Chapter 484

"Sophia, I heard you went to Napa Valley?"

"Yes. The project needed to be resolved."

Her fingers brushed across the phone screen as Sophia stood at the edge of the flower field. As Luming Architectural Studio's designer, she didn’t need to clock in daily, but she never shirked her responsibilities.

Without a base salary, every project was about survival.

"You reckless girl!" Theodore Orlando's voice sharpened through the phone. "Running around like that while pregnant? Those villagers aren’t easy to deal with!"

Sunlight danced on the petals, scattering tiny sparks of light.

"It’s already handled," she said lightly. "The contract will be signed tomorrow."

"That fast?"

"Ethan Roscente made a deal with the flower farmers..."

She summarized in a few words, deliberately omitting the undercurrents beneath the surface.

A brief silence stretched on the other end.

"He went there for you?"

Sophia’s lips twitched. "You’re overthinking it, Professor. Our project was just a side benefit."

By the time she hung up, she had wandered deep into the flower field without realizing it. Ethan and Bianca Savigny were nowhere in sight, leaving only swaying poppies stretching endlessly before her.

A line of ants marched past her feet.

She nudged the procession with a blade of grass, suddenly amused. Their busy little forms reminded her of herself—constantly scrambling to make ends meet.

"Miss Lowell seems to be enjoying herself."

Bianca’s voice pricked at her from behind.

Sophia rose slowly, brushing grass from her skirt. Not far away, Ethan stood with his back to them, his tall figure half-hidden among the flowers as he took a call.

"Something you need?"

Bianca stepped closer, her perfume clashing with the floral breeze.

"Seeing you here... displeases me."

Clouds drifted over the sun, casting a sudden shadow.

Sophia met her gaze. "Funny. Pleasing you was never my intention."

A gust of wind swept through the field, stirring a crimson wave across the blossoms.