Chapter 136: Is He the Father of the Child in Your Belly?

After a month abroad, Sophie's baby bump had become noticeably rounder.

Fortunately, the flowing gown she wore was loose enough to conceal it somewhat, doing nothing to diminish her beauty.

Standing beside the refined and elegant Matthew, they looked like a perfect couple, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

As one of the fashion show's key contributors, Sophie joined Master Harris onstage to give thanks.

Throughout, Matthew's gaze never left her.

After Sophie stepped down, Angela sidled up to her with a gossipy grin. "So that's the father of your baby?"

Sophie glanced at her sideways. Angela immediately clasped her hands together, smiling innocently. "Hey, it's not just me who wants to know—every single woman at the company is dying of curiosity."

Anyone with eyes could see that Matthew's entire focus was on Sophie, but Sophie's attitude toward him seemed... different.

They were close, but not intimate.

Sophie's eyes paused briefly, drifting toward Matthew in the distance, who was smiling at her warmly. Her expression shifted ever so slightly.

Even back in their school days, Matthew had never lacked for admirers.

She understood perfectly well what Angela was getting at.

Perhaps her silence stretched too long, because Angela nudged her with her shoulder. "Look at you hemming and hawing—clearly you two have something going on."

She'd seen plenty of people try to chat Sophie up, but Sophie always turned them down cleanly, leaving no room for hope.

Today's thirty-second hesitation was answer enough.

"No." Sophie denied it instinctively, lowering her head slightly as she murmured, "We're just... friends."

Angela's look turned knowing, and she said deliberately, "So if I let the girls from the company chase after him, you wouldn't mind?"

"Why would I mind? That's his business." Sophie reached for a glass of juice from a nearby table and took a sip.

Throughout the rest of the celebration, Sophie seemed listless.

Matthew stayed by her side the entire time, carefully attending to her needs.

Several women, evidently having heard from Angela, approached to ask for Matthew's contact information.

Matthew declined gracefully and appropriately, never making anyone feel awkward.

Once or twice was fine, but after multiple attempts, Sophie began to feel uncomfortable standing there.

Halfway through the banquet, Master Harris, considerate of Sophie's pregnancy, gave her permission to leave early.

Sophie breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Matthew thoughtfully. "Matthew, I'm exhausted. I'd like to head out, but if you want to stay longer, that's fine."

Matthew set down his champagne glass and said gently, "No need. It's raining outside—let me take you home."

Without waiting for Sophie to refuse, he turned to say goodbye to Master Harris.

Master Harris didn't insist they stay, only had someone escort them out.

On the drive back, both remained silent, the atmosphere strangely quiet.

For some reason, even though Matthew seemed his usual self, Sophie sensed something was off.

The car stopped downstairs. Sophie unbuckled her seatbelt. "It's getting late. Thanks for bringing me back. Drive safe on your way home."

She was about to push open the door when someone grabbed her wrist.

Sophie froze slightly, turning to meet Matthew's emerald eyes.

Deep as still water, they gazed at her intently.

Sophie frowned, asking quietly, "Is there something else?"

Matthew's lashes lowered, avoiding her direct gaze, his smile tinged with bitterness. "Even if you don't like me, please don't push me toward someone else."

His tone was perfectly calm—so calm it was somehow heartbreaking.

Sophie's first thought was that he'd overheard her conversation with Angela at the party.

She opened her mouth but didn't know how to explain. After all, she had said those words.

Her silence made Matthew's heart sink further.

He lifted his eyes slightly, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Sorry. I lost control of my emotions."

He released her wrist.

Sophie's heart clenched, and she quickly spoke up. "I wasn't pushing you toward anyone."

Just moments ago he'd felt hurt, but now, after who knows what thoughts had run through his mind, he was apologizing to her instead.

Hearing her explanation, Matthew looked up at her involuntarily, his previously dim eyes now bright as stars.

Sophie felt helpless seeing his reaction.

But she couldn't let him suffer this misunderstanding. Some things needed to be clarified.

Taking a deep breath, Sophie turned slightly toward him. "I never thought of pushing you toward anyone. That would be too presumptuous."

Yes, she had no right to do that.

Matthew was a living, breathing person. Who he liked or didn't like wasn't for her to decide.

She couldn't matchmake for him just because she was afraid of owing him too much.

Hearing her explanation, Matthew's smile grew involuntarily. "I thought... when you didn't stop those women from asking for my WhatsApp, it meant you found me annoying."

He admitted that when woman after woman appeared beside him while Sophie remained completely indifferent, it hurt.

He'd attended as Sophie's companion, yet several women from her own company had openly expressed interest in him.

Didn't that mean Sophie had privately clarified their relationship and tacitly approved others approaching him?

Now that Sophie had taken the initiative to explain, he felt genuinely happy.

At least it meant she wasn't completely indifferent to him.

Seeing how pleased he was after just one sentence of explanation, Sophie felt helpless. "Matthew, I don't want you to waste—"

Matthew cut her off before she could finish. "It's getting late, and you've been busy all day. You must be tired. Go get some rest."

He knew what Sophie wanted to say—nothing more than urging him to let go. But he couldn't do that, so he simply avoided the topic.

Sophie frowned at him for a long moment, finally understanding his intention.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. "Drive safe on your way back."

In the following days, Sophie's belly grew day by day. She gradually stepped back from company affairs, staying home to rest during her pregnancy.

Matthew still came to see her from time to time.

During the final week before her due date, he even finished up his work early and flew out to be with her.

Sophie had wanted to pick him up from the airport, but Matthew adamantly refused. Unable to argue with him, she had no choice but to wait at home.

Her body was heavy now, making movement difficult, so she'd hired a housekeeper to help with household tasks.

She was sitting on the sofa sketching designs when she heard a car engine in the courtyard, her lips curving into a smile before she could help it.

Setting down her pencil, she stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

From there, she could see that familiar luxury car parked in the courtyard.

Matthew got out, opened the trunk, and pulled out numerous bags and packages.

Sophie went to the entrance to greet him. When she opened the door and they saw each other, both smiled.