Chapter 164
Chapter 164:
“Snowball showed up at my place later,” Beasley said gently. “Not long after you were taken away, my family moved overseas. I couldn’t bring myself to abandon her, so I took her with me p>
“Really? That’s wonderful!” Sophie burst out, her face bright with joy and amazement.
“These days, she lives like royalty. Her favorite thing is sprawling on the sunniest window ledge, basking in the warmth without a single care.” Beasley’s tone softened, affection glimmering in his eyes.
Sophie leaned in, her full attention caught by the story, her heart warmed by the memory of Snowball.
Catching her expression, Beasley seized the moment. “Would you like to visit my place to see her? I’m sure she misses you as well p>
“Of course!” Sophie answered eagerly, though her smile faltered slightly. “But after all this time, she probably won’t remember me p>
“That’s not certain,” Beasley replied, his look carrying a subtle weight. “Cats can surprise you. Their memories linger longer than you’d expect p>
Adrian kept quiet on the sidelines, hearing them chatter with ease about Snowball—the cat tied to Sophie’s past, a history that didn’t include him.
𝘓𝗮𝘵𝗲𝘀𝗍 𝖼𝘩𝗮𝗉𝘁𝖾𝗋𝘴 𝗈𝗻
His heart searched for something that would be Sophie’s and his alone.
Children? Not yet. A pet? They had none. Even a plant shared between them didn’t exist.
Their time under one roof had been too brief, far too fleeting to create memories that only belonged to the two of them, safe from outside ties. That empty gap, that quiet realization he wasn’t part of this piece of her story, stirred an unease in him unlike anything he had ever felt before.
The meal wrapped up beneath a thin layer of unspoken strain.
On their way out, Beasley casually exchanged numbers with Sophie as though it were the most natural thing. With a familiar touch, he ruffled her hair. “Soso, once my schedule eases up, I’ll head over to Zhatwell to visit you p>
Her smile was bright as she nodded. “That would be wonderful! Dinner will be on me then. It’s been years since you last set foot in Zhatwell. The city has changed so much, you might not even know your way around anymore p>
A deeper smile tugged at Beasley’s lips. “In that case, I’ll count on you to be my guide p>
Adrian’s eyes darkened, a sharp chill running through him as he watched the exchange unfold.
Visit Zhatwell? Adrian scoffed silently. Beasley wouldn’t set foot there.
After their goodbyes, Sophie slipped into the car with Adrian, ready to head home.
Inside, her mood remained buoyant as she chattered on. “Beasley really is a good guy. Can you believe it? He even offered to model for my designs if I ever need one p>
Adrian’s gaze lingered on Sophie, irritation simmering as she carried on without the faintest idea of the storm brewing around her.
Completely unaware, she failed to notice just how many people were drawn to her.
Theo, her team leader, for one. Though his appearance was all business and formality, he had sent her that invitation and even spoken up on her behalf. The pen she once gave him had become something he treasured far beyond its worth. From the way Theo’s fingers lingered on it, Adrian could already see the truth of his feelings.
But that was only one problem.
Another had surfaced—Beasley. His persistence was obvious, his attention unmistakable. Marriage hadn’t stopped him, and it was plain he had no plans of backing down. Adrian could imagine it clearly—if Sophie so much as gave the faintest sign, Beasley would leap at the opening without a shred of hesitation.
Sophie’s career was only beginning to stir, her potential barely unveiled. Once she stepped fully into the world of design and stood under brighter lights, who could guess how many more would be drawn to her brilliance?
A chill ran through Adrian, the weight of an unshakable threat pressing close for the first time. What unsettled him most was the thought that with one careless moment, the woman he found harder and harder to part from might be swept away by someone offering more than he had in his hands right now.