Chapter 188
Olivia Lopez received a call and hurriedly left.
Sophia Sullivan brought her parents home.
David Sullivan scrolled through photos on his phone with great enthusiasm.
"Look at this gold-bodied painted enamel cup and saucer set... and this silver-inlaid coral neckpiece..."
His voice echoed in the stairwell.
Isabella Sullivan couldn't help but smile at his childlike excitement.
Sophia listened quietly, occasionally offering a brief response.
The three reached the seventh floor. Sophia took out her keys to open the door.
The door across the hall suddenly opened.
"Alexander, heading out?" David greeted warmly.
Sophia turned and met Alexander Laurent's smiling eyes.
He wore a crisp white short-sleeved shirt with khaki casual trousers, looking clean and sharp.
This was their first meeting since the incident when she was drunk.
Remembering her father's remark about her causing a scene with Alexander while intoxicated...
Sophia guiltily averted her gaze.
The man's smile widened. He nodded to David. "Heading to the lab."
"Working this late?"
"Still have data to process."
"Let's play chess another day."
"Sure."
…
Victoria Roscente finally freed herself from Deborah Melville and her son.
They had tired themselves out and returned to their hotel, allowing her to escape.
Back at the old mansion, she collapsed onto the sofa, completely drained.
"Mom! Great news—"
Amelia Roscente ran down the stairs.
She had received her acceptance letter from MIT.
Major: Bioinformatics.
Advisor: Professor Victoria Lowell.
All those gifts of bird's nest and ginseng hadn't been wasted.
They were originally intended for Professor Eleanor Watson but had been rejected.
Putting rejected gifts to good use worked perfectly.
She had also arranged for someone to deliver a jadeite bangle worth a million to Professor Lowell.
She didn't deliver it personally fearing its high value might make the professor refuse it.
She also worried about being photographed.
Just like how she had once photographed Alexander Laurent and Sophia Sullivan.
She ultimately chose to conduct the transaction through an intermediary.
The bangle was "sold" to Professor Lowell for five hundred dollars.
Gold has a price, but jade is priceless.
No one could ever prove anything.
Professor Lowell certainly didn't disappoint her.
Victoria lay sprawled on the sofa. Upon hearing the news, she merely lifted her eyelids. "That's wonderful."
"Mom, why do you seem so listless? Where did you go today?"
Victoria immediately sat up. "Cleaning up your brother's mess! That mother and son are simply... being seen with them is embarrassing!"
Amelia frowned. "Who told you to spoil them like that? People will take a mile if you give an inch."
"What else could I do? Your father and your brother won't handle it. I just hope they take the money and disappear, never to show up again!"
Victoria thought of encountering Sophia Sullivan's family today...
She stared at the crystal chandelier and murmured, "Knowing what I know now, maybe accepting Sophia Sullivan would have been better..."
At least there wouldn't be an insufferable mother and younger brother.
Amelia sighed. "Yeah..."
If they had accepted Sophia back then, her and Ethan Roscente's child would be old enough to run errands by now.
She also wouldn't be jumping out to compete for a graduate position.
What a pity...
Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.
There are no regrets in this world.
…
Olivia Lopez left the western restaurant after receiving the call.
She paid the bill on her way out.
She warned Sophia Sullivan, "This meal is my treat for your parents. Don't you dare try to pay."
Then she hurried off.
Half an hour later, her car stopped outside Blue Maple Entertainment.
A young man stood by the revolving door. Seeing her car, he immediately stepped forward, opened the passenger door, and got in.
"Baby, you're finally here."
The man was Dylan, a minor celebrity who got his start acting in short dramas.
He had fair skin, stood 6'1", and had excellent looks. His clingy, personality made him the perfect "puppy dog" type Olivia adored.
"You called so urgently. What's wrong?"
Dylan pursed his lips. "My manager set up a dinner. I'm scared... Can you come with me?"
His eyes were red-rimmed as he spoke.
His fair skin made the redness more pronounced. He looked at her cautiously. Olivia was completely disarmed.
"Okay, I'll go with you. Don't be afraid."
"Olivia, you're the best..." The puppy dog smiled through his tears.
Olivia's heart softened. She touched his chin. "Why are you such a crybaby?"
"I am not!"
…
The car stopped outside a private club.
Olivia frowned at the large characters reading "The Oasis Club."
She had never been here but had heard of it.
Extremely private. Bar and dance floor downstairs. Private dining and meeting rooms upstairs. Also offered accommodation services.
Those in the know, knew.
"Your manager arranged to meet here?"
"Yeah. Manager Wang said he's negotiating a supporting male lead role in a blockbuster IP series for me."
They went up to a private room on the second floor. Olivia noticed Dylan's manager wasn't there.
The table was filled with big investors.
There were also a few familiar faces—
Charlie Lowell nudged Julian Winston's shoulder. "Isn't that your official girlfriend? Who's the guy with her? Looks familiar..."
He soon remembered.
This was the male lead from two hit short dramas he had invested in.
Dylan... something?
Dylan put his arm around Olivia and led her to the table, pulling out a chair for her. "Sit, Olivia."
"Where's your manager?"
Dylan's eyes shifted evasively. "Manager Wang said he's stuck in traffic. Probably still on his way."
Olivia raised an eyebrow and looked directly across the table.
Julian Winston sat there with a face like thunder, as if someone owed him millions. His gaze towards her was icy enough to freeze hell.