Chapter 160
The surveillance footage was frozen at 6 PM.
The living room was empty.
Sophia Sullivan sat alone on the sofa.
Ethan Roscente understood with just one glance.
She was waiting for him to come home.
There was no sound from the television.
No light from a phone screen.
She just sat there quietly.
Like a rose gradually losing its moisture.
So this was the so-called warmth of home he had yearned for.
It was merely bought by a woman's day after day of waiting.
Through her accommodation.
Through her sacrifices.
Through her entire self.
"When I was a child, my father was always busy with work."
"My mother was always busy socializing."
"They left me with the nanny."
"Even though we were well-off and both parents were present."
"I never experienced the warmth of a family."
"Sophia, I truly envy you."
"You have loving parents."
"You grew up in a caring environment."
"Everything was done personally."
"My parents still believe to this day."
"That money can solve all problems."
"If a child isn't good enough."
"It must be because not enough money was spent."
"Meeting you is my greatest fortune."
"You made me feel this warmth."
"Since being with you."
"I always imagine this scene."
"Coming home from work to see you busy in the kitchen."
"Children playing in the living room."
"The three of us, or even more."
"Having dinner together."
"After dinner, the children play in the garden."
"You sit on the swing."
"I gently push from behind."
"We watch the children laugh and run."
"Sophia, believe me."
"We will continue like this."
"Until we grow old together."
"Until death parts us."
Ethan's ears echoed with these words from the past.
He said he longed for family warmth.
He longed for a virtuous wife and filial children.
As time passed.
He had long forgotten.
But Sophia remembered clearly.
And used her actions to paint the future he had once promised.
But now.
Everything was destroyed by his own hands.
Completely ruined.
Ethan raised his hand and slapped himself.
The sharp sound was particularly piercing in the night.
But it was useless now.
He had lost her.
Lost the life he yearned for.
Lost the woman who loved him most in the world.
A tear slid from the man's eye.
It fell onto the table.
Shattering.
Staining the expensive sandalwood surface.
Looking cheap and dirty.
The recording time jumped to 1 AM.
"He" finally returned.
Reeking of alcohol.
He walked directly past her sleeping on the sofa.
And went upstairs.
Right after "he" left.
Sophia slowly opened her eyes.
She stared blankly at the crystal chandelier.
One second.
Two seconds.
A full three minutes.
Then she sat up.
Gazing blankly in the direction "he" had left.
So she hadn't been asleep at all.
What was Sophia thinking at that time.
The present Ethan couldn't guess.
And didn't dare to guess.
Perhaps disappointment accumulates bit by bit like this.
Breaking up isn't an impulsive decision.
It's the stacking of day after day of disappointment.
The consumption of love day after day.
The inevitable final outcome.
He subconsciously believed this woman would never leave.
That's why he dared to be so reckless.
And what he had once squandered.
Ultimately became what he could no longer obtain.
Ethan remained silent before the screen for a long time.
Until the wind howled outside the window.
Then he remembered the purpose of checking the surveillance.
He opened the video files from the past month.
Isabella Langley had originally been asleep.
Faintly hearing the door open downstairs.
She instantly woke up.
The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.
She had spoken so harshly when leaving.
Yet just a few hours later.
He came running back.
That old witch Victoria Roscente was just a wretched scum.
If she had the guts, she would really leave her alone here.
Anyway, she still had 72 million USD in her belly.
Who was afraid of whom.
If Victoria returned.
Martha and the cook would definitely come back too.
Perfect timing since she was hungry.
She'd have the cook prepare some bird's nest soup.
Isabella circled the living room.
Then checked the kitchen.
There was no one.
She looked around in confusion.
Suddenly noticing a pair of men's leather shoes in the entryway.
Ethan had returned.
Her eyes darted around.
She quickly went to the bedroom to change into sleepwear.
Then tiptoed toward the study.
Knock knock knock—
"Ethan, you're back, right?"
Asking a question she already knew the answer to.
The study light was on.
Who else could it be but Ethan.
Just as Isabella thought she wouldn't get a response.
A deep, cold male voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Suppressing her excitement.
She pushed the door open with a smile.
"Ethan..."
Ethan looked up at the approaching woman.
A red lace nightgown.
A sheer design at the chest.
Two thin straps resting on snow-white shoulders.
No charm.
Only vulgarity.
Seeing the man's calm expression.
Isabella softened her tone.
"When did you get back? Working overtime again? You've been working overtime for over half a month, you must be exhausted. Here, let me give you a massage..."
She proactively offered a reason for the man's absence for over half a month.
Smiling without any reservation.
As if their previous intense conflict had never happened.
Ethan looked at her almost ingratiating smile.
It didn't matter anymore.
No matter how much he loathed her.
The one who felt disgusted was himself.
No matter how much he despised her.
It wouldn't change the current situation.
Better to ignore it.
The man's calmness, in Isabella's eyes.
Became tacit permission.
She placed her hands on Ethan's shoulders.
Seeing he didn't refuse.
She boldly moved her hands toward his chest.
"Ethan, you haven't been home for over half a month. Don't you miss me? Don't you miss the baby?"
Ethan grabbed her hand before it could go further.
Isabella froze.
"Who exactly entered the study and moved the documents? Do you know?"
"How... how would I know?" Isabella laughed. "Although it's very likely that Auntie Victoria did it, I don't think she meant any harm. What can't be resolved between mother and son? Even if it really was Auntie Victoria, you shouldn't take it to heart..."
"Is that so?" Ethan said with a mocking smile.
"Sigh, Auntie Victoria might really be angry. She took Martha and the others back to the old house. I didn't dare to stop her, but the baby and I still need someone to take care of us. Given the current situation, Ethan, what do you think we should do?"
"What do you want to do?"
"Forget about Auntie Victoria, she might still be angry. But shouldn't Martha, the cook, and the driver at least stay for me?"
Ethan let out a cold laugh.
Isabella: "?"
"I'm asking you one last time. Are you sure it was my mother who moved the documents?"
The woman's eyes flickered. "Auntie Victoria is the most suspicious. That's a公认的事实, isn't it?"
Slap— Slap—
Ethan suddenly stood up and slapped her twice.
Then he grabbed Isabella's hair.
Pressing her face toward the screen.
"Then how do you explain this?"