Chapter 123 Putting on the Airs of the Main Wife

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Putting on the Airs of the Main Wife

Sophie Winslow hadn’t expected this at all.

She looked up at Stella Sutton, who stood before her with unabashed confidence. Stella’s face plainly showed that she felt entitled to the seat, carrying the unmistakable air of the rightful girlfriend.

Sophie almost laughed, mockery flashing in her eyes. That level of audacity was truly blinding.

While Sophie was left speechless by the sheer absurdity, many people around them noticed the commotion. With Julian Sterling present, there was never a shortage of attention.

The people in the row behind them observed the two women. Instinctively determining that Stella was the genuine girlfriend, someone immediately spoke up to mediate. "Miss, you might not know this, but Miss Sutton is Mr. Sterling’s plus-one. Why not do them a favor and let them sit together?"

Eager to show their faces in front of Julian, others chimed in. "Yeah, there’s no reason to split them up, right? Just swap seats with her. It’s only a chair; it shouldn’t matter."

Hearing the bystanders take her side, the corners of Stella’s lips finally curled upward. She looked down condescendingly at Sophie. "It’s about to start. Please don’t hold things up, alright?"

Her tone was polite, but the underlying meaning was a blatant eviction notice.

Sophie raised her eyelashes and crossed her legs, looking calmly at Stella. "You’re even fighting over a seat. Do you want my charity? Is this how you ask for a favor?"

Stella’s smile froze. "Sophie, there’s no need to blow this out of proportion. It’s just a seat."

"It’s the organizer’s arrangement. Why don’t you go question them?" Sophie retorted coolly.

Stella was taken aback. After all, the organizers were quite powerful themselves.

"Are you using them to pressure me?" Stella lowered her voice, a faint warning in her tone.

"If you want to be joined at the hip with Mr. Sterling, sitting on his lap would be much more effective than sitting here," Sophie scoffed, not showing the slightest intention of giving up her seat.

She figured Julian would indulge such behavior anyway. Actually, when she first saw Julian, she had genuinely considered swapping seats with Peter Preston. But then Stella had to come over and provoke her directly. Well, too bad. She was the kind of person who was immune to both coercion and persuasion.

Sophie’s words were brutally blunt, leaving no room for negotiation. It was tantamount to slapping Stella in the face publicly.

Stella’s pride couldn’t take it, but with so many people watching, she couldn’t throw a fit. She could only look at Julian beside her.

Julian rubbed his phone with his thumb, lifting his chin slightly to glance at Sophie. His gaze was unreadable, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Sophie frowned silently.

Julian didn’t speak to Sophie in front of everyone. Instead, he gestured for a nearby manager to approach. "Can you arrange a seat for Miss Sutton in the front row?"

The manager was a shrewd operator. He certainly wasn’t going to deny Julian Sterling a favor. Understanding the assignment, he immediately had the staff make the arrangements.

In the end, Stella sat down on the other side of Julian. It was a blatant display of favoritism.

Sophie had told Stella to take it up with the organizers, and Julian had settled the matter with a single sentence. Wasn’t that a response in itself? Stella would always have special privileges.

Sophie understood this perfectly. Even the gazes cast her way by the surrounding crowd held a hint of disdain and mockery. They probably thought she was an ungracious outsider, foolishly refusing to do a couple a favor.

Sophie couldn’t care less. Only she knew what she was guarding by refusing to yield.

In stark contrast to the cold shoulder Sophie received, the moment Stella took her seat, the people around them eagerly struck up conversations.

"Miss Sutton, I’ve watched your popular science programs. You’re even more beautiful in person than on screen! You’re definitely the most dazzling person here today."

Stella smiled and replied, "Thank you."

"It’s thanks to people like you that the general public can understand the hard work of the researchers and behind-the-scenes staff in the medical industry. My kids say they love you and want to study the same major."

"A celebrity medical professional. Miss Sutton, you’re truly one of a kind."

The flattery was endless. It almost turned into Stella’s personal fan meet-and-greet.

Sophie knew, however, that they weren’t really flattering Stella. They were sucking up to Julian, who was acting as her powerful patron.

"By the way, I heard that you participated in the drug research and development between Helios and Kingsford University, and that you were deeply involved," someone noted.

Stella glanced at Sophie. "Yes, I was heavily involved. I’d say I handled about eighty percent of it."

"Then why did you suddenly withdraw from the project team? Getting your name on a project of that caliber holds tremendous weight."

Stella paused, pursing her lips before answering. "Because I have my own personal plans. I have other R&D projects to work on right now, and I can’t be in two places at once. To me, empty fame like getting my name on a project isn’t very important. What matters is that patients get to use the best medicine."

Immediately, the onlookers looked at Stella with even more admiration. The praises rang in her ears.

Julian didn’t chime in the entire time, but his expression was relaxed. When Sophie looked over, his gaze happened to shift in her direction, the faint curve at the corner of his lips still lingering.

She instantly understood. No man would be immune to having a beautiful, highly praised girlfriend.

Sometimes, she really had to hand it to Stella. It was no wonder she was so active in the public eye; her ability to sing her own praises was truly formidable. First, she took all the credit. Then, she played the part of someone indifferent to fame and fortune.

Sophie thought Stella was acting so self-righteous that she belonged on a pedestal in The Aveline Cathedral.

"Only those who have nothing love to fight and snatch. Hoarding a good seat in the front row without being reasonable won’t help them anyway. Their level of thinking is miles behind Miss Sutton’s."

Sophie noticed their eyes drifting toward her. The veiled insults were loud and clear.

Sophie had only come here for the launch of the Helios drug, yet she had to deal with this frustrating mess. She blamed it entirely on Julian’s inaction as the man in the middle.

She pursed her lips, wanting to remind him to keep the social butterfly next to him in check. But before she could drop a hint, someone suddenly stood up and announced, "Chairman Hayes has arrived."

With that single sentence, the venue erupted in excitement once again. Stella, in particular, looked over with burning anticipation.

At the entrance of the venue.

Evan York stepped out of the car and reached out to help Winnie Hayes.

The old lady slapped his hand away without mercy. "I walk much steadier than you do."

Evan sighed helplessly. "Grandma, so many people are watching."

Wasn’t this how other families put on a show for the public? What was wrong with playing the part of a doting grandmother and a dutiful grandson?

Winnie wasn’t very tall, but her hair was impeccably maintained with very few white strands, and her steps were vigorous and steady. "If you’re truly dutiful, then manage your company properly instead of slacking off every day. If the York family had to rely on you, it would collapse in a few years."

Evan was speechless. His grandmother’s tongue was truly venomous.

He hurried after her. "Other grandmothers worry about their grandsons getting married and giving them great-grandchildren, but you’re only focused on pushing me to be successful. You might as well care a little about my love life."

"That’s your own business. At my age, why should I fret over you? I have better things to do," the old lady retorted dismissively. She was too busy to waste time worrying about such useless things.

Evan was left completely speechless.

As they walked, Evan caught sight of Sophie in the venue out of the corner of his eye. His footsteps faltered.

Winnie followed his gaze, her eyes landing precisely on Sophie’s side profile.