Chapter 238 Lydia’s True Identity Exposed! Julian Sterling’s Eyes Turn Red

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Lydia’s True Identity Exposed! Julian Sterling’s Eyes Turn Red

Julian Sterling stared at Sophie Winslow, who stood just outside the crowd.

A terrifying storm seemed to brew in his eyes in a matter of seconds. His knuckles, which were gripping his phone, tightened inch by inch until they turned white. There was no warmth on his handsome but aloof face; it was as if he had plunged straight into an icy abyss.

He slowly lowered his head and looked at the phone screen again. The noisy chatter and laughter around him faded into a surreal background hum.

In the photo, Sophie was radiating a maternal glow. At the time, her hair fell right to her collarbones. In all the years he had known her, she had only kept her hair at that length for two years. Just by looking at her hairstyle, he could pinpoint exactly which year the photo was taken.

The swollen belly protruding under the hospital gown was impossible to ignore—she was in the final stages of pregnancy, ready to give birth.

Swiping back, he looked at the slightly blurry critical condition notice for severe postpartum hemorrhage. The name of the relative who had signed it wasn’t captured in the frame.

"Julian?" Stella Sutton noticed him standing there with lowered eyes, exuding an indescribably sharp and chilling aura.

Evan York also looked over. "What’s wrong? Something happened at the company?"

Just as he spoke, Finn Lockwood, who had been keeping an eye on Sophie and Adrian Hawthorne, suddenly piped up, "Is Sophie really planning to accept Ms. Garrison’s dowry?"

Stella and Evan looked over.

Simon Garrison didn’t mind presenting the gift in public at all. She looked at Sophie with sheer enthusiasm. "This jewelry doesn’t suit me anymore. It belongs on a beautiful young woman like you."

Sophie caught on to Simon’s underlying meaning. Simon was fond of her. Rather than just a simple gift, this was more like a family heirloom being passed down to a future daughter-in-law.

If Sophie could understand it, the shrewd onlookers witnessing the scene naturally grasped it as well.

In an instant, many gazes involuntarily shifted toward Julian’s tall figure standing off to the side, their faces revealing a mixture of sighing and pity. It was already public knowledge that their marriage was on the rocks. Naturally, many people also shot passing glances at Stella.

Who couldn’t read the room?

No one knew for sure whether the couple’s affection had completely run dry or if they were merely trapped in an open marriage while living separate lives. But now that Sophie was being publicly gifted expensive jewelry, with Simon implicitly fighting to secure her as a "future daughter-in-law," it was obvious that the competition had been brought out into the open.

However, the guests realized that Julian showed no reaction. It was as if he were tacitly allowing their marriage to end just like that—tacitly allowing Sophie to be snatched away by someone else.

Stella was also well aware of the current situation. She couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile. Julian’s indifference was her greatest source of confidence.

Stepping forward, she openly looped her arm through his. "Julian? It looks like Sophie and Mr. Hawthorne have rekindled their romance. Mr. Hawthorne hasn’t given up on her, so he must have brought her here today specifically to meet his elders."

Julian lowered his eyes, rubbing his phone with unreadable thoughts.

Stella slowly tightened her grip on his arm, subtly pressing herself closer to him. A glimmer of eagerness and probing flashed in her eyes. "If Sophie accepts Ms. Garrison’s gift first, what will others think? Why don’t we announce our intention to marry first?"

It would be better than letting Sophie beat them to the punch. Even if Julian didn’t care about Sophie, as a man, he still possessed a certain competitive drive. One was his wife, and the other was his rival. The chances of him agreeing to her proposal were probably quite high.

Hearing this, Evan turned his head. He glanced at Stella and couldn’t help but frown.

The next second, Julian moved. He lifted his head and pulled his arm out of Stella’s grasp.

Stella froze.

On the other side, Adrian saw through his mother’s intentions. He also knew it would put Sophie in a difficult position. Taking the initiative, he stepped forward and intercepted the jewelry box. "Mom, let’s not talk about this right now. I’ll hold onto it for you."

He broke the inexplicable awkwardness, and Sophie let out a massive sigh of relief.

After all, they were in front of so many people, and her relationship with Adrian hadn’t truly reached that stage yet. Naturally, she couldn’t be thick-skinned enough to actually accept such a precious piece of jewelry. Adrian stepping in had saved both her and Simon from embarrassment. With Adrian taking the box, the gesture could be interpreted in many ways, but ultimately, it ensured that no one lost face.

Suddenly, an urgent voice caught her ear. "Julian?"

Sophie noticed the people around her gasping in surprise. She couldn’t help but turn her head to look.

Julian was cutting through the crowd, his dark eyes locked deeply onto her as he strode forward. Behind him, Stella’s expression was exceedingly ugly, but her call had clearly been futile.

Adrian also cast a slight sideways glance.

The next second, Sophie’s wrist was tightly seized. Julian didn’t offer a single word of explanation. His expression was unprecedentedly cold. "Come with me."

Sophie was stunned, not understanding what he meant by this.

Never before had Julian acted like this toward her in public. Furthermore, interrupting her conversation and the gift-giving with Simon was a rare display of abandoning his usual refined manners.

"Go where? Let go of me first." Sophie couldn’t break free. Seeing Julian’s practically emotionless face, an unprovoked sense of dread filled her heart—as if a dagger were pressed against her throat.

Julian didn’t let go. He yanked her away without a word.

Adrian grabbed Sophie’s other hand and looked at Julian. "Mr. Sterling, what is the meaning of this?"

The situation instantly deadlocked, erupting with explosive tension. The guests were even more astounded, immediately breaking into a flurry of whispers.

Julian slowly pivoted, his dark eyes coated in a layer of thin ice. "Do we need Mr. Hawthorne’s permission for our private marital affairs?"

Adrian narrowed his eyes imperceptibly.

However, Sophie could see the sharp edges radiating from Julian clear as day. He was no absolute gentleman; in his bones, he was cutting and acted entirely on his mood. When he was patient, he resembled a flawless British gentleman who could enchant anyone’s soul. But once he stripped away that facade, he left no room for mercy.

Yet, for so many years, she had barely seen the real Julian. But right at this moment, she was witnessing this terrifying side of him. Even though his tone was even, she could feel that he was different.

Taking a deep breath, Sophie turned to Adrian and said, "It’s fine. We’re just going to talk."

The stiffness in Adrian’s eyes loosened. After looking at her for a moment, he slowly released his grip. "If there’s any problem, tell me right away."

"I will."

Without a second’s hesitation, Julian pulled Sophie straight out of the banquet hall.

This scene shattered the expectations of many present. Naturally, those left behind cast undisguised glances at the frozen Stella.

Stella’s breaths trembled. She couldn’t fathom how Julian had suddenly turned into a completely different person—acting as if he had forsaken all regard for anything else. Moreover, the stares aimed at her from the crowd were now filled with mockery, ridicule, and disdain. She silently clenched her fists, the color gradually draining from her lips.

Evan, on the other hand, fell deep into thought.

Something was wrong. This was absolutely not right. He knew Julian. Even if the sky were falling, Julian wouldn’t necessarily react this strongly. To publicly stir up trouble for the Hawthorne Family like this, there had to be a distinct reason.

Sophie was dragged forward by her wrist the entire way. Julian had long legs and took fast strides. Wearing high heels, she was practically forced to jog to keep up. The force he exerted on her wrist seemed to be increasing uncontrollably.

She struggled a few times but couldn’t break free, finally gritting her teeth. "Let go of me."

He didn’t stop, nor did he pay her any mind.

Finally unable to bear it anymore, Sophie said angrily, "Julian, you’re hurting me!"

His footsteps abruptly ceased. Julian slowly turned his head, his cold, dark gaze shifting down to the wrist he was gripping. Only then did his knuckles relax their strength, inch by inch.

Sophie suppressed her temper. "If you have something to say, just say it."

However, he kept staring at her lower abdomen before slowly shifting his gaze back to her face. In an instant, a sense of delirium washed over him. It was as if the lively and vibrant Sophie standing before him had become an illusion because of that critical condition notice.

Rummaging through his memories, he couldn’t find a single detail of Sophie ever being in mortal danger from giving birth, almost failing to make it off the operating table. She had hidden it flawlessly, without leaking a single word. After surviving a brush with death, she had put back on the disguise that nothing had happened and continued to deal with him in their marriage.

His eyes were so dark and profound that it was chilling.

A sudden cold sweat prickled Sophie’s back. Just as she subconsciously took a step back, she heard Julian’s voice, the end of his sentence tinged with a hoarse rasp.

"Aren’t you going to bring the child you had behind my back to show me?"