LOGINSophie shot a glance at Edmund, who shrugged and once again turned his attention to Adrian.“That is right. Sophie Langham is my sister,” he said, putting particular emphasis on the name “Langham.” “Seeing as you have other… engagement, Mr. Beckett, I think it’d be wise for us to leave.”“Let’s go, Ed,” Sophie said, already walking towards the door. Edmund hummed in acknowledgement, giving Adrian and Julia a brief nod, but not before slipping a few hundred-dollar bills into the tip jar.“I trust you will keep everything that happened here to yourselves,” he said to the two clerks.“Y-yes, Mr. Langham.”With that, Edmund gave one last po
“Are you sure you want to go here? We can always go to Palladio and get custom furniture, you know?”Edmund’s words brought Sophie back, and when she came to, she was at the last turn before Something Borrowed. It was a vintage thrift store for furniture. Sophie found it by chance when she first set up Meadow Lane.“Yes,” she said. “There’s a bed frame that caught my eye on their website. I just want to secure that.”“Can’t you just buy it from the site?”Sophie sighed. “If that were possible, don't you think I'd already have it?”“Ah,” Edmund nodded. “It is one of those experience stores.”“Exactly,” Sophie chuckled. “They accept shipping, but only after you see the real thing and feel the connection or whatever.”“Alright then,” Edmund said. The parking lot in front of the store was all occupied, and they saw no empty spot nearby.“Want to get off first?” Edmund offered. “It might take a while, and I might need to park somewhere far away.”“Sure,” Sophie said. Edmund pulled over, le
Edmund Langham had always been too kind for the world he was born into.As the future heir to the Langham empire, the elders deemed him too soft-hearted, and took his compassion as weakness. This world required vision, decisiveness, and when necessary, cruelty. Thus, despite his brilliance in nearly every other regard, the elders remained reluctant to appoint him. Unfortunately for them, there was no one more capable.Not until Sophie was born.At seven, Sophie outwitted an abusive nanny. She engineered a way for the adults to discover the nanny’s true nature, to expose her meticulously veiled oppression and manipulation. The elders praised her cleverness.At twelve, she led her middle school's student council, managing a secret investigation against a problematic teacher students and alumni had complained about for years. The elders praised her decisiveness.At sixteen, Britain's most prestigious academy offered her admission with a guaranteed Ivy League pathway. The elders praised
Now that Mrs. Whitaker had uncovered everything—Sophie’s real identity and the actual depth of her affiliation with Oliver Blackwood; she no longer bothered to hide her attempt at matchmaking. Oliver didn’t seem to mind, seeing as he pulled up with a grin on his face.“Mr. Oliver Blackwood running errands for his grandma?" Sophie teased as she opened the passenger door.“Well, can you say anything against Mrs. Whitaker?”“I can not,” Sophie nodded. “That is why I’m here at all.”“Then we’re in the same boat.”Oliver started the engine. “Just for the record, I’m only here as the chauffeur. If grandma starts planning our wedding over breakfast, I deny all responsibility.”Sophie nodded solemnly. “Fair. I’ll deny mine, too.”Even without a gala, The Whitaker Manor still looked as magnificent. The garden was meticulously crafted, Sophie noted, as the butler led her to the gazebo where Mrs. Whitaker waited.“Ah, there you are!” said the elderly lady the moment she spotted Sophie, though he
The Farlow Tech Lawsuit. Julia had been with the company for a mere three weeks. A senior manager tried to pin a negligent mistake on her. She demanded to meet Adrian, claiming that she had information to regain Farlow Tech’s trust.She went through all the necessary procedures, and when she finally stood before him in his private office, she didn’t cry. Didn’t beg. Just quietly placed a stack of evidence on his desk.“I believe I’ve been made a scapegoat.”Adrian took the evidence, a smirk escaped him when he saw what it was. An incriminating proof, enough to pull every rotten root.“I understand.”He called legals. They won. The cunning senior was no more. Julia Hall said as she was leaving.“Thank you, Mr. Beckett.”“Don’t thank me,” he replied. “I’m simply rewarding competence.”That was that. The extent of Adrian’s assistance. He had used Julia Hall as a means to clear out corrupt personnels. That was the first time. That should have been the end of it. From then on, Julia prove
Meanwhile, on the other side of New York.The moment Adrian stepped foot at the headquarters, Gregory and a few other executives swarmed him. In front of the other employees, they tried to appear calm. But if the traces of sweat on their temple were any indicator, they were no doubt panicking.Gregory Abbott was the first one to step forward. “There’s an urgent delivery for you, sir.”Adrian frowned. What could be more important than their future funding crisis?But Gregory continued with a gravely serious expression. “It’s from the court house.”That stopped Adrian in his tracks. His hand froze, just for a slight moment, before he lifted his head and met Gregory’s concerned eyes. “The courthouse?”“Yes,” Gregory confirmed.Adrian extended his arms, wordlessly demanding to see the papers. Gregory could only obey. “Mrs. Beckett is serious enough to bring this to court, sir. Should I contact the legal team?”“No,” Adrian said, almost automatic. He read the divorce petition line-by-lin
Sophie woke up to the smell of coffee.For a brief, disorienting second, everything felt normal. Then last night came rushing back. The midnight whisper. The birthday call. The promises meant for another woman.
Early in the morning, Sophie woke up to yet another charade.When she opened her eyes, she couldn’t find Adrian. She found him in the kitchen, operating the coffee machine. It was what she got for their first wedding anniversary, back when Sophie said she wished to enjoy espresso anytime she wanted
Adrian fulfilled his promise. Just as the clock struck midnight, Sophie could hear the beeping of their door system. She swiftly assumed her usual role. The wife, who was always ready to welcome her husband back.“Adrian, you’re too much,” Sophie said with a pout. “Not a word, not even a text. Do I
Their dinner ended on an unsatisfactory note.Adrian had to leave because of a work emergency. Sophie couldn’t even tell if it was real or not—if Adrian was just stealing fractions of time to be with Julia Hall.“I’ll make it up to you,” Adrian had said.But it had been two days, and Adrian was now







