Chapter 224

Zachary Evans rushed into the office, his suit jacket still carrying the chill from outside. He approached Ethan Roscente swiftly, keeping his voice low.

"Mr. Roscente, all videos and discussions about Miss Lowell have been completely erased. There's no trace of them online now."

Ethan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his slender fingers tapping lightly against the glass. He glanced at his watch, his tone icy.

"When does it end?"

"End...?" Zachary hesitated, momentarily confused.

Meeting Ethan's stormy expression, realization struck. He quickly checked the schedule.

"If we leave now, we can make it before the recording wraps up. The show runs for two hours."

Ethan's eyes darkened. He grabbed his suit jacket and strode toward the door.

"Get the car ready."

Backstage at the studio, Sophia Lowell had just finished removing her makeup when she noticed two missed calls on her phone.

Her finger paused over the name Ethan Roscente. She swiped the notification away without hesitation.

As she was about to put her phone away, Vivian Ashcroft's call flashed on the screen.

"Sophia! You're trending!" Vivian's voice was loud enough to pierce through the noise. "Your shipping video with Professor Orlando is blowing up the internet! That look he gave you—God, even I was blushing through the screen!"

Sophia leaned against the dressing room wall, rubbing her temples wearily.

"What are you talking about? I just finished filming."

"I'll send you the clip!" Vivian said excitedly. "Good thing I saved it—it's already been taken down. Probably reported by some jealous hater."

Her phone buzzed. Sophia tapped the video.

It was an edited montage of her interactions with Professor Orlando during the show, set to romantic music and flooded with "OMG they're so cute!" comments.

"This is ridiculous..." Sophia sighed. "We were just talking normally."

Vivian clicked her tongue. "Even your university's official account is shipping you two! The way he looks at you—like he wants to devour you whole!"

"Stop exaggerating," Sophia frowned. "He's just my senior from college."

"Please!" Vivian lowered her voice. "A guy like him, who even knows about your pregnancy—he’s practically the perfect rebound—"

"Vivian!" Sophia cut her off sharply. "I'm hanging up if you keep talking nonsense."

"Fine, fine, I'll drop it," Vivian backtracked. "But seriously, he’s a million times better than that scumbag Ethan. Think about it?"

Before Sophia could retort, the dressing room door swung open.

She looked up—and froze.

Ethan stood silhouetted in the doorway, his tall frame blocking the light. His expression was thunderous.

"Perfect timing," he said coldly, his gaze dropping to the still-glowing phone screen in her hand.