Chapter 144

Sophia Lowell curled her lips in a cold smile, flicking the pregnancy test report with her fingertips. "If you don't believe me, Mr. Roscente, feel free to check Vivian Valdemar's medical records."

She met the man's stormy gaze head-on, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I know my place. I wouldn't humiliate myself like that. But your constant suspicion makes you look rather foolish."

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Vivian's arm and stormed out, slamming the hospital room door behind her.

In the hallway, Ethan Roscente stared at the closed door, his chest tight with frustration.

He loosened his tie irritably, fingers absently tracing the outline of his lighter. He should've felt relieved. So why did hearing she'd picked up the report for someone else leave him with this inexplicable emptiness?

"Felix. Where are you?" His voice was glacial when the call connected.

"At the boxing club," Felix Roland answered cheerfully, his girlfriend giggling in the background. "What, daddyhood making you wanna throw punches?"

Ethan crushed his cigarette, eyes flashing dangerously. "Wait for me."

Inside the room, Vivian peeked through the door crack and whistled. "He's gone. Looked like he was about to commit murder."

Sophia snorted. Thank god she'd had the foresight to use Vivian's name at registration. The thought of Felix's big mouth made her grit her teeth.

"Do all rich families keep attack dogs like that?" Vivian patted her chest, still shaken. "My brother's on his way. He'll drive you home."

Evening light filtered through the curtains, casting dappled shadows across the hospital bed. Sophia politely declined Sebastian Valdemar's offer and left alone—just in time to see Ethan's Maybach roar out of the hospital parking lot.

The late-night call gave her a headache. Felix wailed on the other end, "Save me! Your man's trying to kill me—"

The next day in the hospital corridor, a limping Felix approached with blackened eyes. Sophia glanced at his arm cast and parted her red lips. "Karma."

The architecture exhibition gala was in full swing. Industry elites flocked around Theodore Orlando while discreetly sliding business cards toward Sophia. Her schedule filled so fast she barely had time to sip water between appointments.