Chapter 70: Something happened to Sophie

**STEVEN WOLKER’S POV**

I needed to make up for the previous night anyway. I arrive at the company after a while, and when I head straight to her office, the secretary informs me about an unpleasant incident involving a man, and I get nervous. I ask for her and she informs me that the guy who helped her took her outside while the situation was being resolved. I hurry to the building's exit.

I couldn't contain myself when I saw that scene where Sophie and that guy were laughing calmly in the parking lot. I ran over there, and my impulsiveness kicked in again. I grabbed his arm and pulled him away from her. I stood by Sophie, glaring at that jerk, while she intervened nervously.

"Don't you dare come near her again, disappear. She's my wife!" I speak very angrily.

He sighs, looks around, and then directs his gaze directly back to her again.

"She doesn't deserve to witness any more arguments," he says calmly.

This only infuriates me further; he shows a level of control that I didn't even possess, quite the opposite. As he turns to leave, he takes three steps and then stops, facing forward again. He was persistent and annoying; it was more than time to stop infringing on my wife.

"You can reach out to me anytime, whenever you need me!" he asserts.

I grit my teeth and take a step forward to advance towards him and break his face—how audacious to say that right in front of her husband. But I am stopped by Sophie, who holds my arm, preventing me from doing anything. Finally, he leaves, disappearing from the parking lot, and I turn to face her, who pays no attention and walks back towards the company entrance. I follow her, and we enter together and in silence.

This time I had to think very carefully about what to say because I had already put my foot in it when I arrived at her house last night.

She doesn't look at me for a second. I also remain silent, riding the elevator in a rather strange atmosphere. When the doors open on the floor of her office, she still remains silent. Stepping into her office, I close the door and face her, who is standing with her arms crossed, looking at the London skyline beyond the glass wall of her office.

"You're stupid, you act rudely without any need!" she reproaches.

"Me? I've seen you two like that twice. I'm your husband, Sophie!"

"Because of a signed contract, that's all!" she yells and turns to face me.

I was speechless. In fact, I even tried to say something by opening my mouth, but I gave up on uttering a single word and closed it again. Her breathing was heavy as she approached.

"Do you know he's your partner's son? The one I accompanied you to a bridal event?"

She reveals, and I remember well. It didn't change anything for me; it didn't matter whose son he was. That wouldn't change the fact that he was on top of her like an ant on candy, or a rat on cheese. I take a deep breath, running my hand over my beard, trying to contain all the nervousness and not do something stupid. He manages to exude the calmness he needs, which I also need and eludes all my control.

"I don't have a good impression of him. Why do you keep surrounding him constantly?" I will clarify. "To me, it doesn't matter whose son he is."

"I don't have a good impression of that woman. In fact, it's not just an impression anymore; it goes beyond that, proven by some actions. And does it change anything?"

"We're not talking about that now, Sophie!"

"We didn't talk at any time, because you can do everything, I can do nothing. Enough!"

I fall silent; she brings Nathaly back into that conversation again, and it's as if she has a fixation on her. I watch her run her hand over her slightly swollen belly; I must admit she looked beautiful being pregnant. Then I take a deep breath, and before I could make things worse, I hastily leave the room, slamming the door to her office.

I didn't want to stay there anymore. I promised myself that when something like this happened, I would distance myself and put my head in place before acting clumsily. I headed to a nearby café, but before that, I decided to leave the car at an automotive center a few blocks away; the car needed some urgent repairs.

After leaving it to be repaired, I decide to walk back to the café for a bit; it would do me good and wasn't that far. I walk a few blocks and arrive at the café; it was a pleasant environment and just what I needed. I place my order and enjoy the coffee, watching the hustle and bustle on the streets of London, and my thoughts were dormant. Everything was so difficult lately; I could deal with it more easily if I remembered. The feeling was that if I made a decision with one or the other, later, I could regain my memory and see that everything was completely wrong, and the mental confusion would be even greater.

After a few airy minutes, I leave the café and notice a narrow alley to the automotive center. I walk carelessly, but I'm surprised by two men, one in front and the other appearing right behind.

"Hey... a rich guy just wandering around. The watch is mine, I'm warning you!" one of them asserts.

"Whoever gets there first."

They advance, and I remember training Muay Thai for a long time since childhood precisely for self-defense when necessary. I throw punches and a few kicks, even as they try to fight back, but I'm taken aback when another man appears. I look in his direction, and it's Sophie's father. I stand still, staring at that miserable bastard. I remember, at this moment, sending him to work for a company overseas, and now he returned even more dangerous than before. I land some punches on the already weak men, and they flee, leaving just the two of us there. I take off my blazer and toss it anywhere as I catch my breath because I am going to beat him up hard.

"You had everything to rebuild your life, you fool!" I yell.

"With that miserable job? Not a chance."

"Miserable? You're the one living in that place, getting high every day and committing stupid crimes."

"It's more fun for me."

I advance on him, and he tries to fight back, but it's futile. I knock him to the ground and land many punches on his face. To make it hurt even more, I punch his stomach, making him scream and squirm. I only stop when blood starts flowing from his nose and stand up, taking a few steps back, staggering as I try to catch my breath again. I look at that rat there trying to get up with difficulty when a memory comes to mind.

"Leave her alone!" I shout.

"I will... when I get what I want!"

I knew well what he must want: money! Without a doubt, his greediness was visible. But for a junkie like him to have someone backing him financially? As he was in another country, returning to London with no resources, and now had henchmen? It didn't make sense; I must dig deeper into this. It would only help to put him in his place once I knew who was above him if that was indeed the case.

I went to an address and looked for him, and Sophie was with me. We arrived at a house where many junkies were gathered, and after much effort, I managed to get him out. At that moment, I had a plan to send him away. I also remember how Sophie addressed him; then, he might be planning something to retaliate against her. I fixated on him there, injured, and without a second thought, I decided to return and get the car as soon as possible because I wasn't feeling good about it.

I run in a hurry to reach the sidewalk, and the number of people walking there makes it difficult for me to pass. I bump into some who get annoyed, but I don't care because I need to get to where the car is being repaired.

Luckily, when I reached the location, the minor repairs were finished, and I picked up the car from there. But what starts to make things even more difficult is the standstill traffic. I look at the massive line of cars without knowing what is happening ahead and punch the steering wheel, wholly irritated. Damn it! I need to get there quickly.

*"Nothing can happen to her or to... the baby!"*

I think repeatedly as my heart races at its maximum, breathing heavily and nervous because I can't move forward. The thought that something terrible could happen consumes my mind, and I pick up the phone, add her contact to the screen, and see that it rings until it goes to voicemail. And I throw the phone on the seat, making me even more nervous. What a nightmare!