Chapter 253

Chapter 253

Sophia's brow furrowed slightly.

"How big a platform?" "Less than five hundred daily active users." Caspian paused. "It looks like someone deliberately kept the reach small."

Sophia held the phone, her gaze turning cold.

Someone had engineered a trap but only released it on a tiny scale. This wasn't about destroying anyone's reputation. It was about achieving a very specific purpose.

"Got it." Sophia took a deep breath. "Caspian, thanks."

She hung up and turned to Austin. "Come on. I'll drive you home."

They walked out through the hotel entrance.

No paparazzi. No cameras. Not a single bystander lingering nearby.

Everything was perfectly calm.

Sophia glanced back at the glass revolving door behind her. A cold glint flickered in her eyes.

She turned and walked forward with Austin.

They hadn't gone more than a dozen steps when her feet stopped.

At the bottom of the plaza steps outside the hotel, Hazel stood there, phone raised, the camera lens aimed squarely at the two of them.

The lens caught a faint gleam of light. She was clearly recording.

Austin saw her too. His brow creased and he instinctively stepped forward, shielding Sophia with his body.

Hazel watched them approach without a flicker of panic. She lowered her phone unhurriedly, pressing the screen face-down against her palm.

She lifted her chin, her gaze sliding past Austin's shoulder to land on Sophia's face.

The look was openly appraising. The corner of her mouth even curved upward.

Sophia stood her ground and stared back. Ice cold.

The air hung frozen for two seconds.

Hazel smiled—an unreadable smile—then turned and walked toward the black sedan parked at the curb.

The door opened. She slid inside. The car merged into traffic and disappeared.

Austin stared after it. "What was she filming us for?"

Sophia pulled her gaze back. "What do you think?"

Austin's expression shifted as realization hit him a beat too late.

"She set the whole thing up? That woman in the room—she arranged it?"

"In the car."

Sophia didn't linger at the hotel entrance. She steadied Austin, whose steps were still uneven, guided him across the plaza, and reached her parking spot.

They got in. Sophia started the engine and pulled away.

Austin leaned back in the passenger seat. The flush had mostly faded from his face, and his eyes were clearer now.

He turned his head toward Sophia, voice dropping low. "You think she's behind it?"

Sophia gripped the steering wheel, her tone measured. "Someone posted photos online, but they were only up for a few minutes on a platform with a few hundred users. That scale isn't meant to destroy my reputation. It's meant to make sure one specific person sees it."

"Gerald." The name left Austin's mouth instantly.

Sophia nodded. "She was standing outside filming us just now. Filmed it and left without saying a word. Like she was confirming something—or collecting evidence for someone."

Austin's fists clenched. "She wants Gerald to think you and I are—"

"Yes. Make Gerald believe there's something between us. Make him resent me. Push me out."

Austin's face went dark. His chest heaved several times.

He was silent for a moment, then reached for his phone. "I'm calling Vaughn."

Sophia didn't stop him.

The call connected. Austin laid it out in a few clipped sentences.

Vaughn's furious voice came through the speaker.

"Is Sophia there?" His voice carried through the phone, barely restrained.

"Yeah."

"Send me the hotel address and approximate time. I'm on it right now." Vaughn paused. "I know that forum. Once something's been uploaded, the server side is never completely clean."

Austin acknowledged him, hung up, and sent the information over.

Outside the window, the sky hung gray and heavy.

About ten minutes later, Austin's phone buzzed.

He glanced down at the screen, then held it up for Sophia to see.

A short reply with a backend screenshot attached. The IP address traced clearly to a residential network registered under the Douglas family name in Shadow City.

The phone number used to register the posting account was unmistakably Hazel's personal number.

Austin stared at the text, fury churning in his eyes.

"It really was her."

He pulled the phone back, fingers flying across the screen as he forwarded the screenshot to a contact labeled Lucas.

Then he looked up at Sophia, his voice low and hard. "Leave this to me. I'll make her pay."

---

At the restaurant, Gerald and Claire had finally finished their meal.

Gerald had just wiped his mouth with a napkin when his phone screen lit up.

He looked at the content. The cold light in his eyes solidified into something almost tangible.

Claire stole a glance at his screen but couldn't see anything this time.

She drew a breath. "Gerald, drive me home? It's been so long since you've taken me."

Getting him to come out for this dinner had taken considerable persuasion. She intended to make the most of every minute with him.

Gerald's lips pressed thin. He didn't agree. But he didn't refuse either.

Claire's heart leapt with quiet triumph. She fell into step beside him.

They walked out of the restaurant into the night breeze.

Claire's car was parked right out front. She unlocked it, pulled open the passenger door, and turned to him. "Get in. I'll drive."

Gerald ducked inside.

The moment the door closed, Claire circled to the driver's side and started the engine.

The car was silent enough to hear a pin drop. Only the faint hiss of air from the vents broke the stillness.

Claire drove, stealing glances at Gerald's profile in the rearview mirror.

He leaned back against the seat, dark eyes lowered, long fingers resting on his knee. Lost in thought.

That expression—so dark it seemed ready to bleed ink—made Claire nervous and thrilled in equal measure.

He hadn't denied it. Hadn't refused her ride. That meant those photos of Sophia had gotten to him. Truly gotten to him.

As long as he despised Sophia, Gerald would be hers.

The car soon turned onto the private road leading to the Douglas Villa.

Claire parked and was about to ask if he wanted to come inside, but Gerald had already pushed the door open and stepped out.

She blinked, killed the engine, and hurried after him.

"Gerald—"

Her words died unfinished. He didn't look back. He walked straight toward the villa's front entrance.

Claire's pulse spiked. She quickened her pace to follow.

Gerald strode into the Douglas Villa living room, his gaze cutting past layers of ornate screens to land on the woman seated on the sofa, cradling a cup of herbal tea.

Hazel heard the footsteps and looked up. Seeing Gerald, surprise flickered across her face before settling into a warm smile.

"Gerald? What brings you here? Claire didn't give me any warning—I haven't prepared a thing..."

"No need to prepare."

Gerald stopped. He stood over her, looking down from his full height.

The air in the living room froze solid.