Chapter 253: Do I Need to Apologize for Betraying You?

Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Do I Need to Apologize for Betraying You?

Sophie Winslow knew that to survive in this society, being magnanimous and knowing when to let things go would make her life much smoother and her interpersonal relationships better. But she just refused to do it.

After all, every single thing Finn Lockwood had done and every word he had said in the past had hurt her. She would not downplay the sting of his words. Especially during the time she first wanted to divorce Julian Sterling, the blatant favoritism these so-called friends had shown toward Stella Sutton, and the daggers they had thrust at Sophie, had inflicted real, tangible pain.

Therefore, Sophie looked steadily at Finn. "You need to admit what you did wrong."

For a privileged young master like Finn, this was no easy task. But that was his problem.

Finn met Sophie’s calm, unforgiving eyes. His throat bobbed as a wave of shame washed over him. He wasn’t uncomfortable because he had to apologize; he was frustrated because he now clearly realized what incredibly stupid things he had done.

Master Lockwood hadn’t expected them to actually have history. He slammed his hand heavily against the table. "Speak!"

Cold sweat beaded on Finn’s forehead. Looking at Sophie and recalling all his past actions, his face turned a sickly shade of pale as he forced the words out. "...I didn’t know the truth about those matters. I’m sorry."

The fury of having been played for a fool rushed straight to his head. The moment the words left his mouth, he spun around with a dark expression and stormed out. He shouldn’t have been humiliated like this. Stella Sutton had caused all of this. By now, he was almost certain that Stella had deliberately misled and used him.

Looking back, he had lost tens of millions over this period, suffered a demotion, and been essentially exiled. All these heavy losses were because of Stella.

Before he made that initial investment, he had actually sought Julian Sterling’s opinion. Julian had only given him one piece of advice: "It depends on your mindset. Are you doing it as a businessman seeking profit, or are you trying to repay a favor?"

At the time, Finn felt the statement was ambiguous. When he pressed for clarity, Julian only said, "If you trust her abilities, there is essentially no difference between the two."

Back then, he truly believed Stella was capable. He thought he could provide her with financial backing to repay her past kindness while also turning a profit for himself. He never expected to suffer such a devastating fall, nor did he anticipate losing his advantageous position within his own family as a result.

Finn hurried out of the room, his face dark with anger, only to run into Julian at the corner.

Julian looked at him, his expression cold. "What’s wrong?"

Thinking of Stella’s deceitful behavior, Finn looked at Julian and took a deep breath.

***

When Julian returned to the private dining room, Sophie didn’t even turn her head.

"Where is that bastard?" Master Lockwood asked.

Julian took his seat, his dark eyes unreadable. "I don’t know."

Master Lockwood decided to drop the matter, though it only made him feel even more guilty toward Sophie.

The fish was served. Sophie took her time savoring it, then thanked Master Lockwood for his hospitality. Although the old master still didn’t know the exact details of what had transpired, he told Sophie, "No matter what Finn did, consider it as me owing you two favors. If you ever need anything, just come to me."

Sophie thanked him again.

By the time they stepped outside, it had started raining again. Master Lockwood glanced at Julian, who was replying to emails, and bluntly suggested, "Julian, why don’t you give Winslow a ride? She took a cab up here today, and there aren’t any available taxis around the fish manor right now. It wouldn’t be an inconvenience for you to drop her off, right?"

Julian seemed to hesitate for a second before finally nodding. "It’s fine."

Thinking about how long the drive down the mountain and back to the city would take, Sophie instinctively refused. "There’s no need, I’ll call a—"

"Get in." Julian was already standing by his car. He opened the passenger door and turned to look at her.

Sophie’s words were cut short as she met his dark eyes, which seemed coated in a layer of clear ice.

Master Lockwood ushered her on. "Hurry up and go, before the rain gets heavier and the roads get worse."

Sophie pursed her lips. It wouldn’t be appropriate to stubbornly bicker with Julian in front of Master Lockwood. She had no choice but to walk over and reach for the backseat door.

Julian cast a flat look at her. "I am not your chauffeur."

Sophie looked back at him. "Do I have permission to sit in the passenger seat?"

Julian acted as if he had no idea who she was referring to. "Whose permission do you need?"

Sophie naturally saw no need to argue this point with him. Their conversations were always like this—seemingly calm on the surface, but actually trading sharp barbs. There was no point in arguing further. She simply walked over and slid into the passenger seat.

Julian had driven up here by himself today. He got in and started the engine without a word.

Sophie, however, noticed a small blue pouch hanging from the rearview mirror. It was a very pretty, rather understated color. She actually knew a bit about these things. In the past, when Lydia fell ill frequently, Sophie would go to temples to pray for peace charms and the like. It was highly likely that this pouch contained a peace charm too.

But she didn’t remember Julian ever hanging things like this in his car before. Moreover, he wasn’t the superstitious type. Plus, the color was undeniably one that appealed to women. Without a doubt, Stella Sutton had hung it there.

The other woman’s traces had invaded Julian’s private space. Yet, Sophie felt no emotional fluctuation at the realization.

The interior of the car was dim, making a particular sparkle all the more eye-catching. Sophie caught it in her peripheral vision. On Julian’s long, slender hand gripping the steering wheel, a plain ring refracted a cold glint of light. Her expression remained impassive as she looked away.

Neither of them spoke. The confined space was agonizingly silent.

Sophie kept checking the time. After what felt like an eternity, she realized that less than ten minutes had passed. It would take at least two hours to get back to the city, and she couldn’t help but frown in dismay.

Her thoughts were suddenly disrupted by an incoming WhatsApp video call notification. Sophie glanced at the screen. It was Lydia calling. Startled, she quickly tilted the screen toward herself and didn’t answer.

Julian’s voice drifted over. "Do I need to pull over so you can take that?"

Sophie shot back, "What, do you want to repeat your old trick and dump me in the middle of nowhere again?"

Whether her words triggered a memory or not, Julian didn’t respond, his profile hidden in the shadows.

But Sophie’s phone continued to vibrate. Recently, Lydia had developed a habit of video calling her before bedtime. Today, however, the timing was terrible.

Julian turned his head slightly, his eyes unreadable. "You can answer it. Don’t you want to let me meet your daughter?"

He had seen it. The profile picture that had popped up just now was a childish cartoon character. A chill ran down Sophie’s spine at his words. She rejected the video call and sent Lydia a text message to comfort her instead.

Julian wasn’t looking at her, but he knew exactly what she was doing. "What a pity," he said in a flat tone. "I won’t get to learn what kind of people your child and her father are."

His words sounded casual, but Sophie felt the hidden daggers within them. Still, she wasn’t going to explain anything. It was as if she was silently acknowledging the implications of everything he said.

She put her phone away and said, "If you want an apology from me, I can give you ten, or even a hundred. Do you want them?"

She stated it so frankly, making it clear she was completely willing to apologize for her "betrayal."