Chapter 378

Jason Roscente had just pulled out his phone when a faint whiff of tobacco drifted into his nostrils.

He whipped his head around.

"Sophia's returning to Seattle. Did you know?"

A deep, icy voice exploded beside his ear.

"Holy shit!" He flinched and instinctively threw a punch in the praying mantis style.

Recognizing the figure, he clutched his chest, panting. "Uncle Ethan! You scared the hell out of me!"

Ethan Roscente stood beneath the silk tree, his tall frame stretched long by the streetlamp. His dark eyes were bottomless, sharp as fractured ice.

"Answer me."

Jason glanced around before leaning in, lowering his voice. "You really don't know?"

"Would I ask if I did?" The man's tone turned dangerous.

Jason's eyes darted. He stretched his limbs theatrically. "Uncle, business is war. Intelligence requires—"

"Bugatti Veyron." Ethan cut him off.

"Deal!" Jason's face lit up instantly. "Sophia's internship ended. She's transferring back to Seattle U's main campus. The full-time offer came from you, so doesn't that mean—"

"I personally sent her away?" Ethan's lips curled into a cold smile, shadows churning in his gaze.

Jason retreated two steps. "Pretty much..."

"Good. Very good." Ethan stared into the distance, his knuckles whitening. "Sophia Lowell, you've got nerve."

The air plunged below freezing.

Jason shivered, wishing he could vanish on the spot.

Meanwhile, Isabella Valentine had just settled into her car when her phone rang.

"Isabella, we found out. Sophia visited OB-GYN for irregular periods."

"Are you certain?" Isabella frowned.

"It's clearly stated in her medical records."

Her fingers tapped the steering wheel. That day in the executive office, Sophia's gagging reaction had been too suspicious.

"Dig deeper. I need concrete evidence."

Hanging up, she hit the gas. Neon lights flickered across her face through the window.

Sophia hadn't lied. Her final days before leaving were a whirlwind of nonstop work.

By the time she exited campus, night had fallen.

A breeze brushed her neck, and she shuddered. That sensation of being watched returned.

She quickened her pace, relaxing only slightly at the sight of her apartment complex gates.

Then—

Thud.

Her handbag hit the ground, contents scattering.

A shadow loomed before her, materializing out of nowhere.