Chapter 162

Chapter 162:

“Ah!” Sophie gasped, caught off guard by Adrian’s sudden gesture.

Relief rushed through her the moment his voice reached her ears, replacing surprise with warmth.

Sophie spun around, her eyes gleaming like sparks in the night. “Adrian?! How come you’re here p>

With practiced ease, Adrian slid a bouquet into her arms, his free hand circling her waist to pull her close. “It’s your first major competition. There’s no chance I’d miss it p>

Clutching the flowers, Sophie lifted her chin, pride dancing in her gaze. “Can you guess what rank I pulled off p>

𝗡𝗲𝗐 𝘸𝖾𝘦𝗄𝗅𝘺 c𝘩𝘢𝘱𝗍𝖾𝗿𝘴 𝘰𝗇

“Why would I need to guess?” Adrian’s words carried unshakable confidence, sharpened with pride. “You’re first. Anything else would mean the judges were blind p>

In a softer gesture, his fingers brushed her cheek as he tucked a stray lock neatly behind her ear.

Sophie tapped his arm with a playful smack, though the wide grin on her face betrayed her.

From nearby, Beasley observed the easy closeness between them, his cheerful expression stiffening at the edges. He quickly smoothed it over, cutting into the moment with practiced politeness. “Soso, may I ask who this is p>

Adrian caught his attention at once, the man’s curious glance lingering.

Only then did Sophie remember she wasn’t alone, her cheeks turning rosy as she stammered slightly. “Beasley, this is my husband, Adrian Knight. We got married a few months ago p>

“Husband?!” Beasley’s voice cracked with surprise, the smile on his face faltering as disbelief and disappointment flickered in his eyes.

Married already? And only months ago? The realization struck—he had missed his chance.

Adrian didn’t overlook the fleeting change in Beasley’s face, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His arm tightened around Sophie’s waist, his stance radiating a clear message of ownership.

One eyebrow lifted as he asked, “Baby, aren’t you going to introduce this gentleman p>

Hurriedly, Sophie replied, “This is Beasley Anderson, my former neighbor from years ago. He’s a well-known model now and one of the judges for this competition. I owe him a lot today. Without his help, that shady scheme would have ruined everything p>

The mention of a scheme made Adrian’s brow crease, his expression hardening at the thought of her nearly getting caught up in such a mess.

He reached out his hand, his voice even but firm. “Mr. Anderson, I appreciate what you’ve done for my wife. Consider me in your debt, and I promise I’ll return the favor p>

Beasley noticed the deliberate display—Adrian’s protective hold and Sophie comfortably within it—stirring a bitter taste in his mouth.

Still, he extended his hand with practiced politeness, though his voice was cool. “It really wasn’t a big deal p>

“No, that’s not the way I see it,” Adrian said firmly, pulling back with calm resolve. “You helped her, and that means you’re owed. Debts don’t go ignored p>

With that single remark, Adrian made it clear—Beasley stood on the outside, the boundary drawn sharp and final. The meaning landed, and Beasley’s jaw tightened, though he kept it locked behind his teeth.

However, when Sophie looked his way, the tension was gone, replaced with that easy warmth he wore so well. He reached out casually, mussing her hair in a gesture that carried the weight of old familiarity. “Soso’s been like a sister to me since childhood. Doing this for her is nothing p>

Adrian’s expression shifted dark in an instant, his stare cutting cold as steel. Every part of him wanted to knock that hand away.

Sister? No. All he saw was a flimsy excuse masking intentions he didn’t trust. The problem was that, with Beasley framing it that way, any direct pushback would have made him look insecure and small-minded.

Completely unaware of the unspoken tension, Sophie clutched Adrian’s arm with cheerful energy. “We were just about to eat! You came right on time. I struck gold today as the champion, so dinner’s on me p>

Together, the three of them made their way toward the restaurant.

The mood, however, told a different story—Sophie beamed with genuine joy, while Adrian and Beasley walked beside her, each lost in his own guarded thoughts, a quiet rivalry simmering beneath the surface.