Chapter 224 Something Happened to Sophie Winslow

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Something Happened to Sophie Winslow

Coincidentally, someone came over, bowing slightly to offer a toast. In that brief window, the buzzing phone suddenly fell silent. The screen gradually went dark. Julian Sterling finally shifted his gaze away from the blackened screen, making no further attempt to call back.

Tristan Thorne glanced at the outgoing call screen on Sophie Winslow’s phone, snatched the device from her hand, and ended the call.

Sophie felt as if her limbs had been injected with a muscle relaxant. She couldn’t muster an ounce of strength. Having studied medicine and been exposed to various drugs since childhood, she knew with absolute certainty that she was under the influence of a drug. She had been set up.

A hand patted her shoulder. "Not feeling well? Let me take you to rest for a bit."

Sophie watched helplessly as her phone was taken away. She was entirely devoid of the power to resist. Even her throat felt as though it had been numbed with anesthesia, rendering her unable to speak.

Still wearing a smile, Tristan threw an arm around her shoulder and led her out of the room.

After enduring several rounds of toasts, Evan York slipped out of the banquet hall. Leaning against the staircase railing, he frowned in deep thought, replaying the recent interaction between Sophie and Tristan. Tristan had been abroad for years, so Evan wasn’t privy to his exact circumstances. But to go on a blind date with the intention of marriage right after returning to the country? It didn’t sit well with him.

Evan made a quick phone call, instructing someone to run a background check on Tristan. At the very least, he needed to find out how Tristan had ended up on a blind date with Sophie.

It would take a while to get a reply. Resting his elbows on the railing, he decided to have a smoke. But just as he flicked his lighter, he caught sight of two figures emerging from the corner of the stairs, pressed tightly against each other.

He froze instantly. Standing up straight, Evan looked over. The two silhouettes were all too familiar—it was Sophie and Tristan.

To his astonishment, Sophie was resting her head on Tristan’s shoulder, allowing him to hold her close. That level of intimacy—the unspoken understanding between an adult man and woman—made his throat suddenly tighten.

What followed was an inexplicable surge of anger. They had only just met! Was it really necessary to move this fast?

His face turned frosty. Snuffing out the unlit cigarette, he wanted to march over, pull Sophie aside, and demand answers. But just as he took his first step, someone grabbed his arm.

Evan turned his head. He saw Stella Sutton holding onto him tightly. Her expression betrayed nothing unusual as she asked, "Mr. York, I accidentally sprained my ankle. Could you take me to find Julian? I need to get some ice on it."

Evan frowned unconsciously. He glanced down at Stella’s feet; she was wearing high heels that looked exhausting just to stand in.

Without giving her an answer, he turned back toward the direction Sophie and Tristan had gone. They were already out of sight.

In that moment, an indescribable feeling welled up inside him for no apparent reason. He felt a mix of irritation and a sense of overstepping. After all, Sophie was indeed already in the process of divorcing Julian. Whatever she chose to do was her own business. Perhaps they had hit it off and the attraction was mutual. What right did he have to interfere?

If it hadn’t been for Stella, he probably would have stormed over and ruined their "love at first sight" moment.

He scanned the area but couldn’t find any trace of Sophie. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Evan finally relented.

"Alright, hold onto me," he said, offering Stella an arm for support without overstepping any boundaries.

Stella smiled gently. "Thank you."

As she turned around, her peripheral vision swept quickly over the spot where the other two had just been.

Evan escorted Stella back to the banquet. Inside the bustling hall of fame and fortune, Julian sat right at the center. Unbothered and composed, he gave off an aura of transcendent aloofness.

Stella took a seat beside him before turning to Evan. "Thank you so much, Mr. York. I feel much better now. It doesn’t hurt anymore."

Only then did Julian cast a slight glance her way. "What happened?"

"I just twisted my ankle slightly, but it feels fine now." Stella smiled and shook her head, gesturing for him not to worry.

Julian gave a small nod.

Evan pressed his thin lips together and glanced at Julian. The thought of Sophie acting so intimately with another man as if they were long-lost lovers... it inexplicably filled him with frustration. It felt wrong to intervene, but just as wrong to do nothing. Deciding he needed some fresh air, he turned around and walked straight out.

Julian swept his eyes over Evan’s retreating back but didn’t ask any questions.

The area was filled with numerous dignitaries and aristocrats, and where there were crowds, there was gossip. Nearby, a group had already started discussing the host of tonight’s event.

"Tristan Thorne threw such a high-profile banquet right after coming back. The Thorne family really spoils him."

"Well, he’s the favorite. Even though he’s an illegitimate son, the elders of the Thorne family have doted on him since he was a kid and just let him do whatever he wants."

Someone lowered their voice. "He might look like a perfect gentleman, but during my years studying abroad, his track record was wild. He’s even had foursomes before..."

"That messy?" another voice gasped.

Stella glanced over, took a sip from her wine glass, and arched an eyebrow.

Julian, completely uninterested in such topics, maintained his cold demeanor.

"Yeah, exactly. Look, just today, another woman fell for his charm and eagerly followed him out. People here in the country have no idea about his past. It’s hard not to be fooled..."

Hearing this, Stella suddenly cast a glance at Julian. Seeing that someone had come over to offer him a toast and he hadn’t paid any attention to the gossip, she slowly settled back into her seat.

A silent, mocking smile tugged at her lips. If Sophie was a poor judge of character, she had no one to blame but herself.

Julian, who disliked drinking too much, declined a couple of toasts before standing up. "I’m going to the restroom for a moment."

Stella offered a gentle smile. "Alright."

After stepping out, Julian walked over to the window in the corridor. He leaned against the wall and pulled out his lighter, just as he bumped into Evan, who was on his way back.

Julian lifted his eyelids to look at him. "You’ve been on pins and needles all night. What’s on your mind?"

He had noticed. Evan had something weighing on him.

Evan always knew Julian was highly perceptive. For a moment, he hesitated, wondering if he should tell Julian about Sophie’s blind date with Tristan...

"Julian, I know you might not care, but it’s probably better if you’re prepared for this," Evan finally decided to say.

However, just as he opened his mouth, Stella rushed over. "Julian, could you take me home? Seth is sick. He’s throwing up and has diarrhea. It sounds pretty serious."

Julian cast a side glance at Evan, gesturing for him to finish his thought.

Seeing this, Stella couldn’t help but clench her fists.

Evan let out a breath. "Never mind. You two go ahead."

Julian didn’t press the matter. He turned and walked away.

Evan’s phone pinged with a notification. He took it out and saw it was the background check he had ordered on Tristan’s life abroad.

Upon reading the detailed contents, his expression shifted drastically.

Sophie was taken to a suite upstairs.

She couldn’t muster a single ounce of strength and had no idea what kind of drug she had been given. Her mind, however, had never been clearer, which was undeniably cruel. She was fully aware of everything that was happening but entirely powerless to escape.

Eventually, she was tossed onto a bed.

Tristan sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette. "Miss Winslow, you might be the very first person to ever reject me. I have to admit, it made me lose face.

"Madam Sterling said you had an obedient and docile temperament, but from what I can see, you’re just really good at playing hard to get."