Chapter 40 She Was Blocked by Julian Sterling!

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: She Was Blocked by Julian Sterling!

Stella Sutton’s eyes instantly grew cold. She shot a mocking glare at Sophie Winslow, who had been sitting beside Peter Preston the entire time. She realized this was the trap she had laid for her.

Julian Sterling didn’t seem surprised. "Mr. Preston, this is inappropriate."

Sophie wasn’t surprised that Julian would defend Stella. How could he ever bear to see Stella suffer the slightest grievance?

"It’s fine, it’s for the greater good." Stella quickly gathered her thoughts. With her chin tilted slightly upward, she looked at Sophie. "We are all here for scientific research, to cure illnesses and save lives. I just care too much about the team’s standards and harmony. I hope you don’t mind my principles as a researcher."

Hearing this, Sophie let out a soft laugh. Stella certainly knew how to put herself on a pedestal. In just a few words, she made it seem like an apology, but in reality, she was still taking thinly veiled jabs at Sophie and showing off how aloof and principled she was. If Sophie continued to dwell on the matter, would it suddenly be her fault?

"There is no dispute about her being late. To make up for everyone’s wasted time, I can invest an additional fifty million." Julian spoke up at the right moment, effortlessly glossing over the matter of Stella’s apology.

Sophie’s grip on her phone unconsciously tightened, a hint of ridicule surfacing in her eyes. How could she not know? Julian simply didn’t want her to keep making things difficult for Stella. Even though she hadn’t actually done anything, and even though Stella hadn’t suffered any real disadvantage, Julian was already eagerly stepping in to protect her out of heartache. Throwing in an additional investment at this crucial juncture not only prevented Stella from losing face but also bolstered her standing.

Sure enough, as soon as Julian finished speaking, the people in the room beamed with joy. They looked at Stella with gratitude.

"Stella, Mr. Sterling treats you so well! He’s thought of absolutely everything for you and is so generous. Having you here is truly a blessing for us!"

"That’s right! We all know you have your bottom lines. Our industry desperately needs people with principles like you."

"I’ll happily eat up this public display of affection!"

Stella slowly broke into a smile, her gaze toward Julian becoming even more tender and sweet. "Julian is just supporting my career. I’m honored to be able to do something for everyone, even if it’s just financial support."

Sophie couldn’t be bothered to watch her husband put Stella on a pedestal any longer. She stood up and walked out.

Peter watched Stella and Julian, who were already receiving immense praise, and fully understood the situation. "Mr. Sterling, how generous."

Julian nodded. "Scientific research that benefits the people should be supported."

Peter sneered inwardly, thinking how nicely Julian had dressed up his shady affair. Since things had come to this, there was nothing more he could say. He exchanged a few polite words and left.

-

By unspoken agreement, Sophie and Peter didn’t mention the incident at Kingsford University to Hector Caldwell. After all, Kingsford University was Hector’s recommendation, and they didn’t want him to get furious over it.

That afternoon, Sophie found herself pulled into a large group chat. It was the joint research and development collaboration group between Helios and Kingsford University.

As soon as she entered the chat, she saw two incredibly similar profile pictures right next to each other.

Julian Sterling: [If you need anything, feel free to talk to me anytime.]

Stella Sutton: [I look forward to working with everyone moving forward.]

Julian’s profile picture was a streak of dawn breaking through the sky, while Stella’s was a cold moon on the horizon where the sea met the sky. It was blindingly obvious... they were matching couple profile pictures.

The two of them spoke one after another, and the chat instantly became lively. It was as if they were deliberately showing off these little details of their romance. Due to work reasons, Sophie couldn’t leave the group, so she simply muted it and closed the app. Out of sight, out of mind.

That evening, Sophie unexpectedly received a WhatsApp message from Julian.

Husband: [The New Year is coming up. The family has decided to go on a vacation for the holiday this year. Are you free?]

Despite the seemingly consultative tone, Sophie knew that Julian would never have contacted her unless his family required her presence. However, she frowned as she looked at the contact name she had yet to change. For the first time, it made her feel incredibly uncomfortable. She didn’t rush to reply. First, she deleted the word "Husband" from his contact name, and only then did she send a brief response: [Not free.]

Julian Sterling: [Okay.]

He ended the conversation perfunctorily, treating his words like gold and making no effort to persuade her. It was as if typing a single extra word would be a waste of his time and energy. Yet, when it came to Stella’s matters, even in the Helios and Kingsford University work group, he was always so patient in negotiating, instructing, and making arrangements with various people.

Over the years, Sophie had developed a stress response to his constant, cold replies of "Oh" and "Okay." Even now, with their divorce on the agenda, seeing such a response—the very thorn that had pierced through her years of marriage—instantly triggered a nerve-racking pain all over her body, like an old illness flaring up.

Sophie tossed her phone aside and opted to take a shower.

The next day after work, Sophie went to Quentin Winslow’s nursing home again. Her grandfather was still not lucid. When Sophie asked him where he wanted to celebrate his ninetieth birthday, Quentin suddenly regained a moment of clarity.

"Does Julian have time? I haven’t seen him in a long time."

Sophie felt a lump in her throat. She couldn’t understand why her grandfather liked Julian so much. He was so sick that he could hardly recognize anyone, yet he still thought about Julian. The word "divorce" was on the tip of her tongue, but seeing the rare look of anticipation in her grandfather’s eyes, she forcefully swallowed it back down.

"I’ll ask him."

After staying to have dinner with her grandfather, Sophie showed him a few newly filtered villa options for him to pick from. By the time she returned to her apartment, it was almost ten o’clock.

After mulling it over repeatedly, Sophie took out her phone and called Julian anyway. Her grandfather’s condition wasn’t very good, and she didn’t want the old man to have any regrets. She had no choice but to swallow her pride and try.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

It took a long time for the call to connect.

Sophie spoke first. "There’s something I’d like to ask you to—"

"Did you not check the time? Do you not look at the clock before calling people?" Stella’s sluggish voice drifted from the other end of the line.

It gave Sophie the illusion that she was the ignorant mistress on the outside, rudely interrupting the harmony of a married couple. Before Sophie could react, Stella added, "Julian is already asleep."

Having informed her of this, Stella unhesitatingly hung up the phone.

She wondered if they were... living together. Sophie stared blankly at the darkened screen of her phone. Furthermore, Julian actually allowed Stella to check his phone at will. Presumably, Stella also knew his phone password—something Sophie had never known. He placed no restrictions on Stella whatsoever. The depth of their intimacy was something she, his wife of seven years, could never compare to.

Sophie lowered her head and rubbed her throbbing temples. She certainly hadn’t expected to bring such humiliation upon herself. But her grandfather’s ninetieth birthday was less than a week away. She wanted him to at least spend this crucial milestone of his life happily.

Gritting her teeth, Sophie picked up her phone once more. She didn’t call again, lest she interrupt their romantic rendezvous. Instead, she sent Julian a WhatsApp message.

[Next week is my grandfather’s ninetieth birthday. Would it be convenient for you to make some time to come and see him?]

There was no reply.

After thinking for a moment, Sophie added another line: [Just half an hour will do.]

She tapped send.

The very next second, Sophie watched in utter disbelief as a glaring red exclamation mark appeared on the screen.

[Message sent, but rejected by the receiver.]

She had been... blocked by Julian?