Chapter 8: Leaving the Past behind
"No! I really need your help to move to your place!" she said with urgency in her voice. Noah nodded in understanding, quickly paid the bills, and led Sophie out through the side door.
After a little while, they arrived at Sophie's house. Just as Noah was about to walk in, Sophie turned to him and asked him to wait outside for a few minutes.
Five minutes went by, and when Noah finally stepped inside, he was surprised to see that all traces of Sophie's past relationship with Nathan had disappeared. There wasn't much for Sophie to clear out since Nathan seldom stayed over.
"Hey Noah, just hold on for a second. I need to pack a few things," Sophie said, sounding a bit rushed.
While he waited, Noah took a look around Sophie's home. In the living room, he noticed a big photograph of Sophie holding a trophy, smiling widely as she celebrated her success as the top model.
He thought to himself, "If she hadn't stepped back from the modeling world, she would have already become an international model by now."
Five minutes later, Sophie came out of her bedroom, holding a teddy bear in her arms. "This is all I have," she said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
"Are you sure you don't want anything else?" Noah asked, looking around as if there might be something she missed.
"No! Let's leave the memories behind," Sophie replied, shaking her head firmly, showing her determination.
Suddenly, Noah stepped closer and pulled her into an embrace, pressing his lips against hers. For a moment, Sophie felt a rush of confusion, but as she processed what was happening, she closed her eyes and kissed him back.
However, things took a turn when Noah's hands began to move under her skirt, causing them both to freeze in the moment.
"Let's save the rest for when we get home," he suggested gently, breaking the tension. "But tell me, has my kiss made your memories a little brighter?" he asked, his voice soft and sincere.
Sophie wrapped her arms around Noah, feeling the calmness of his breaths against her. In that moment, she realized that she was done letting anyone hurt her. From now on, she would hold onto what was truly hers tightly, determined to protect her heart and happiness.
Back in the Cherry Blossom Tree Forest, Nathan had been waiting for four long hours. He had planned to continue waiting, but then his phone rang. It was Amber.
"Nathan, where are you? I'm at your house, but I can't find you. My stomach hurts, and I'm really worried! Why haven't the photos been taken down yet? I feel like I'm going to be ruined!" Amber's voice was filled with desperation, and it seemed like there was no end to her worries.
Hearing her distress, Nathan quickly rushed home. When he arrived, he saw Amber standing outside his door, looking lost and pitiful. Without thinking, he ran up to her.
"I won't let you be ruined, and I won't let Global Pictures be harmed either," he reassured her, trying to provide some comfort amid her panic.
"Nathan, you're all I have. Please don't leave me or the baby," Amber pleaded, putting on an act of utter loneliness that tugged at his heartstrings.
Nathan gently patted her back, trying to soothe her. That night, he ordered his staff to release a statement claiming that there were other people present during the incident. The truth was that Amber had simply lost her balance due to her injured right leg and had accidentally fallen into Nathan's arms, landing on the bed. Contrary to what the photos suggested, they hadn't been kissing.
However, even in such a delicate situation, Nathan was still determined to divert blame onto Sophie. He hinted that someone was orchestrating these events and urged the public not to be misled.
Once Nathan's PR statement went live, he paid several influential social media accounts to help clean up Amber's reputation. Over the next three days, he employed every tactic he could think of to restore Amber's professional image. His ultimate goal was to continue to shift the blame onto Sophie.
He knew that gossip like this usually only lasted a few days before the public lost interest. Once something new hit the news, this little scandal would be buried beneath a tide of fresh stories and fade from everyone's minds.
It wouldn't be long before Amber could return to work. Their plan was to have her win a spot in the top 10 model awards, then announce that she would be going overseas to study. This way, she could discreetly give birth to their child.
The only reason Nathan was willing to accept the child was that Amber was his first love. She had stood by him patiently through the years, and he recognized her potential for a bright future. He wasn't about to let go of this opportunity, considering how much she could contribute to his life and career.
As Sophie's manager sat at her desk, she read over the press release from Global Pictures. She couldn't help but feel a bit amused by what she saw.
With a sense of curiosity, she decided to visit Sophie at her house. She let herself in using the spare key Sophie had given her, only to find the place empty.
Feeling unsure about where Sophie could be, she picked up her phone and dialed Sophie's number. After a couple of rings, Sophie answered.
"Sophie, why aren't you home?" the manager asked, concern evident in her voice.
Sophie, who was busy preparing a bath for Noah, laughed lightly. "Oh, I haven't told you yet! I moved to a new place."
"Where did you move to? Is it a safe area? Does Nathan know about this?" the manager inquired, her voice full of questions.
Just then, Noah walked into the bathroom. Before Sophie could respond, he spoke up, unaware she was on the phone, "You should have left that kind of work for the maids!"
Sophie just smiled, knowing she had a lot to explain to her manager.
Lisa's voice was filled with worry and urgency on the other end of the line. She couldn't help but question, "Sophie, who's there with you? Are you trying something drastic just to get to Nathan? I had a feeling something was up. In these chaotic times, who else would stand by a model who's stepped back? You're really testing my patience! Is someone helping you? Tell me where you are, and I'll come get you. You don't have to go to such extremes. Please, I need to see you right away, or I feel like I'll lose it!" Lisa's anxiety was palpable.
Caught off guard, Sophie felt unsure of how to respond. She glanced over at Noah, who was nearby, and covered the phone's mouthpiece with her hand. "My manager seems to think I'm up to something by moving houses," she explained to him, seeking his advice on how to handle the situation.
"My manager seems to have misunderstood my moving houses, so I need to step out for a bit to explain things to her," Sophie told Noah.
"Do you trust her?" Noah asked, his expression thoughtful.
Noah had actually looked into Lisa's background on his own. He found that she was passionate and professional, though a bit simple-minded at times. While she might not be the top manager in the industry, her loyalty to Sophie was unwavering, making her a valuable ally.
"Uh-huh," Sophie affirmed.
"Then let me go and pick her up right away," Noah suggested.
Sophie pondered his offer for a moment. She trusted Noah's judgment and realized she was no longer the same Sophie who would let others manipulate her. She was determined to handle things differently now.
She informed Lisa that someone would be sent to pick her up from her old place. Lisa sighed, sounding a bit disappointed, but Sophie simply smiled as she ended the call. Turning to Noah, she said, "I filled the bath. Are you going to use it now?"
Noah raised an eyebrow, buttoning his shirt as he spoke, "We have a guest coming, and the man of the house should be present. But more importantly, I want to bathe with you."
Sophie blushed, her cheeks turning rosy, but she nodded shyly,
Lisa was feeling really angry and upset. She couldn't understand why Sophie would give up so much for Nathan. It was especially hard for her to believe that Sophie would choose to be with another man, especially when there was clearly no real love in the entertainment world.
Most people in that industry were only looking for a good time. They would have one night of fun and then pretend they didn't know each other the next day. Lisa thought it was so foolish for Sophie to get involved in something like that.
As Lisa paced back and forth, her frustration grew. She muttered curses under her breath, feeling the heat of her anger. Finally, just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, Noah's assistant arrived at the house and spotted her.
"If you want to see Miss Sophie, follow me," he said, trying to sound important, almost like a mobster.
Lisa knew Noah, but she had no idea who his assistant was. Because of this, she wasn't very nice to him. In a moment of irritation, she lifted her leg and kicked at him, not caring about the consequences.
"If anything happens to my precious Sophie, I will make sure both you and your boss regret it," Lisa warned fiercely.
Ethan, trying to keep his carefully styled hair in place, winced as the unexpected kick threw him off balance. His face contorted in pain, but he quickly regained his composure. "Let's not discuss who will be paralyzed first. Just come with me," he replied, attempting to sound calm.
"Mmnnnh." That was all that escaped from Lisa's lips as she shot a fierce glare at Ethan while getting into the car with him.
During the whole ride, Lisa didn't hold back. She constantly tried to intimidate Ethan with various threats, letting him know just how serious she was. She even brought up Sophie's family background, hoping to rattle him further and show him that she wouldn't back down easily.
All that was missing was a knife at his throat to complete the tension in the air.
When the car finally pulled up to the estate, Lisa fell silent, her shock evident. The Tribeca—this place was a true landmark in New York City. It was an exclusive area with only a handful of luxurious homes, each belonging to wealthy and influential families.
"He—He... just who the hell is your boss?" Lisa stammered, feeling her knees wobble beneath her.
"You'll find out as soon as you step inside," Ethan replied, his tone laced with annoyance. He clearly had a bit of a temper.
Lisa's heart raced, nearly leaping out of her chest as her earlier bravado faded away. The thought of whoever awaited her inside sent a shiver down her spine. She realized that this person was definitely someone she wouldn't dare to cross.
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hasnathh [A. N: Thanks for reading, drop Powerstones that will help a lot and drop reviews if you like the story and add to your library]
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