Chapter 2 Fiancé and Future Father-in-Law
1139 Words
Sophia and Ethan stood clad in bathrobes. Their close proximity, along with the marks visible on their exposed skin, left no doubt about the night's events.
At this moment, a torrent of embarrassment, shame, anger, and humiliation flooded Julian's mind.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, coming from Mr. Hudson.
"So, it seems Mr. Graham has taken a liking to this woman. Well then, young Mr. Graham, out of respect for him, I'll let this slide."
Chairman Hudson's wistful gaze lingered for a moment on Sophia's slender back before moving away.
As he turned around, a sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
What a revelation.
He seemed to have discovered Ethan's weakness!
The spectacle of a wealthy father and son battling over the same woman would undoubtedly be riveting!
He left tactfully, patting his protruding belly.
The entire corridor fell silent again.
Sophia couldn't hold back her tears as she recalled Julian personally handing her the spiked drink and delivering her to Mr. Hudson.
At this moment, Ethan's chest offered her a small measure of comfort.
Julian watched with a gloomy face as she buried herself deeper into Ethan's embrace, his eyes fixed on Sophia with a venomous glare.
"Something wrong?"
Ethan's indifferent voice sounded.
Julian's fists were clenched tight.
Yes, he had personally handed Sophia over to Chairman Hudson to gain his support in the board vote, but that didn't mean he was willing to see his father in name only bedding his woman!
Sophia was his fiancée. If this mess leaked, wouldn't Julian become the laughingstock of all Riverfront?
As for Ethan?
Who would dare laugh at him?
Just as he was about to speak, his anger barely contained, a shrill female voice suddenly pierced the air, laden with exaggerated anxiety and concern.
"Sophia! What are you doing!"
Julian turned to look and saw several people standing by the elevator behind him.
The voice belonged to the woman standing at the front, and beside her stood a girl around Sophia's age, who gave Julian a sly wink as he glanced over.
It was Sophia's stepmother, Mina, and stepsister, Melanie.
Julian frowned, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, while silently cursing to himself.
He had almost forgotten that their appearance here was all arranged in advance by him.
His goal was to catch Sophia in a compromising position. That way, he could not only break off the engagement with her effortlessly but also use the opportunity to propose to Melanie. Marrying Melanie would mean gaining control of the entire Whitmore family!
Mina strode up to Ethan, teeth clenched, and reached out to grab Sophia, only to be firmly blocked by him.
Mina was stunned for a moment but didn't dwell on it, nor did she notice Ethan's expression at that moment, because her heart was brimming with excitement.
Mina felt that this turn of events was even better. Sophia had slept with Ethan, and with such a massive scandal, not only would her marriage to Julian be called off, but she would also have no place left in the Whitmore family.
After twenty years of effort, she was finally going to kick Clara's daughter out of the Whitmore family!
Her overexcitement caused her entire body to tremble slightly, giving the appearance of someone overcome with anger.
"Sophia! Come down here right now! Do you want to disgrace the Whitmore family and make us the laughingstock of everyone?"
Her voice was shrill, with an urgent tone.
However, Mina was thinking to herself, 'These reporters are taking the money without doing the work. Why haven't they arrived yet? I must deduct some from the final payment later.'
Sophia closed her eyes, mortified. She struggled to get down, but Ethan's arms were like iron, tightly restraining her.
She struggled feebly before giving up in despair. A tear slid silently onto Ethan's skin, its burning warmth further darkening his gaze.
"Leave!"
Ethan coldly spat out two words, his tone already tinged with anger.
Mina was startled and was about to shout when Melanie pulled her back.
She gently shook her head at Mina, then looked up at Sophia.
"Sophia, Julian said he couldn't find you. He waited at our house all night, and when you still hadn't returned by morning, he came looking for you. But who would have thought..."
She hesitated, leaving her words unfinished. Despite her best efforts to conceal it, the mockery and schadenfreude in her tone were impossible to suppress.
Melanie was slightly dissatisfied that the person who had been with Sophia wasn't that pig-headed Mr. Hudson.
She carefully raised her eyes to look at the handsome and tall man in front. His unique aura of nobility and coolness made her gaze linger admiringly.
At the same time, a surge of jealousy flared within her.
How dare Sophia have such good luck!
To actually sleep with such an exceptional man!
Resentment and jealousy twisted Melanie's once-charming features with a hint of ferocity.
"Sophia, how... how could you? Where does this leave Julian? If word of your affair with Mr. Graham gets out, how will Dad and Julian hold their heads up in the future?"
She didn't mention herself at all, as if she was purely concerned.
Yet each word she spoke drove another nail into Sophia's pillar of shame.
Claiming that Sophia, despite being engaged, failed to return home that night.
And now, she had even climbed into her future father-in-law's bed!
Hearing this, Sophia couldn't help but look up at her father, Bruce. This man, who used to give her piggyback rides when she was little, now had eyes full of disgust and disdain for her.
Sophia's tears fell even more uncontrollably.
At this moment, the reporters Mina had been expecting finally rushed in, filling up the corridor in just a few seconds.
Camera flashes burst one after another, fraying Sophia's fragile nerves.
She instinctively raised her hand to block, but a large hand moved faster to shield her eyes.
She turned her face to look, and saw Ethan lowering his eyelids, his deep pupils reflecting her terrified face.
A moment later, he turned his gaze forward, his icy, penetrating eyes brimming with warning.
"I'd like to see who dares to take photos!"
As his words settled, a new commotion stirred in the corridor.
Dozens of black-clad bodyguards filed in, escorting all the reporters out and confiscating their equipment.
Until the corridor was quiet again.
Ethan's gaze, cold as ice and sharp as an arrow, finally fixed on Julian and the others.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and all four people present grew nervous.
"I will uncover the truth behind this!"
After saying that, he forcefully slammed the door shut.
At that moment, Julian's face paled as he revealed a look of fear.
He knew he was done for!
- Writer
