Chapter 237 Julian Sterling Discovers Sophie Winslow’s Full-Term Maternity Photos!

Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Julian Sterling Discovers Sophie Winslow’s Full-Term Maternity Photos!

"Attending publicly as Adrian Hawthorne’s date—isn’t this completely out of line?"

"Given how many people now know about Sophie Winslow’s relationship with the Sterling family, and knowing full well that Julian would be here, isn’t this too unseemly?"

Julian Sterling quietly watched that direction. His features were cold and stern, and his lips moved slightly. "It doesn’t matter what she does."

At his completely indifferent attitude, Stella Sutton’s expression softened, and she even smiled. After all, Julian had practically written "nothing to do with me" on his face. No matter how much Sophie kicked up a fuss, it would be to no avail!

"But with Sophie acting like this, isn’t she telling the outside world that she and the Hawthorne family are on the same side? What about the Sterlings?" Finn Lockwood was extremely baffled.

Wasn’t Sophie playing too big of a game? Was she truly not worried that such an over-the-top approach would cause the Sterling family to completely abandon her?

"Or rather, is she doing this on purpose? Using her current title as a professor at Kingsford University to make Julian change his mind, deliberately provoking the Sterlings?"

Stella pursed her lips and glanced at the highly anticipated Sophie over there, saying coldly, "Let’s set aside how she became a professor for now. If she can’t produce real skills to convince people over time, it will naturally become known that she’s an amateur. When that time comes, no one will buy into her act."

In other words, today might look like a grand spectacle, and so many people had come to get acquainted with Sophie. But once her true level was exposed, all of this would be nothing but a fleeting illusion. It would shatter in an instant.

"Regardless of Sophie’s level as a professor, the fact that Adrian brought her here today and specifically convinced the Hawthornes to host this celebratory banquet shows what he means..." Evan York rejected Stella’s claim. "He has the intention of marrying Sophie."

Even if Sophie’s status as a professor couldn’t continue to shine brilliantly, once she was recognized by the Hawthorne family, she would still be in a position of glory.

Stella’s face darkened slightly. She somewhat disliked Evan’s words. He made it sound as if Sophie would stand on high ground no matter what. The point was, Sophie had already secured her next option, yet Stella herself hadn’t even secured the Sterling family yet.

"Does that mean today is officially meeting the parents?" Finn said. "Sophie and Julian haven’t even finalized their split, right? Isn’t she being too hasty?"

As he spoke, he looked at Julian, who hadn’t expressed his stance yet. "Julian, I don’t think you can just let Sophie mess around. Should we stop her and Mr. Hawthorne from being so high-profile tonight?"

Julian looked over indifferently. Before he could reply, Clara Quinn arrived and interrupted the topic they were just on.

Only then did Stella cast a dissatisfied glance at Finn. Asking Julian to stop Sophie—where would that put her?

Julian turned to look at Clara. "Is there something going on at the company?"

Clara nodded. "I couldn’t get through to you on the phone just now. There is an urgent international conference that will start in two hours. You need to arrange your schedule accordingly."

Julian nodded slightly. "Got it."

Clara took a phone out of her pocket. "And there’s this. It was sent back from Seabourne."

Julian lowered his eyes to look at it and remembered. This was from a few months ago during a business trip when Sophie had fallen into the swimming pool. He had rescued her, and knowing her phone had fallen in too, he had the hotel staff fish it out. At that time, the phone was waterlogged and wouldn’t turn on. Considering whether it contained Sophie’s important work files and personal data, he had Clara send it for repairs.

Later, when they returned to Kingsford, Sophie had changed her number. He had still remembered the phone at the time, but since she changed her number, he naturally saw no need to bother with this device that was left for repairs. He didn’t expect that after such a long time, it would be sent back.

He took it and examined the phone. It had been repaired beautifully; no issues could be seen.

"It’s fixed?" he asked.

Clara replied, "Yes, but they said that because the damage was quite severe, a lot of the data inside was lost. It might all be gone."

Julian held the phone and flipped it slightly in his hand. If the data was all gone, it would obviously be useless to Sophie as well.

Suddenly, a wave of exclamations came from over there. Julian turned to look.

The banquet was about to begin, and Adrian and Sophie had already walked up to Simon Garrison. Simon was exceptionally delighted with Sophie. She held Sophie’s hand and patted it gently, appearing highly affectionate.

Sophie was also a bit awkward. She hadn’t actually had any contact with Adrian’s mother in the past. Simon didn’t know that she was Lydia’s biological mother either, but now, meeting Simon’s smile-filled eyes, she inexplicably felt a bit guilty.

"Adrian is a quiet one; he doesn’t tell me anything. But I’ve gathered pretty much all there is to know about your situation. Sophie, I really like you." Simon didn’t hide her fondness.

She indeed knew about Sophie and Julian being husband and wife, but at the same time, she hadn’t heard any less about Mr. Sterling’s female companion, Stella Sutton. How could she not know what was going on? Since that was the case, they couldn’t blame others for stepping in. Since those who had her didn’t cherish her, why waste a good girl? With a marriage that was clearly falling apart and existing only in name, why shouldn’t she lay down some groundwork first?

Simon waved her hand. From behind, a secretary carefully carried over a sizable black-and-gold wooden box. The intricate carved patterns on it were extremely extravagant. Many people noticed Simon’s every move and cast their gazes over.

Simon opened the box, and Sophie clearly saw the contents inside: a fully encrusted purple jadeite necklace, a matching pair of purple jadeite bangles, and a pair of rounded earrings inlaid with accent diamonds. The luster was exquisitely beautiful and utterly luxurious. Having been immersed in her family’s antiques since childhood, Sophie could tell that this set of purple jadeite jewelry was of immeasurable value.

The surrounding crowd couldn’t help but reveal astonished looks. Even Stella was stunned. They wondered what Simon was doing.

Simon smiled warmly at Sophie and said, "Just some inexpensive little trinkets. I think you really suit this kind of jadeite, Sophie. Let this be a gift for our first meeting, how about it?"

GASP! Sharp intakes of breath echoed one after another. Some people even recognized the jewelry set.

"Isn’t that Ms. Garrison’s dowry? This set of purple jadeite used to be especially famous. Generally speaking, it’s meant to be passed down to the daughter-in-law. But now, she’s giving it to Miss Winslow..."

"Does this mean she’s approved of her?"

"But isn’t Miss Winslow with Mr. Sterling..."

Countless gazes cautiously fell upon Julian, who wasn’t far away. Not to mention Evan and Finn’s astonishment, even Stella’s heart clenched fiercely.

Sophie being cherished like this was completely unexpected. Even if she remarried, it would be her second marriage. What was it about her that made Simon treat her so well? Stella subconsciously observed Julian’s expression. Evan and the others also looked over. If Sophie really accepted it in public, the Sterling family would be slapped in the face—right in front of Julian, no less.

"Julian, we have to stop this, right?" Finn’s face was full of indignation.

Julian’s handsome eyes were profound, pitch-black like unmelting ink. He stared at Sophie’s face; she was looking at the box pushed toward her, not yet reaching out to accept it.

After a moment, he looked away and said coldly, "That is her freedom."

Stella suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Evan couldn’t help but frown. Julian was indeed... too heartless and indifferent toward Sophie. He wasn’t the least bit curious about whether she would accept it or not.

As he turned around, Julian had unwittingly unlocked Sophie’s phone in his hand. Thinking that there wasn’t much left inside, he tapped around casually, planning to see if there were any important files left in the folders. Just as he clicked in, he suddenly saw a few photos. He tapped on one of them.

A "Notice of Critical Illness" suddenly sprang into view.

The person taking the photo had probably had a shaky hand and missed capturing the patient’s name, but in one corner, there was a string of ID numbers. He recognized them—they belonged to Sophie.

Further down, his feet were suddenly rooted to the spot.

[The mother experienced massive postpartum hemorrhage. The medical staff is carrying out all-out resuscitation efforts and is notifying the family members in accordance with the law...]

Julian stared intently at the phrase "massive postpartum hemorrhage," almost forgetting to react. With icy fingertips, he swiped to the next photo.

Sophie was lying on a hospital bed, her lower abdomen bulging high, flashing a peace sign and smiling sweetly at the camera.

His pupils trembled as he stared at Sophie’s swollen belly. He abruptly turned around, looking toward Sophie, who was being presented with a dowry by Simon over there.

Sophie had... given birth to a child behind his back?