Addicted After Marriage: Marrying My Abstinent Boss-Chapter 177: Two Familiar Faces Arrive
The next day, while Sophia was having breakfast, Ethan walked in carrying a basket of fruit.
Ethan was dressed impeccably in a suit, exuding the aura of a company president, with even his hair perfectly styled.
It seemed like he had made a special effort to dress up, as it was rare to see him this formal except for social engagements.
Sophia smiled and gave him an appraising look; ever since he stopped being an assistant, the nonchalant air about him seemed to have vanished completely.
"President Sinclair, it’s been a while, and you’ve really become quite the gentleman," Sophia teased.
Ethan glanced at the shocking wound on her leg and said, "Please, have some decency, my lady."
Zane chuckled from the sofa, reviewing the documents Ethan had brought.
"Has she come by?" Ethan asked.
He was referring to Hugh Irving.
No wonder he was dressed so nicely today; he had hoped to see her.
As Sophia finished her porridge, Ethan naturally started tidying up the table.
"She will come, but not yet. The situation at the courtyard isn’t great. If you have time, please check on it for me. She might not be able to handle it alone," Sophia thought, even if she could manage, help would be needed.
Ethan nodded, and after tidying up, he sat on a chair beside her and peeled apples, absentmindedly glancing at the doorway.
Zane was sitting on the sofa, explaining work matters to the newly hired Assistant Langley, Harry.
He had postponed his trip abroad at the end of the month.
Ethan peeled two or three apples, cutting them into pieces and placing them on a small plate. Sophia helped herself unapologetically with a fork.
As she was about to be full, Ethan continued peeling.
"If you don’t have anything else to do, could you help my husband with something more useful?" Sophia glanced at the endlessly busy Zane.
Then she looked at the fruit plate, which was already full.
Ethan put down the apple. "One call from you yesterday and he rushed over. I’ve been working all day and even stayed up late last night. Please, give me a break."
"Then why didn’t you take a proper rest at home instead of running over here?" Sophia asked knowingly.
"You’re really merciless," Ethan shot her a look.
Surely, Sophia knew why Ethan had come over?
Sophia smiled and sent a message to Hugh, asking when she would arrive.
She replied, saying she was getting someone to clean up the site and would be late. She also sent a picture of a finger cut by a nail, lamenting the messy situation.
Sophia spread the phone out in front of Ethan, who stood up and left without another word.
Zane glanced at Ethan’s departing figure and then at the laughing Sophia before returning to his work.
At noon, after dining with her, Zane reminded her of a few things and then returned to the company with Harry.
Autumn Lowell came to switch shifts, and Zoe Walsh also walked in.
"My two moms, I’m fine now. You didn’t sleep all night, go rest a bit and come back later. Don’t worry," Sophia said with concern, noting how much they seemed to have aged overnight.
"Autumn, why don’t you go back first? I can stay," suggested Zoe Walsh.
"I’m just as bored staying idle at home, so I might as well chat with you here," Autumn really didn’t want to go back.
Going back might mean encountering people she didn’t want to see, which was frustrating.
Better to keep Sophia company.
Zoe couldn’t refuse and sat with her on the sofa.
"How is Willow?" Sophia couldn’t help but ask, still worried, she asked again.
"The bleeding has stopped, and she’s recovered. Tomorrow, after another day of observation, she can be discharged," Zoe said with a smile, though her expression sometimes hinted at worry.
Her daughter was fine, but Sophia was still in bed, her leg injury likely to leave scars, and she couldn’t be discharged so soon.
Last night, after Willow was settled, Zoe had rushed to Sophia’s ward, spending a sleepless night again. Despite the doctor’s reassurances, she couldn’t help worrying.
They chatted for a while before two familiar faces appeared at the ward’s door.
Faye Ellison and Professor Carter.
They knocked but did not enter, waiting at the door.
Since everyone inside was female, they were careful not to intrude on Sophia’s privacy.
Zoe and Autumn stood up, looking at the two men at the door.
Zoe didn’t know them, but Autumn did.
"I’ll head out first; call me if you need anything," Zoe said tactfully and left. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Autumn escorted Zoe out and invited the two men inside.
"Professor Carter, Ellison, what brings you here?" Autumn smiled.
"We heard about what happened yesterday and came specifically to see Sophia," Faye said as he entered, his gaze briefly landing on Sophia.
But it didn’t linger long, and he placed the tulips he had brought on the table, replacing the flowers Zane had just brought yesterday with his own.
Just as Sophia was about to stop him, he had already completed the task.
"Don’t throw them away; they’re still fresh," she said.
Faye smiled and didn’t discard them, simply adding all the flowers to the vase.
"Are you feeling okay?" Professor Carter stood to the side.
"Thank you for your concern, Professor. It’s nothing major, just need some time to recover," Sophia said apologetically.
The recent time spent designing military uniforms with them had already been tough, and now with this incident, it seemed future work might burden them further.
"It’s no problem at all. As long as you’re safe, that’s what’s important," Professor Carter said.
"Have some fruit," Autumn offered, placing the apples Ethan had cut on the coffee table.
Unreservedly, they sat on the sofa in the ward.
"How have you been feeling lately?" Professor Carter asked Autumn.
Autumn smiled and nodded.
Neither Faye nor Sophia, lying in bed, said a word.
Yet Faye’s gaze occasionally flitted toward her.
"We haven’t seen each other for a while. When did you come back?" Professor Carter seemed to know that Autumn had been living abroad.
"I came back before the end of the year. I might return to where I was before soon," Autumn glanced at Sophia in bed.
Sophia was taken aback. Is she going abroad again?
Is it because of the Lowell family’s issues?
Her heart tightened with pain.
Autumn should have been chasing what she loved at the best time of her life, but instead, she carried burdens she shouldn’t have. It didn’t seem like her situation had improved much.
Professor Carter didn’t ask for her reasons but said, "I’ve retired. After helping with this project this year, I’m planning to find a place to enjoy my later years."
Autumn smiled but made no response.
Sophia felt that the way they talked seemed overly intimate like they were old acquaintances long familiar with each other.
And Autumn’s reserved demeanor seemed unchanging.
"Past acquaintances know not my current situation, while new acquaintances know not my past. Current situations should not be revealed to past acquaintances, past matters not shared with new ones."
"Joy and sorrow are self-navigated, hard for others to understand."
Sophia disliked her like this; she should be pursuing people and things she loved, not trapping herself somewhere unreachable and isolated.
"Auntie, my mom has also returned to the country. She wanted me to ask if you’d like to have a meal together sometime," Faye broke the awkwardness.
Autumn raised her experienced eyes to look at him.
Teacher Hale was her only friend abroad, and they had a good relationship. Autumn knew she had returned to the country but hadn’t arranged a meeting.
"Once Sophia’s situation improves, let’s gather," Autumn didn’t refuse.
"Then we’ll leave you to it today. I heard you slept late last night, and Sophia needs rest too, don’t overexert yourself."
Faye’s words were comforting.
"Alright!" Autumn laughed.
She had always been fond of Faye.
Faye stood up, moving his gaze from Autumn to Sophia.
"Remember to call me if you need anything," he said with a smile.
"..." Sophia paused for two seconds and then replied with an "okay."
She hadn’t yet properly thanked him for last time, and she felt a bit rude about it.
