Chapter 143 Delayed You from Becoming Someone Else’s Stepmother

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Delayed You from Becoming Someone Else’s Stepmother

Sophie Winslow shook her head.

"I’m not sure. Since he came all the way out here to keep Stella Sutton company, maybe it was part of his plan."

After all, they had already finalized their divorce. It was only natural that Julian Sterling couldn’t wait to give his beloved woman a proper title.

Peter Preston couldn’t detect any trace of sadness on Sophie’s face. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn’t know how to begin.

Seven years. To end in such an embarrassing way... Even if the love was gone, a scar from being hurt so deeply would still ache.

Sophie smiled indifferently, patted Peter on the shoulder, and returned to her room. She didn’t spend even a second imagining what kind of romantic scene might unfold between Stella and Julian tonight. She sent Lydia a few photos she had taken today, then took a shower and got ready for bed.

As she did, a ring fell out of her coat pocket.

Sophie picked it up, scratching her head, unsure of what to do with it. She wondered if she should return the ring to Adrian Hawthorne. Then again, that didn’t feel right, either. After all, Adrian hadn’t bought it himself; going out of her way to return it would make her seem entirely too dramatic.

Just as she was weighing her options, the doorbell rang.

Assuming it was Peter, Sophie stuffed the ring back into her pocket. When she opened the door, however, she saw Julian standing there. He was still wearing the same outfit, his features deep and handsome.

Sophie froze. "Aren’t you supposed to be with—"

"Come back to Kingsford with me right now. Grandpa’s in the operating room."

As his deep voice fell, Sophie’s expression changed drastically, the color draining entirely from her face.

Julian was visibly much calmer. He stepped into Sophie’s room without hesitation, walked over to her suitcase, took out her coat, packed her phone charger from the bedside table, and zipped the luggage shut. He raised his wrist to check the time, his tone steady. "It’s peak hour tonight, and commercial flights are sold out. I arranged a private jet on my way over. By the time we reach the airport, the flight path should be approved."

Sophie’s mind was a chaotic mess. Her grandfather was ninety years old. She didn’t dare imagine what she would do if the worst were to happen. By the time she snapped back to reality, she found herself already sitting in the car. They sped back to Kingsford through the night in record time.

When Sophie arrived at the hospital, Quentin Winslow was still in the operating room.

"The old man took a fall and fractured his calf," the doctor explained. "Currently, it is not life-threatening."

But Sophie didn’t dare think too deeply about it. She had a medical background and deeply understood the severe complications that could arise when an elderly person fractured a bone from a fall.

She sat in the corridor, unconsciously picking at her fingers. It seemed to be the only way she could relieve her mounting stress.

Julian walked over and glanced at the familiar nervous tick she always exhibited when angry, anxious, or sad. The skin around her nails was on the verge of peeling. He stood before her, took off his invaluable watch, bent down, and shoved it into her self-mutilating hands. "Keep an eye on the time. Keep track of how long he’s been in there."

Only then did Sophie look down at the silver watch suddenly resting in her palms, still warm from his body heat. But she couldn’t help but start pinching and rubbing the metal instead.

Julian cast a glance at her abusing his watch before sitting down. His tone was mostly cold—usually sounding callous—but at this moment, it somehow managed to calm Sophie down. "I confirmed his condition when we arrived. It’s not a major issue."

That reminded Sophie of something. She turned to him. "How did you find out before I did?"

Julian gave her a mild glance. "The hospital had my number listed as a family contact."

Sophie nodded, then shook her head. "Didn’t you change your number?"

"He’s out." Julian looked toward the operating room and stood up.

Sophie quickly rushed over as well. Quentin’s surgery had gone well, but he hadn’t woken up yet.

"The old man has been taken very good care of over the years," the doctor told them. "His constitution is quite strong, so this didn’t cause any organ failure. He will just need a longer time to recover, given his advanced age."

Sophie let out a long breath of relief, nodding eagerly to whatever the doctor said.

Once Quentin was transferred to a regular ward, she didn’t sit idle. She checked his pulse to gauge his condition, then repeatedly scrutinized his prescribed medications. She could tell at a glance what each drug was treating and how the dosages corresponded to the severity of his injury.

Julian sat on the sofa, simply watching her busy herself.

Sophie only noticed his gaze belatedly. She looked up at him. "My apologies. I interrupted your private time with her and delayed your proposal."

Julian didn’t even bat an eyelid. "You’re too polite. You also missed out on the chance to learn how to be a stepmother from a father."

Sophie knew that Julian actually had quite a sharp tongue. He would randomly throw out prickly remarks. Whether he was being sarcastic or just stating a fact, he always maintained the same posture and tone, making it impossible to tell.

After fully confirming Quentin’s stable condition, Sophie finally sat down and sent a message to Peter to update him. After a moment of thought, she opened the chat window with Adrian Hawthorne.

She typed: "Mr. Hawthorne, I had an emergency and returned to Kingsford. You..."

Before she could finish typing, she realized Julian was already standing right by the bed. She immediately put her phone away, having no intention of letting him pry into her privacy. She didn’t know if he had managed to catch a glimpse or not.

Julian shot her a glance. "Grandpa seems to be waking up."

Sophie quickly looked over. Quentin was still groggy, the anesthesia not having fully worn off yet, mumbling something unintelligible.

Sophie had to lean in close to his ear. "Grandpa?"

"Sophie..." Quentin seemed to finally recognize her, though his mind was still clouded. "Grandpa is getting old... I’m afraid I don’t have many days left to live."

Sophie’s eyes instantly turned red.

Quentin grasped her hand. "Sophie, actually... the Winslow Family has always kept a secret. I have to let you know...

"You... you aren’t your mother’s biological child..."

Sophie froze in utter shock.

Julian’s eyes suddenly narrowed.