Chapter 145 The Little Bitch’s Big Backer Has Arrived

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Little Bitch’s Big Backer Has Arrived

Sophie Winslow, no matter how composed she usually was, couldn’t help but be amused by those words. Was she seriously being lectured by a mistress about moral corruption and ruining other people’s relationships?

"When it comes to that, my skills are far inferior to yours, Miss Sutton. There’s no need to flatter me." Sophie’s stomach was still aching, making her voice somewhat weak. But she simply couldn’t hold back a sarcastic retort.

Stella Sutton chuckled, not angry in the slightest. "I think you’re mistaken. I’m not like you. Mr. Hawthorne might just be playing with you on a whim, but the bond between Julian and me is different. Sophie, I hope you have some self-awareness. The one who isn’t loved is the real sinner standing between two people."

A cold smile crept onto Sophie’s lips. How high-sounding. How convenient that the unloved one was the third party. She even managed to smear Adrian Hawthorne’s feelings for her along the way.

"Then you should pass a law," Sophie said, her tone icy. "From now on, the term ’true love’ can be legally changed to ’bitch’ just for you. You’ve certainly earned the title."

Stella hadn’t expected Sophie to speak so harshly. She was just about to say something when she suddenly looked in a certain direction and bit her lip. "Julian..."

Sophie looked over. Well, the little bitch’s biggest backer had arrived.

Julian Sterling had arrived at some point and was watching her from a distance. Sophie didn’t shy away. How could she not know? Julian would protect Stella. He would think Sophie was speaking out of turn and insulting his precious first love.

"Mr. Preston didn’t see you?" Julian asked as he walked over.

Stella shook her head, sounding helpless. "He refused to talk. I stood out here in the cold wind for half the day. I don’t understand why Mr. Preston has such a huge prejudice against me. Perhaps there’s some other reason."

Sophie wanted to laugh. She was practically writing "someone has been badmouthing me" across her forehead.

Stella rubbed her arms, her eyes red. "I might have caught a cold, or maybe my blood sugar is low because I haven’t eaten all day. Julian, could I borrow your jacket?"

Julian didn’t refuse, handing her the jacket draped over his arm. Stella took it and wrapped it over her shoulders. As she did, she cast a glance at Sophie. Her eyes were full of smiles, displaying the arrogance of someone who knew they were favored.

Sophie remained almost expressionless and turned to leave, but Julian turned to her. "The database access—can we discuss it?"

Sophie’s footsteps paused. She hadn’t expected Julian to ask her this directly, especially since, on the surface, she held no position or power at Helios.

She looked at him coldly. "You think I’m the one who sabotaged the deal?"

She instantly guessed what Julian was thinking. He didn’t believe Peter Preston was subjectively unwilling; rather, he assumed there was outside interference.

Julian looked at her calmly, ignoring her question. "You can name your terms."

Sophie wanted to applaud her ex-husband’s deep devotion. For Stella’s future, the dignified Mr. Sterling was actually willing to lower his head. Not only had he come to pick her up in such a high-profile manner and showered her with care, but he was also lifting her up at any cost.

Perhaps out of anger, her stomach cramped even more violently, feeling as if it were being twisted by a knife. Still, she enunciated every word clearly, "We don’t want Helios’s assets tainted by something filthy."

"Sophie, why make things so ugly?" Stella, stung by the word ’filthy,’ scolded her with a cold face. "Mixing business with personal matters—aren’t you being too childish?"

Sophie had learned something new today. Apparently, not cooperating with Julian’s sweetheart was automatically categorized as being childish. They weren’t allowed to have their own considerations.

She was already irritable from her period, and being cornered and harassed here only made it worse. She swayed unsteadily on her feet. Before she could crouch down to catch her breath, Stella’s voice rang out from behind her.

"Julian, I think my blood sugar is dropping."

Sophie struggled to turn her head. Julian was already supporting a seemingly fainting Stella toward his car, having completely missed Sophie’s condition. She didn’t find this surprising. Withdrawing her gaze, she took a moment to recover before heading back to the marital home.

Julian didn’t return that night. Left with no other choice, Sophie brewed some herbal medicine for herself, forcing it down despite her strong aversion to the taste, and finally began to feel a bit better. She needed to be in top form to meet a team flying in from abroad. They were very interested in Helios and were willing to join their upcoming brain tumor surgical robot project.

The next day.

Sophie arrived at Helios early in the morning. However, Peter Preston walked in looking grim. "The team is here."

Sophie checked the time. "Should we head out, then?"

Peter shook his head. "They’re no longer negotiating with us. They’ve found a better employer."

Sophie was taken aback. "What happened?"

"Longview poached them. They offered top-tier benefits, triple the salary, and set up an independent project team at Longview. The director in charge is Stella Sutton."

Sophie burst into a brief, angry laugh. Longview. Julian Sterling had poached their people for Stella.

"It’s probably because Helios left Stella out in the cold yesterday. Julian is executing a precision strike to help her get ’justice,’" Sophie said. She couldn’t quite describe how she felt. The incident was unexpected, but Julian’s methods weren’t.

After all, how could he bear to let Stella suffer any grievances? So, he had to make Helios suffer. Or rather, make her suffer.