Chapter 266
Chapter 266
Gerald flipped through the folder, scanning its contents, then raised an eyebrow at her.
"These terms are more detailed than anything our legal department drafts. That worried about me?"
"With someone like you, a little caution goes a long way." Sophia didn't flinch.
Gerald laughed. "Fine. But I have one condition—stay a few extra days. For Milo."
Sophia held his gaze. "Three days."
"Deal." Gerald pulled a pen from his inside pocket and signed the last page.
Sophia blinked. Had this man actually changed?
But she quickly scoffed to herself. She'd sooner believe pigs could fly.
---
The next morning. Shadow City Airport.
Claire was flanked by two household staff, one on each side, guiding her forward.
"Griffin, I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please don't send me away." Tears streamed down Claire's face.
Griffin didn't look back. "This isn't up for discussion."
The security checkpoint was just ahead.
Claire's steps stuttered. She threw herself sideways, slamming into a ground crew cart. She crumpled to the floor, curling into a ball. Blood beaded at her temple.
"Ms. Douglas!" The two staff members panicked, dropping to their knees beside her.
Griffin turned. He saw her crumpled on the ground, and his expression went cold.
"Get her to a hospital."
---
When Claire was wheeled into the ER, Griffin leaned against the corridor wall and called Gerald.
Half an hour later, Gerald walked into the hospital room.
Claire was propped against the pillows, a bandage wrapped around her forehead. The moment she saw Gerald, her eyes reddened.
"Gerald..." Her voice was thin and fragile. "I'm sorry. What I did was wrong. I lost my head. Can you forgive me this once? Don't you remember when we were kids—you fell into the lake, and I was the one who jumped in and pulled you out."
Gerald looked down at her. "The doctor says nothing's broken. A couple days' rest and you'll be fine."
He stepped back. His tone flattened. "I have things to take care of. I'm leaving."
The door closed behind him.
Claire's fingers went white around the edge of the blanket. The hatred inside her chest was ready to detonate.
She'd always used that childhood rescue to guilt him. It worked every single time.
Why didn't it work now?
Could he have found out that the person who saved him back then wasn't her?
No. She had to lock Gerald down before the truth came out.
---
Griffin's gaze was ice.
"What I told you before—remember it. Don't touch Sophia. Don't make plays for Gerald. Next time, no one will be able to protect you."
He turned and left.
The door shut. Claire grabbed the water glass from the nightstand and hurled it at the wall.
---
That evening, Sophia worked late again. When she finally glanced up, she caught a figure standing in the doorway.
Gerald had been there who knows how long. He held an insulated food container.
"Late-night snack."
Sophia didn't look up. "Take it away."
Gerald lifted the lid. "Eat something."
Sophia raised her eyes. "Gerald, you show up at my office every day with food. Do you really think this is accomplishing something?"
Gerald sat down in the chair across from her.
"Yes."
Sophia stared at him.
"This cheap version of affection—doesn't it embarrass you?"
Gerald didn't so much as blink. "Whether my feelings are cheap or not, I think you already know."
Sophia ignored him and grabbed the glass of water on her desk—long since gone cold—and took a gulp.
Gerald's gaze dropped to her collar, where a fine chain peeked out. Rose gold, with a small bead pendant.
"Nice necklace," he said.
"I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."
Sophia frowned.
"Don't bother."
"I've got money to burn."
She pushed the food container back toward him. "I don't need a necklace, and I don't need your effort. I don't want anything from you."
Gerald closed the lid and set the container right back beside her hand.
"My money exists for you to spend. No need to be polite."
Sophia scoffed.
"Something's wrong with your head."
Gerald smiled, leaned back, and opened his phone to check emails. He didn't say another word.
The two of them sat across the desk from each other, each doing their own thing.
Out in the corridor, two senior executives walked past together.
One of them stopped mid-stride.
"Is that... Mr. Churchill?"
The other peered in and sucked in a breath. "What's he doing here? He never mingles with anyone on this side."
"With Matilda?" The first one lowered his voice. "What's their relationship?"
"None of your business. Let's go."
They hunched their shoulders and hurried off, their footsteps fading at the end of the hall.
---
Sophia closed her laptop, packed her files into her bag, and stood up.
Gerald rose with her, half a step behind.
They walked out of the building one after the other.
A black sedan was parked outside.
Caspian leaned against the driver's side door.
Sophia nodded. "Caspian, what brings you here?"
"Was in the neighborhood. Figured I'd give you a ride."
Gerald emerged from the building and walked straight to his own car on the other side of the lot. He pulled the door open.
"Get in." He looked at Sophia.
Sophia didn't spare him a glance. She turned to Caspian. "Let's go, Caspian." She opened the passenger door of his car and slid in.
The black sedan merged into the stream of nighttime traffic.
Gerald shut his car door and sat down in the driver's seat.
---
Caspian gripped the steering wheel, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror.
"He's been showing up every day?"
"Mm." Sophia leaned back against the headrest. "It's exhausting."
"The supply agreement—you've made up your mind?"
"I have. If Apex Materials wants to offer their product, I'd be an idiot to turn it down. Stable supply chain is exactly what Vaughn's side needs most. This agreement alone could save him two years of detours."
"Aren't you worried he'll use it as leverage?"
"He can't." Sophia's tone was calm. "I went through that contract line by line. If he thinks he can use it to control me, he's dreaming."
Caspian glanced at her.
"As long as you know what you're doing."
"He wants to use business deals to keep me tied to this marriage—fine. I'll take the deals. The marriage stays hollow. It's his choice, his money. I'm not losing a thing. Nothing to be precious about."
"You've changed a lot," Caspian said.
"Everyone has to learn to live for themselves eventually."
The car rounded a curve. Caspian said nothing more.
---
Early the next morning.
Sophia drove herself back to Palatial Gardens.
Gerald stood on the front steps, a black umbrella in hand. He walked to the car and opened the driver's side door.
He tilted the umbrella toward Sophia's side.
Sophia stepped around him and walked straight inside without a glance.
Gerald closed the umbrella and followed. He took a dry towel from the entryway cabinet and held it out.
"Dry your hair."
Sophia took it, gave her hair two halfhearted swipes, and headed for the living room.
Milo heard footsteps and looked up. His face lit up instantly. "Mommy!"
Sophia pulled him into her arms. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Yes!" Milo tilted his small face up and nuzzled her chin.