Marry first, love later

A torrential summer storm tore through the night, lightning ripping apart layers of dark clouds, with thunder rumbling close behind. At the Imperial Capital’s Oil Painting Institute, a Middle Ages-style church adorned with stained-glass windows shimmered with warm interior lights. Zero Degree, a magazine, was hosting a fashion charity gala to commemorate its tenth anniversary. Before the gala, there was a panel discussion. Guests were either signing autographs for photo ops in front of the display boards or mingling. In such settings, standing alone without chatting with acquaintances often makes one feel awkward and out of place. Fortunately, Sophie never had such worries. “Is Jane not coming tonight?” “Doesn’t seem like it.” “Well, after spending millions on junk, it’s no wonder she’s temporarily out of cash for charity.” The women’s voices were soft and gentle; without close attention, they might have sounded genuinely concerned. Their chatter ended there, with an exchange of knowing glances followed by synchronized laughter. Sophie, at the center of the group, remained silent. Though she chuckled faintly, it was clear her mood was lackluster, her mind elsewhere. Sensing this, someone skillfully shifted the topic. “Sophie, is this the dress you tried on in Paris the other day? It’s stunning.” “No, that one was only a prototype. " This one’s from last year’s autumn-winter haute couture collection,” Sophie replied. Haute couture was no rarity among this circle, but dresses costing millions were not often worn repeatedly. Wearing such a gown to a casual gala seemed overly extravagant—unless you were Sophie. The group didn’t bother to hide their envy. As usual, they flattered her with praise, though Sophie seemed indifferent. She took a small sip of red wine, left a polite “enjoy,” and departed with Katerina, the soon-to-be-appointed deputy editor-in-chief of Zero Degree. The moment Sophie left, the ladies quietly exhaled. Tonight, Sophie was clearly hard to please. She wasn’t interested in gossiping about Jane or accepting compliments on her dress. Nothing seemed to satisfy her. “Stop daydreaming and keep an eye on the banquet hall! Tonight is a big night for your girl. If that b*tch Ava dares stir up trouble, rip her apart for me!” Katerina maintained a cheerful demeanor as she headed toward the banquet hall, nodding frequently to greet guests. Her words, lowered and slightly muffled, slipped from her smiling lips. Sophie raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond. Suddenly, there was a commotion behind them. Both turned to look. Flashes flickered rapidly at the entrance, signaling the arrival of someone important. Reporters abandoned their current interviews and rushed toward the red carpet, vying for a spot near the backdrop. Squinting, Katerina tried to identify the figure. “Looks like Susan has arrived. You stay here; I’ll go check it out.” Her reaction was swift—she had already started walking mid-sentence. Sophie gazed at the crowd from a distance, initially uninterested. But through a gap in the throng, she caught a glimpse of a figure standing beside Susan—a figure both familiar and unfamiliar. Her back straightened instinctively. As if sensing her gaze, the person beside Susan turned in her direction, their eyes meeting hers through layers of people and flashes. His gaze carried a chill, as though it had absorbed the coolness of the stormy summer night—cold and distant. Fifteen minutes later, the photo session and interviews on the red carpet concluded. Guests were ushered into the banquet hall and seated according to pre-arranged seating plans. The banquet hall was designed by Sophie. The lighting cascaded like a waterfall, and a live orchestra played Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor. Each table centerpiece featured freshly imported warm ivory roses, their petals full and edges tinged with a soft pink glow. Waiters, clad in vests and bow ties, weaved through the elegantly dressed crowd with silver trays. The opulence was palpable. Katerina's earlier worries proved unfounded. Knowing Sophie was in charge of the venue’s arrangements, anyone planning mischief had long abandoned the idea. From the CEO’s opening speech to the editor-in-chief May’s address, the evening proceeded flawlessly. May, known for her fondness for outdated motivational quotes, this time mixed in a seismic announcement about internal magazine changes during her speech. The guests, all seasoned veterans of such events, instinctively turned to look at Katerina when May mentioned the "new deputy editor-in-chief." Katerina, brimming with restrained joy, rose from her seat like a victorious swan, her smile betraying her excitement. Yet some, like Susan, shifted their gaze from Katerina to Sophie, seated beside her. Susan, a forty-two-year-old actress with numerous Best Actress awards, has married three prominent figures over the years. Her influence spanned the entertainment, fashion, and high society worlds. She leaned slightly toward the man beside her, teasing in a tone reserved for hearing about younger generations’ drama: “Why aren’t you with Sophie? Having a spat?” The man looked at Sophie from a distance, his fingers lightly tapping his glass, perfectly in sync with the ticking of his platinum watch. After a long pause, he didn’t reply. His lips seemed to form a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Su Cheng took his silence as confirmation and began sharing tips on how to win over women. He nodded, his gaze still fixed on Sophie. Two years apart, yet Sophie remained as radiant as ever. Even with her icy expression, she outshone the meticulously adorned stars in the room. The auction began, and as the dinner guests moved into the adjacent hall, the atmosphere quickly grew electric. “Lot No. 029: a Tahitian black pearl and diamond necklace, donated by Ms. Susan...” The auctioneer’s voice echoed in the room, but Sophie’s attention was already elsewhere. She glanced down at the catalog in her hands, her lips curving into a faint smirk when she spotted the necklace’s details. It seems someone will likely spend a fortune tonight, just to win the actress’s favor. As expected, the bidding war erupted as soon as the auctioneer announced, “Starting bid: 800,000.” “850,000!” “900,000!” “One million!” When the bidding surged past three million, many attendees turned their eyes to a spot behind Sophie, some even beginning to whisper among themselves. Sophie didn’t need to look back—she already knew. She could vividly picture the man’s calm and composed expression as he raised his paddle. “Five million. " The bid has now reached five million,” the auctioneer announced. “Five million once. Five million twice. Five million, sold!” Bang! The sound of the gavel resonated throughout the hall. “Five million for this necklace?” A young starlet seated at the far end of the room couldn’t help but whisper to her manager, “Who’s that man?” Her manager, who had been staring thoughtfully at the bidder, murmured, “Johnson... He’s back?” The starlet caught the name but remained clueless. She asked again, “His name is Johnson? Is he a big deal?” But the manager was too preoccupied, rapidly typing on her phone, evidently spreading the news to others in the industry. She wasn’t alone in this—several others were doing the same. The heir of the Cavendish family, a pivotal figure in the CJ Group, had left for Australia two years ago to expand overseas markets and had not been seen domestically since. His sudden, high-profile appearance tonight, coupled with his bold bidding, seemed to send a clear message: The long-standing power struggles within the CJ Group had come to an end. From this night onwards, a new player was about to reemerge as a dominant figure in the capital’s elite circles. Attending this charity gala hadn’t been part of Johnson’s original plans. But he never missed a beat. Invited at the last minute to accompany Susan, he not only displayed the patience honed from years of accompanying his elders to similar events but also secured her favor by purchasing her “beloved possession” for five million. Such small-scale charity auctions were more about sentiment than money, and Johnson’s gesture had undoubtedly given Su Cheng plenty of face. After the auction, Susan smiled and said, “Next time Lawrence is free, why don’t you and Sophie come over for dinner?” With that, she officially acknowledged his goodwill. In the hall, nearly all eyes were now on Johnson. Sitting in the dimly lit corner, he casually loosened the Windsor knot of his tie, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair. Arriving late with Susan, many guests hadn’t realized he was present until now. Those who recognized him began approaching with friendly greetings, while others scrambled to find ways to introduce themselves. Sophie, however, remained seated, her gaze fixed coldly on the now-empty auction stage. Katerina watched her nervously, her earlier delight over her promotion entirely overshadowed by Johnson’s impressive bids. Lowering her voice, she asked, “When did your husband come back? " Did you two have a fight?” “No.” Sophie’s response was curt, addressing only the latter question. As for the former, she herself didn’t know. Time passed in a blur before a pair of black leather shoes entered Sophie’s line of sight. The shoes were familiar, their laces tied in a distinctive way that couldn’t be mistaken. The moment her eyes landed on them, Sophie instinctively knew who they belonged to. “Sophie, it’s time to go home.” His voice was calm and unhurried, yet for a fleeting moment, Sophie almost felt as if they were an ordinary couple engaging in a mundane exchange. “I drove here... I really…” Katerina stammered but found herself pulled to her feet by Sophie, who quietly but firmly led her away, high heels clicking against the floor. “You’re going home? Why drag me along? I don’t need a ride—” “You do.” Sophie shot her a cold glance, silencing her protests. Outside the art museum, the storm had subsided, leaving the night as thick and inky as a bottle of spilled ink, with not a trace of light penetrating the darkness. The breeze carried both the cool crispness and the damp heat of a summer evening. The driver respectfully opened the passenger door. Johnson stood motionless, showing no intention of getting in. Sophie started toward the car herself, only to be stopped by his outstretched hand, his gaze shifting toward Katerina. Katerina shivered under his stare, quickly realizing what he meant. She scurried into the front passenger seat, leaving the spacious backseat for the frosty couple. “Just drop me off at Star Harbor International, thanks,” Katerina said to the driver after giving her address. She then sneaked glances at the pair in the backseat through the rearview mirror. The “frosty couple” sat apart, each staring straight ahead, their mutual indifference leaving enough space between them to seat a 200-pound stranger. The Bentley merged onto the main road, and for three minutes, silence reigned. The oppressive atmosphere felt like it might suffocate everyone inside. Just as Katerina was about to break the tension with a polite remark, Johnson unexpectedly spoke: “Congratulations on your promotion, Kate.” Startled, Katerina laughed awkwardly. “Thank you." It’s been a while, Mr. Cavendish. You were... totally Alpha tonight.” Sophie shot her a sharp look through the rearview mirror. “‘Alpha’?” Johnson seemed unfamiliar with the term. Katerina opened her mouth to explain but was cut off by Sophie, who said flatly, “Or maybe you feel totally Beta, that's fine too.”