared for the most was the exact opposite of what
Brandon was.
Patrick couldn't understand her at all.
"We are not together anymore.What happened in the past stays in the past.But it still hurt me so much
even if I pretended that it didn't bother me anymore” Sophia desperately said.
Sophia pulled herself away from Brandon with a sad smile on her face.She felt fresh tears start to fall
down her cheeks.
Sophia swiftly wiped it with her hands.Sophia had already learned to be strong.She didn't need anyone
to hold an umbrella for her every time there was rain.She didn't need someone to take care of her
when she was sick or helpless.
And most especially, she didn’t need anyone to comfort her when she was lonely.
All she needed to do was sleep it off.
For when she woke up the next day, all the pain she felt would be buried deep inside her heart.
That was how Sophia survived after all those years of suffering.
Sophia didn't refuse Brandon's offer to take her home, for she was so tired and cold.She didn't need to
pretend about anything when she was with Brandon.
He was always there for her, no matter what she was going through.
"You have to dry your hair, or you might catch a cold later,'' Brandon said.
He then offered her a clean towel which Sophia immediately pulled to wipe her hair and body.
"Sophia, the last time we met, you told me that you bought those kids’ supplies for your friend.Is it okay
to ask which friend were you talking about?" Brandon casually asked.
Sophia was baffled that Brandon had remembered that incident, so she simply answered, "It was for
Fiona.I believe you know her?"
Brandon looked at her meaningfully.
"Oh, really? The last time we met, she said that she didn't have a boyfriend" Sophia paused for a
moment.
"Oh, what else did she say?" she asked warily.
Brandon laughed while asking, "Why are you so nervous? Could it be that you're hiding something from
me?"
"What do you know, Brandon?" Sophia asked.
Sophia had not seen Brandon for weeks; was it because he discovered that she had a child? That was
a possibility because nowadays, some men were unwilling to accept the woman they liked because
they had a child with someone else.
Sophia never had a steady and responsible lover after all these years because of having Emma.
On the other hand, she had no regrets about living this life.
It was an amazing feeling that she couldn't bear the thought of changing anything about it.
"Are you worried that I will be discouraged?"
Brandon wondered as he noticed her unusual stillness and realized that she was thinking about it.
"You won't see me hanging around with you if I'm easily discouraged, Sophia," Brandon said.
‘Why would I still be doing difficult things only to be with you if I could easily give up on you?’ Brandon
only finished it in his head.
But Brandon knew that he didn't have the courage to say it out loud in front of her.
The moment Brandon heard that Sophia gave birth to a child in Frostford City, he spent most of his
days drinking, for he couldn't initially accept such fact.
But he realized something important when he finally became sober; his feelings towards her were
sincere and real.
Brandon's feelings towards Sophia could not be easily swayed by any other reason.
Brandon drove faster, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the darkness and wet streets.
In one night, anything could change, including people's hearts.
The following day, Sophia went to work with dark circles under her eyes, for she couldn't sleep last
night.
Being drenched from the rain, she was a bit ill and did not feel well, and even lost her appetite.
When she arrived at the office, everyone greeted each other enthusiastically, as if they had forgotten
anything that had happened last night.
During their usual morning meeting, Giselle asked for an early leave since she wasn't feeling well due
to hangover, same with Lianna.
The meeting ended earlier than the usual schedule.The entire morning, it seemed that everyone was
not in the mood to work.
This had something to do with their department head, Lianna, being sick.
So, most of the employees gathered to gossip secretly.
The gossip escalated when one of their colleagues who submitted a report in the CEO's office came
back with an announcement.
"The General Manager said that Mr.Evans was caught in the rain last night and had a cold and
fever.He wasn't able to report today" one of the staff said.
"Well, I saw Ms.Clifford early today, and Mr.Evans was not with her.They usually report to work every
day" a younger employee confirmed.
Sophia was napping on her table, but her attention was caught with what her colleague said, ‘Caught in
the rain” Sophia was confused.
Wasn't he the one who drove last night? Why did he have a cold and a fever? She immediately felt
relieved after realizing that she had nothing to do with it.
Besides, what was the point of thinking so much about it? Did it really matter? Patrick was still unable
to report to work after three days.
His phone had been shut off, and no one was permitted to visit him, which made the employees of
Evans Enterprise anxious.
The executive meetings kept coming one after another, and no one knew why it was so difficult to
reach a decision, leaving everyone stumped.
Frankly speaking, Patrick had always been the backbone of Evans Enterprise.
They relied on him too much that his absence caused a major crippling effect in the company.
Not having Patrick in the company was unimaginable, resulting in a vague future.
The position as an Evaluation Consultant for the General Manager Office had always been vacant ever
since Lilith was transferred to Australia.
Lianna had already recommended two applicants to the management but was instantly rejected
because they were not satisfied with their qualifications.
It was unclear, but someone must have influenced them that Sophia was the best candidate for Lilith’s
position.
Sophia being an obedient employee became her advantage because it was consistent with Mr.Evans'
most basic requirement when it came to hiring.
So with this as a general rule, people would not assume the worst if Sophia replaced Lilith.
Some of her colleagues even tried to tease her, "Ms.Hill, please promise that you won't forget about us
if you get promoted, okay?"
Sophia thought they were all a load of crap.How could a temporary employee be promoted to a position
under the General Manager's Office?
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