Chapter 354
His voice was feather-light, laced with tentative uncertainty, yet it pierced the silence of the car with startling clarity.
Sophia's fingers tightened abruptly on the door handle. She whipped her head around to face him. "What did you say?"
He lifted his gaze, eyes burning with intensity. "I said, give me a chance. Let me give you a future."
"What future?" Her voice trembled.
"Marriage." The word dropped between them, solid and unshakable.
Sophia's pupils contracted sharply. Her heart stuttered to a halt.
Was he drunk?
Or was this some dream?
Ethan Roscente, heir to the Roscente empire, wanted to marry her?
A thousand questions exploded in her mind, yet those two words ignited like wildfire, melting the frozen surface of her heart in an instant.
She forced a brittle smile. "That's not funny."
"I don't joke." His gaze never wavered.
Her fingertips shook. "What about your engagement to Isabella? How am I supposed to believe you now?"
"Give me time." His voice lowered. "I'll handle it."
Handle it.
She let out a cold laugh and withdrew her hand. "Come back when you've actually handled it."
He stared at his empty palm, voice rough. "You don't trust me?"
"I don't dare." Her tone was eerily calm.
For one reckless moment, she'd almost nodded. But reason had won out in the end.
She had too much to lose.
The car plunged into heavy silence. Finally, Ethan sighed. "Go home."
Sophia stepped out mechanically, her silhouette disappearing into the elevator.
Ethan loosened his tie, lit a cigarette, and dialed a number. "Speed things up. I can't wait any longer."
Two sleepless nights passed.
Sophia tossed and turned, despite telling herself not to take his words seriously. That damn proposal looped endlessly in her mind like a cursed incantation.
"Sophia?" Vivian waved a hand in front of her glazed eyes. "What's wrong with you lately?"
For days, Sophia had been distracted—pausing mid-call, staring blankly at meals, zoning out just like this.
Vivian pressed a worried hand to her forehead. "Are you sick?"