Chapter 397

Evelyn stared at her phone screen, her finger hovering over the call button.

"Is he really the boss?" she murmured, her brow furrowing unconsciously.

Fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on her.

After hanging up Julian's call, Evelyn took a deep breath and finally dialed the familiar number.

She recalled her own words from not long ago: "You're too calculating. We should keep our distance."

She had said it with such finality.

Yet here she was, reaching out first.

Her cheeks burned with humiliation.

......

Meanwhile, Julian pocketed his phone and turned to look at Sophia sleeping soundly in bed.

"Weren't we supposed to leave at nine sharp?" he ground out through clenched teeth.

The wall clock showed 9:40.

He'd been waiting in the living room like an idiot for forty minutes.

"Sophia!" he raised his voice.

The figure in bed rolled over, pulling the covers tighter.

Julian strode to the bedside. "Where did you go carousing last night?"

His eyes swept the room like searchlights.

Fortunately, he found nothing suspicious.

Then his pupils constricted abruptly.

Two glasses sat prominently on the nightstand.

"Sophia!" His voice shot up an octave.

A pillow hit him square in the face.

"Shut up!" Sophia bolted upright, her hair a bird's nest. "Either wait quietly or get out now!"

She hated being disturbed during sleep.

Julian was too furious to speak.

How dare she yell at him?

"Fine, I'm leaving!" He turned to go.

But stopped abruptly at the doorway.

"Damn it!"

He muttered a curse before slinking back to the living room.

Thirty minutes later, Sophia finally woke up.

Stretching, she noticed the figure on the couch.

"You're still here?" Her surprise was genuine.

Julian smirked coldly. "You expect me to face my parents alone?"

His mother had specifically invited Sophia for weekend dinner a week ago.

Sophia had agreed readily.

When Julian reminded her yesterday, she'd vowed: "Nine sharp tomorrow. One minute late and you're dead."

And now?

"When did I say nine?" Sophia played dumb.

"Want me to play the recording?" Julian waved his phone.

"You recorded me? Creep!"

"Call it being prepared."

Sophia had no comeback.

Suddenly she realized: "Wait, how did you get in?"

Julian flashed a triumphant smile. "Keypad code. 3-2-1-0."