Chapter 226 Married Couple’s Date

Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Married Couple’s Date

Due to the drugs, Sophie Winslow’s brain was still a little sluggish. She simply stared at the man in front of her. His eyes were so dark and profound that they were intimidating, but his tone was gentle.

Julian Sterling didn’t wait for her to process the situation. Reaching out, he scooped her up by the waist and swiftly lifted her into his arms, then smoothly picked up her fallen high heels nearby. Half-carrying her, he moved to the sofa behind them and sat down, settling her sideways on his lap. He draped the suit jacket he had thrown at her over her head and upper body, half-concealing her face so that only the back of her head was visible.

Sophie couldn’t muster any strength. She could only let Julian arrange her as he pleased.

He leaned forward slightly, his large hand gripping the high heel to slip it back onto her foot. The entire process was swift and meticulous. She caught a glimpse of the back of his bloodstained right hand—a shocking sight.

"Sophie."

The voices outside were drawing closer.

Julian gently pulled the jacket around her shoulders, wrapping her a little tighter. His eyes were deep and fathomless. "You can close your eyes first."

Sophie knew the mob of media reporters had arrived outside. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. If what happened today was exposed, her reputation would be completely ruined. Her subconscious defensive posture—her arms braced against his chest—stiffened. Steeling herself, she closed her eyes, refusing to look.

He cradled her cheeks in his hands.

After coming upstairs, Stella Sutton didn’t approach the room. She watched the media reporters running toward it with their assorted cameras. Arching an eyebrow, she simply stood in the corridor.

Sophie had been taken away by Tristan Thorne. Stella had learned exactly what kind of person Tristan was during her years abroad. Sophie wasn’t likely to have a good outcome today. With so many reporters present, the moment they captured anything scandalous, Sophie would become an infamous high-society celebrity. The Sterling Family would no longer tolerate a daughter-in-law with a ruined reputation.

She watched from afar until the majority of the reporters swarmed the doorway.

But soon, the crowd over there seemed astonished. Their picture-taking abruptly faltered. Something seemed to have happened. Stella didn’t know the exact situation, but Tristan hadn’t come out. She hadn’t seen him when she came upstairs, so he should still be inside the room.

Meanwhile, the reporters stared at the scene before them.

On the sofa, Julian was lightly holding a woman by the waist. Wrapped in a jacket, she was nestled comfortably in his arms. His hand resting on her waist patted her gently, an affectionate little gesture that seemed meant to coax her. His other hand cupped the side of her face, effectively shielding her features from view.

He tilted his head slightly and kissed her—a gesture completely devoid of eroticism, looking purely like a warm, everyday interaction.

Cameras flashed as the reporters instinctively captured the moment. However, it wasn’t the sensational scandal they had expected before rushing upstairs.

Instead...

Julian cupped the side of Sophie’s face, letting her rest against his shoulder as his gaze swept indifferently toward the door.

"Is a date between my wife and me really worth a headline?"

His single sentence defined the entire situation.

Realization dawned on the reporters at the door. As veterans in the industry, they knew that Julian Sterling was the highest standard for interviews and photo shoots. None of them could fail to recognize him. And at the mention of the word "wife," everyone looked at the figure who had yet to turn around. They had actually managed to photograph the notoriously low-profile Mrs. Sterling today!

"Apologies, Mr. Sterling. We’ve disturbed you," someone quickly realized, immediately backing away.

No one wanted to offend Julian at a time like this. The others quickly followed suit. Some even tactfully tried to close the door. Even though the door was already dented and broken, no one dared to question why it was in such a state. They left as quickly as they came.

Sophie could clearly sense that they were safe now. Gathering her strength, she abruptly pushed Julian away and braced herself against the sofa to sit on the other side. She didn’t feign "tolerance" for a second longer.

Julian watched her actions, his eyes devoid of any emotion. Due to her lack of strength, she had practically tumbled over.

Outside the door, the reporters looked at the photos in their cameras and sighed in awe. "Although it isn’t some immoral scandal, this scene is still highly valuable. That’s a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Sterling being affectionate! There were widespread rumors recently about a mysterious Mrs. Sterling. Does this count as firsthand information?"

Stella heard every word clearly, her expression darkening instantly.

Tristan wasn’t there? Tristan was definitely supposed to be inside... Pressing her lips into a tight line, she shot a sharp glare in that direction.

Evan York pushed open an inner room door and walked out. Leaning against the wall, he exhaled a long breath.

"I’ve never been a ’man in the shadows’ like this in my entire life." Especially since, just moments ago, he had dragged the unconscious Tristan away to "hide the body" without a second thought.

He turned to look at Sophie. She was far more resilient than he had imagined. Even after such an ordeal, she didn’t break down and cry. She just sat there quietly, catching her breath, her small face nearly expressionless. The same went for Julian sitting beside her. The atmosphere was inexplicably tense. Evan had no idea what had happened; he only sensed the stiffness between the two of them.

Julian stood up. "I’ll take her to the hospital for a blood test first. As for him, keep it quiet for now."

With that, he walked over to Sophie, leaned down, and picked her up once more.

Sophie frowned. Although she was repulsed by his touch, she knew she needed a medical examination and treatment right now to flush the drugs out of her system.

"Alright," Evan said. He pursed his lips, glancing at the choke marks still visible on Sophie’s neck. He gritted his back teeth involuntarily.

After the two of them slipped out the door to avoid being seen, Evan pushed the inner door open and looked at Tristan lying on the floor. An unnamed fury surged through him, and he raised his foot to deliver a few extra kicks.

Although she didn’t know what kind of drug she had been given, by the time the car arrived at the hospital, Sophie felt a fair amount of strength returning to her limbs.

When Julian got out of the car to carry her, Sophie’s taut nerves sounded the alarm once again. Acting on pure reflex, she slapped his hand away hard.

"I can walk myself."

Julian glanced at the red marks on his left hand. His face remained almost entirely expressionless, betraying no obvious signs of anger or displeasure.

Sophie gripped the car door and stepped out, her legs feeling like jelly.

Ignoring her protests, Julian scooped her up into his arms again, paying no mind to the change in her expression. They used a VIP channel to enter the hospital, ensuring not a single word of their visit leaked out.

The drug detected in her blood wouldn’t cause lasting harm and would be fully metabolized within twenty-four hours. She needed an IV drip, and the bruises on her neck also required treatment. The entire process was swift, and Sophie was soon settled into a quiet hospital room.

Julian sat by the bed, slightly lifting his chin to check her IV drip.

"Do you know what kind of person Tristan Thorne is?" He slowly shifted his gaze to Sophie, his eyes devoid of any warmth. "You just go on blind dates with anyone? If something had really happened, could you bear the consequences?"

Sophie frowned silently. She hadn’t expected Julian to comfort her softly, but she absolutely wasn’t going to let him mock her like this.

"I called you. Didn’t you ignore it? Just like every other time," she stated calmly, as if she were an outside observer.

Ignoring her was what Julian had done best over the past seven years.

Julian’s pupils contracted slightly, and he stared at her unblinkingly.

Sophie didn’t bother arguing about it. Instead, she retorted sharply, "I don’t have the luxury to be picky. The old madam introduced him to me. If it worked out, she’d give me the divorce papers. Isn’t that a great deal?"

Julian’s finger paused mid-motion as he rubbed his phone, clearly not expecting this to be the reason.

Sophie delivered her final blow, enunciating every word, "It’s certainly better than waiting day after day for you to squeeze me into your schedule to fulfill my needs whenever you’re taking a break from your busy love life."