Chapter 7
Everyone's smiles faded, replaced by looks of surprise.
Nicholas paused, deliberately glancing at her bare hands, then said with a smile, "You're really coming up with every excuse to turn me down."
Sophie knew no one believed her.
She couldn't exactly drag Matthew out for a show.
"I'm really not making this up just to reject you." Sophie felt helpless.
"Then have your husband come out so we can meet him." Nicholas's smile remained, looking quite gentle.
Sophie bit her lip and explained, "He's busy..."
"Sophie." Nicholas interrupted her, "I followed you from Imperial City to Silverlight City because I genuinely like you."
Nicholas didn't care what others thought of him. He was sincere and affectionate, "If you're really married, I'll give you my blessing. But if you're lying just to reject me, I don't think that's necessary."
"I hope you can give me, give us both a chance." Nicholas took another step forward. "I really do like you and want to date you."
The people nearby were moved.
They didn't understand why Sophie would reject Nicholas, since he had everything going for him.
So someone spoke up, "Give him a chance."
The others had all eaten the meal he'd treated them to and knew why Nicholas had organized this dinner, so they all urged Sophie to give it a try.
Just then, Sophie's phone rang.
Seeing the name on the screen, her eyes visibly lit up.
She answered.
"Honey..."
This sweet "honey" made Nicholas's expression shift, and the others exchanged glances.
Sophie breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how much the person on the other end disliked her calling him that, he'd walked right into it.
"We're done here. Are you finished with work?" Sophie heard silence on the other end but continued anyway, "I'm at Memory Lane Restaurant. Yeah, it's fine, I'll wait for you."
Sophie didn't expect him to actually come, and forgot to ask why he'd called.
Though it could have been a wrong number.
After hanging up, Sophie smiled helplessly, "That was my husband just now."
"You're really married?"
"Really am."
Nicholas's face darkened.
Seeing this, someone nearby half-joked, "Marriage is such big news and you didn't say anything. We wouldn't have known you had a husband if we hadn't asked today. Keeping it so secret. Since we have this rare chance, we should at least see who's lucky enough to have married you."
The others chimed in.
Sophie understood thatthey just wanted to see if she was lying.
She felt a bit guilty.
The marriage was real, but getting them to meet Matthew... too difficult.
What kind of married woman can't even get her own husband to show up?
Having been pushed this far, Sophie could only force a smile.
Sophie answered, "Maybe another time. He's not done with work yet, who knows how long we'd have to wait."
"No problem, it's still early anyway. We'll just keep you company." Nicholas wouldn't let it go.
Sophie gave a dry laugh.
In front of all these people, she couldn't exactly have Emily find some man to pretend to be her husband.
"It's raining."
Someone said.
Sophie looked out through the glass window. Rain was hitting the glass, blurring all the city lights.
Great, now they had even more excuse to wait around.
The longer they waited, the hotter Sophie's face felt.
The marriage was real, the husband not coming was also real.
Real things in her situation seemed fake.
The rain grew heavier, and there were fewer people on the streets.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Seeing the caller, Sophie's heart skipped a beat.
She took a quiet breath, "Hello."
"Are you coming out or not?" Matthew's tone was cold.
Sophie was shocked and looked toward the window, "You came?"
"Embarrassing."
Sophie bit her lip. No matter how bad his attitude was, at least he'd saved her from this awkward situation.
She hung up and told everyone, "My husband's here, I'm leaving first."
"We'll walk you out."
Sophie smiled.
She was just curious. Matthew was so unwilling to let others know about their relationship, why was he suddenly being so nice as to pick her up?
With doubts, she walked out of the restaurant. The road surface was already wet and reflective.
A black Maybach was parked by the roadside with its hazard lights on.
Sophie wasn't sure if it was him and was about to call to check when the driver's door opened.
Joshua walked toward Sophie with an umbrella.
"Mrs. Moore."
Joshua's address made the others exchange glances.
Sophie felt a bit embarrassed.
"Sir is waiting for you in the car."
"Okay."
Sophie said to her colleagues with their varying expressions, "I'm heading out first, let's get together another time."
Joshua held the umbrella over Sophie's head and escorted her to the car.
Opening the back door, Sophie saw Matthew sitting upright in the car, eyes closed, completely uninterested in anything outside.
Sophie got in, and Joshua closed the door.
He folded the umbrella, got in the car, and drove off.
The people standing outside the restaurant watched the car leave.
Someone said, "Sophie really married well."
"Why didn't her husband show his face? Who is he exactly?"
"Just looking at the driver's quality, her husband must be pretty well-off. Maybe he's some important person who's afraid of being seen, so he didn't show his face."
"Or maybe he just doesn't love her. Otherwise, how come no one knew about such a big thing as marriage? He came to pick her up but won't show his face. Someone who truly loves you wouldn't do that."
Sophie could imagine what they'd say, but she didn't care.
She was just curious why Matthew would be so kind as to pick her up. Even though he didn't show his face, he'd rescued her.
"Thank you."
Matthew slowly opened his eyes, "Someone's pursuing you?"
Sophie was slightly stunned and looked at him.
When they left the restaurant, Nicholas wasn't holding flowers, and they weren't walking together. How did he know?
A thought flashed through her mind, and her eyes widened, "You saw it earlier?"
So that's why he called her.
That call was deliberate!
Her eyes sparkled, but the man had no intention of answering her.
"Yeah." Sophie didn't lie.
"Why not marry him?"
Sophie pouted, "I don't want to marry someone I don't like."
Matthew's gaze deepened slightly, "What a coincidence."
Sophie didn't understand, "What?"
"I don't want to marry someone I don't like either."
Sophie shut her mouth and looked straight ahead.
The conversation ended abruptly.
He must be thinking about that woman who abandoned him and went abroad.
Actually, he was pretty pitiful too.
His life on a countdown, the person he liked just left, and in the end, under his parents' pressure, he randomly married a woman.
Sophie could understand his feelings.
"Stop the car."
Joshua pulled over to the side, thinking he had some instructions.
Then he heard his cold voice, "Get out."
He turned his head slightly. He was talking to Sophie.
Sophie pressed her lips together. It was unexpected, but also made sense.
He'd already been kind enough to help her, no need to drive her all the way home.
Without any displeasure, she pushed open the car door and got out.
The rain was fine and dense, immediately covering her clothes with a layer of tiny water droplets.
She closed the door and stood by the roadside.
The car started, then stopped again.
Joshua got out and handed her the umbrella, "The rain's heavy, take this."
"Thank you." Sophie didn't refuse.
Joshua returned to the car, and it drove off.
Sophie watched the car merge into traffic until it disappeared.
In the car, Joshua glanced at the rearview mirror, "Since you played the good guy, why make her get out?"
"I don't like her." Matthew looked out the window. The rain was continuous, the road surface slick, water pooling on it like a layer of mirrors.
Joshua said nothing more.