When Hugh Irving saw the ssage, he was busy with Ethan Sinclair, arranging their new penthouse.
"Sophia’s not feeling well at the hospital, and the person who took her is a guy who’s had a crush on her for years."
Ethan sneered, "This kind of thing should be left to Mr. Sterling. He could use a little lesson, instead of always texting at midnight asking what to do."
"You’re right." Hugh Irving imdiately called Zane Sterling.
"Where are you?" Hugh asked.
"Professor Irving, what’s up?" Zane responded.
"Just asking what you’re up to."
"Looking at apartnts."
"Looking at apartnts?" Hugh was shocked. A CEO needs to look at apartnts himself?
Before she could ask, Sylvia Coldwell’s sweet, coquettish voice ca from the other end. "Sterling, let’s take this one."
Hugh put Zane on speaker and pulled Ethan over to listen in.
"Mr. Sterling, you busy? Are you checking out that apartnt lying down or standing up?" Hugh chuckled.
Zane’s brows furrowed as he glanced at the na saved on his phone. "You need sothing?"
"Not , but your wife does. So, you’re out apartnt hunting with soone else’s wife?" Hugh mocked coldly.
"What happened to her?" he sounded anxious on the other end.
"Where exactly are you looking at apartnts?" Hugh didn’t answer his question.
Zane gave the na of a building, which happened to be the sa one Hugh was in.
He was on the 18th floor, Hugh at the penthouse.
Hugh hung up and rushed toward the elevator, Ethan following behind. "What’s the na of that seductress again?"
"Sylvia Coldwell. The one who sat next to him at drinks last night."
"Unbelievable!" She entered the elevator and pressed 18.
"How are you so sure she’s the seductress?"
"Didn’t you see how she acted last night? She nearly threw herself at him. And didn’t you hear? She went straight to their apartnt, even threatened Sophia to move out."
After hanging up, Zane imdiately tried calling Sophia Lowell. The call barely rang before she hung up. He tried again—instant hang-up.
He frowned, just about to try a WhatsApp video call when suddenly there was the click of high heels approaching fast.
The door wasn’t closed.
Hugh strode in. The penthouse was still empty and echoing—no furniture yet.
Ethan stood behind Hugh, desperately signaling to Zane.
Hugh glanced at Sylvia Coldwell standing behind Zane, seeing her shiver and look pitiful and helpless.
He let his gaze drop to the contract in Zane’s hand.
Coldwell’s na was signed clear as day on it.
"Buying a place for another woman—does your wife know?" Hugh gave Sylvia a disgusted look.
"Haven’t had ti to tell her. Where is she? What happened?" Zane walked toward them.
"Sa as you: while you’re playing caretaker for another woman, another man’s playing caretaker for her." Hugh didn’t bother to show any kindness.
Zane’s brows pinched into a deep crease.
Sylvia Coldwell quickly jumped in to explain.
"This sister of mine is really sharp-tongued. I’ve called Sterling that for years—him taking care of is only natural. That woman, how long has she even been married to Sterling? Now another man’s looking after her, isn’t it—"
"Sylvia!" Zane cut her harshly, interrupting Coldwell, then quickly asked, "Where is she?"
"City First."
Zane looked at Ethan, who nodded.
Then he strode out the door in a rush.
"Sterling!" Sylvia tried to dart after him but Hugh blocked her path.
Hugh had seen this kind of scene a thousand tis; not a single dirty thought could escape her glance.
Either Zane was totally naive, or he’d been blinded by this walking, syrupy green tea act.
"Well, isn’t this just dandy. We’re going to be neighbors—upstairs, downstairs." Hugh snorted as she walked in to check the layout.
Small apartnt. Two units per floor. Probably a hundred and fifty square ters at most.
"Really? Sister, you’re living here too." Sylvia called her "sister" in every sentence.
"I’ve got the penthouse." Hugh gave a dry laugh.
Sylvia’s grin froze instantly.
Past the 25th floor, it was all one unit per floor, luxury layouts, rich people only.
She’d wanted to pick an upper floor too, but for so reason, they only ever showed her the small units.
"If Sterling buys a place for over three million in cash, I’m already thrilled." She smirked proudly.
"Over three million?" Hugh was shocked, her gaze landing on Ethan.
Ethan seed deaf, just wandering around absently.
Back up to the penthouse from the 18th floor.
Hugh plopped down among a pile of jumbled furniture and glared at Ethan, "Soone die in that apartnt?"
"No such thing," Ethan replied with a wide grin.
"Or is it sothing shady about the place?"
"Relax, all above board."
"Downstairs, over three million. My three-hundred-square-ter penthouse, just over two million. That relative of yours is tight with you, huh? I owe him dinner soday."
"Just a nodding acquaintance, just a nodding acquaintance..." Ethan was clearly feeling guilty.
"Nodding acquaintance? That’s so deep nodding you’re doing!"
"Hehe..."
Hugh pestered Ethan for ages but he never let slip anything, so she let it go; just assud she’d gotten herself a steal.
But after Ethan left, she still hired a pro team to sweep the place for pinhole caras or anything suspicious.
Afraid Ethan was a pervert.
——
Hospital.
Zane imdiately spotted Sophia Lowell outside the ER, dozing on a chair.
She had an IV drip in her arm and was wrapped in so strange man’s jacket.
He hurried over.
Then Faye Ellison ca out, carrying a cup of warm water.
He gently set Sophia’s head on his shoulder, called her na softly, and coaxed her to take her dicine.
Sophia barely managed to swallow the pills in two goes with what strength she had left.
She swallowed her bitter throat, giving a sideways glance ahead—and saw a familiar figure walking her way.
Faye followed her gaze.
The man approached, tall and lean, hair cropped short with a hint of defiance; his black eyes behind those glasses were intimidating.
Zane t Faye’s gaze; but compared to him, Zane looked easygoing—no threat at all.
You’d think he didn’t even care.
She straightened up, boneless and weak, looking at the man drawing closer. Was it her imagination, or did he look angry?
Or was she just imagining it?
"Zane?"
"You’ve got a fever?" Zane.
The two rival n didn’t even bother to greet each other.
"Yeah, a little." Sophia replied awkwardly.
Zane sat beside her, reaching out to touch her forehead.
As soon as he touched her, she pushed him away. "Mr. Sterling..."
He froze, a sharp chill stabbing his chest.
She called him Mr. Sterling now.
Faye let out a barely-there laugh. "Mr. Sterling, here to see a doctor too?"
Sophia picked up on the aning, just about to explain, but Zane beat her to it.
"My aunt works here, knows Sophia. Saw her alone with so strange guy, worried she’d get scamd, so she called over."
Sophia—
Faye blinked in surprise. "Well, Mr. Sterling, you can rest easy. I’m not so scamr. I’m Faye Ellison."
Faye stuck out his hand. Zane glanced at it, gave a perfunctory shake, and said, "Zane Sterling."
Sophia was caught between them, looking left and right at these two childish n, feeling a little awkward.
"Now that you’ve seen her, you don’t need to stay, Mr. Sterling." Faye clearly wanted him gone.
Zane didn’t reply, just turned to give Sophia a sideways glance.
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