Chapter 158 Lingering Shadows

Chapter 158 Lingering Shadows

Under the glittering crystal chandeliers of the ballroom, elegant music continued to flow, but to Clara, it had all transformed into grating noise.

Clara watched Sophia showcase her charm and capabilities at this high-end gathering, fueling the jealousy blazing ever higher in her chest.

Oliver stared with such intense focus that he seemed to forget her existence—forget that just moments ago they had been playing the role of blissfully engaged couple before everyone's eyes.

Fierce jealousy and panic wrapped around her like savage vines, nearly suffocating her.

She couldn't bear to watch Oliver's attention being stolen away by Sophia again! She absolutely wouldn't allow it!

Taking a deep breath, Clara forcibly suppressed the vicious anger churning within, plastering that fragile, dependent expression back onto her face. She reached out, gripping Oliver's arm with renewed force.

Nearly hanging her entire body weight on him, her voice turned sickeningly sweet, "Oliver, I'm feeling a bit dizzy. It might be too stuffy in here. Could we step aside to rest, or maybe head home early?"

As she spoke, she pressed her ample chest against his arm in seemingly accidental brushes, trying desperately to reclaim his attention.

However, Oliver seemed completely deaf to her words, utterly oblivious to her touches.

His entire being had been consumed by his ex-wife, who moved with such ease among the elite circle, radiating brilliance like a beacon.

He unconsciously shook his arm with obvious irritation, trying to dislodge Clara's clinging grip, yet his gaze never wavered from Sophia for even a moment.

"Oliver!"

Clara stumbled from his merciless gesture, her fake smile finally cracking as her voice carried genuine hurt and a sharp edge.

Only then did Oliver seem to snap back to reality, shooting her an annoyed glance with evident displeasure, "What are you whining about? Can't you see I'm thinking?"

That impatient look in his eyes, the hint of disgust lurking beneath, completely pierced through Clara.

She bit down hard on her lower lip to prevent herself from completely losing composure. Her hatred for Sophia reached its absolute peak in that moment. It was all that woman's fault! If not for her, Oliver would never treat her this way!

The gala finally concluded in an atmosphere of apparent harmony masking turbulent undercurrents.

Henry thoughtfully draped a coat over Sophia's shoulders, wrapping his arm around her as they walked toward the parking area.

The cool evening breeze swept away the stuffiness and pretense of the ballroom.

Henry opened the car door for Sophia, carefully protecting her head as she settled into the passenger seat.

The car glided smoothly into the nighttime traffic.

Sophia relaxed against the seat back, releasing some of the tension from her somewhat weary nerves.

However, before long, Henry's penetrating gaze shifted to the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

A familiar black Bentley maintained a calculated distance behind them, having followed through several turns—clearly no coincidence.

"Looks like someone still hasn't gotten the message," Henry's voice carried a note of cold steel.

Sophia also spotted the vehicle through her mirror, recognizing the license plate immediately—it was Oliver's.

A flash of disgust crossed her features, "Pathetic stalker."

Henry said nothing more, but a dangerous smile curved his lips.

He gradually pressed down on the accelerator, and the high-performance sports car suddenly surged forward, weaving nimbly through traffic.

Several elegant lane changes and swift maneuvers later, they had left the pursuing Bentley far behind, disappearing into the complex network of highway interchanges.

Watching the rearview mirror until that car vanished completely, Henry's expression turned ice-cold.

Oliver's erratic behavior throughout the evening, combined with this stalking incident, clearly indicated that Oliver was beginning to harbor an inappropriate interest and obsession for Sophia.

This was definitely not a good sign.

A flash of menace flickered in Henry's eyes.

Apparently, it was time to increase Oliver's workload, keeping him too busy to covet what didn't belong to him.

A plan rapidly took shape in his mind.

The next day, Sophia went to the Windsor Group as usual.

She now served as project leader for a major initiative under the Windsor Group's umbrella, with her office located one floor below Henry's executive suite.

As was her routine, she prepared to visit Henry's office first to synchronize their daily work schedules.

Just as she stepped out of the elevator onto the executive floor, a curvaceous young woman in a professional suit blocked her path.

"Excuse me, are you Ms. Brown?"

The woman wore a standard professional smile, but her eyes held a barely concealed air of scrutiny and arrogance.

"Yes. And you are?" Sophia paused, her tone neutral.

"I'm Emma Barnes, Mr. Windsor's new executive assistant."

Emma lifted her chin slightly, her voice carrying an inexplicable sense of superiority. "Mrs. Windsor—Mr. Windsor's mother specifically arranged for me to assist Mr. Windsor with his daily work and various personal matters."

Her gaze swept over Sophia with a calculated assessment before continuing, "So in the future, Ms. Brown, if you have any documents that need to reach Mr. Windsor, or if you need to see him about anything, please go through me first for appointments or message delivery. I'll prioritize matters according to their urgency and importance before reporting to Mr. Windsor. This is all in the interest of Mr. Windsor's work efficiency, to avoid any unnecessary interruptions."

The words sounded perfectly reasonable on the surface, but their underlying meaning was unmistakable—she intended to sever all direct contact between Sophia and Henry.

Sophia understood immediately.

Emma wasn't some assistant, but the spy planted by Henry's mom, Luna.

Watching Emma's officious attitude as she wielded borrowed authority, Sophia's lips curved in a cold smile.

"Emma, was it?"

Sophia's tone remained calm yet carried an unmistakable aura of command. "My work reports directly to Mr. Windsor. Whatever documents or matters I have, I'll communicate with him personally. I don't need you playing messenger, and I certainly don't require your screening and scheduling services."

She moved to walk around Emma, heading straight for Henry's office door.

Emma hadn't expected such blatant disrespect; her expression immediately darkened as she moved to intercept, "Ms. Brown, this comes from Mrs. Windsor herself, you can't just..."

At that moment, the executive office door opened from within. Henry had obviously heard the commotion outside and emerged.

Seeing Sophia, his expression naturally softened, "Sophia, you're here."

Then his gaze fell on Emma, blocking Sophia's path, his brow furrowing with clear surprise and displeasure, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Upon seeing Henry, Emma immediately switched to a respectful yet slightly wounded expression, "Mr. Windsor, hello! I'm Emma. Mrs. Windsor arranged for me to serve as your executive assistant. I was just explaining the new work protocols to Ms. Brown..."