Chapter 44
Pierce cast a glance at Derick and Sophia. Derick wore a serious face, and no one could tell his inner thoughts.
Unlike Derick, Sophia was obviously shocked by Pierce’s sudden appearance. However, she soon put on a grim face and looked away from Pierce.
Pierce’s heart sank at her reaction. He took a deep breath, bent his fingers slightly, and drew out the chair by their table.
He asked politely, “Do you mind if I sit with you?”
Derick and Sophia replied at the same time, “Can you sit somewhere else?”
?There was a deadly silence for an instant.
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Pierce squinted. With sharper eyes, he sat on the chair between Derick and Sophia in an imperious air. The smell on him, which was faint mint smoke, greeted Derick and Sophia.
His sudden intervention spoiled the atmosphere.
However, he didn’t seem apologetic at all. Instead, he curled his lips up.
His face turned gloomier as he glanced at the roses on the table. He then stared at Sophia.
He asked, “I have more details about the Brightmarble Project to negotiate with you. How about we go somewhere else?”
Pierce sounded cold, but he had actually tried his best to be gentle.
Sophia pursed her lips and looked up at him.
She said flatly, “I’m not available today. Let’s take a rain check.”
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She sipped from her glass and tried to hide her fractious mood.
She wondered, “What happened to Pierce? Why did he come before me so often after our divorce? Can’t he just stay away from me like he used to?”
?Pierce could barely keep his composure after being rejected again.
?His chest no longer heaved violently after his efforts to compose himself.
After that, he chuckled and said, “Well, your offer is good. After all, someone else is here now. Let’s talk alone another day.”
?He waved his hand in a casual way to a waiter.
“We need another knife and fork here.”
?Pierce thought, “Sophia, you want me to leave you and that man here alone?
“No way!”
Sophia stared at him with her eyes wide open. She didn’t expect him to be this cheeky.
She had no way but to stand up and decided to leave.
She smiled at Derick, “Mr. Woodward, let’s call it a day. I’m a little tired and want to go home now.”
Derick rose with a smile.
He replied, “So do I. How about I drive you home?”
“I’ll drive you home.”
?Coincidentally, Pierce said almost the same words in a deep voice at the same time.
?Not a sound was heard for an instant.
Pierce shot daggers at Derick.
Ignoring him, Sophia took up her bag and said to Derick with a calm face.
“Mr. Woodward, sorry to trouble you. Can you drive me home?”
The latter nodded with a smile.
“It’s my pleasure.”
As Sophia descended the stairs, she failed to notice a protruding piece of wood at her feet. She had no sooner stepped on it than she slipped, and a
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sharp pain shot through her ankle.
?Before she could regain her balance, she was supported from behind at the waist. She banged against a man’s hard chest, and the faint smell of tobacco greeted her.
“Ms. Cruise, does your food hurt?”
When there was still some distance between Derick and Sophia, he noticed Pierce crouching in front of her and examining her ankle injury.
Derick’s face clouded.
Sophia felt uneasy when Pierce, who was crouching in front of her, touched her ankle. She wanted to withdraw her ankle. Yet when she moved it, a sharp pain hit her.
Pierce clutched her ankle and looked up at her. Even in such a position, he still looked commanding.
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“You have sprained your ankle and need to see a doctor.”
?Sophia frowned and stepped back in pain.
“No need. I can apply some medicine when I get home.)
To her surprise, Pierce overlooked her refusal. He threw his arm around her waist and picked her up directly.
?Sophia’s struggles were of no avail, as Pierce took her in his arms tightly and strode out.
“Pierce, put me down…”
Pierce said in a serious voice.
“Don’t move.”
?There was a hint of warning in his voice. After putting her in his car, he slammed the door shut..
When he turned to Derick, he no longer concealed his true feelings. He wore an indifferent expression and had hostility in his eyes.
He said, “Mr. Woodward, I will take her to the hospital.”
?Derick, too, ceased his affectation of politeness.
He squinted at Pierce. “I brought her here. I should take her home.”
?Neither wanted to back down. They looked fiercely at each other.
Pierce took a step forward to Derick with a severe face.
“Mr. Woodward, you’d better stay away from Sophia. She’s not someone
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you can approach. Do you understand? You are not that powerful in this country.”
Pierce was so arrogant and domineering. He made no secret of his hostility to Derick.
Derick narrowed his eyes. Just as he was about to say something, Pierce turned around and got into the car.
He could hardly stay in the same place as Derick for another second.
His mind was filled with anger. What was worse, an unknown urge came over him uncontrollably.
?Had he continued to talk to Derrick, he would probably have been unable to restrain himself from beating Derrick.
?The car sped away as the driver pressed the accelerator.
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Sophia sat far away from Pierce. Two more people could sit between them.
Pierce rubbed the center of his forehead in an effort to stifle his anger.
He ordered the driver, “Go to the hospital.”
Sophia gave her a cold look.
Then, she said in a flat voice, “Mr. Clement, thank you for taking me to
the hospital, but you won’t have to next time.”
Her gratitude didn’t sound sincere.
Pierce pursed his lips, the veins bulging on his forehead.
Why did she estrange him like this?
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He asked, “Do you prefer Derick to do so?”
“He’s more suitable, isn’t he?” Sophia was straightforward.
She’d rather ride in Derick’s car than Pierce’s.
She didn’t want anything to do with Pierce anymore.
With a gloomy face, Pierce snorted. He had mixed feelings in his eyes and blurted out what he was thinking.
“Suitable? Not at all! Even if you want to be with another man, you should find someone who doesn’t look like me.
“Haven’t you noticed how much he looks like me? I know you still love me, so you date such a substitute
