Chương 13: Chapter 13: The Masked Hero
But before they could flood him with more questions, Marcus turned back to his car, cursing. He shut the door with a slam and sped away, his face tense and brooding.
Inside the Rolls Royce, Sophia turned to her rescuer, her voice soft and tentative. "Thank you… Mr. Evans," she said, unsure of how to address him.
"Alexander," he corrected her coolly, his gaze fixed ahead. "Just Alexander."
She nodded, her cheeks warming under the intensity of his presence. She'd known he was a powerful man, but sitting here beside him, she could feel the weight of that power in the air. There was an edge to his silence, a sense of control that made her feel both safe and unsettled.
Then, his voice cut through the quiet, startling her. "Who am I to you, Sophia?"
She blinked, caught off guard. "Um… my husband," she replied, the words awkward on her lips.
"Then why didn't you call me when you needed help?" His tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of reprimand that made her shrink slightly.
"I didn't want to trouble you," she mumbled, looking down.
He scoffed, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'm your husband, if you're in trouble, I should be your first call." He leaned back, his gaze softening just a bit. "Don't let them make you suffer alone. If you're ever in a situation like that again, I expect you to call me."
Sophia felt a strange mixture of relief and warmth at his words. She nodded obediently, feeling a bit like a schoolgirl being scolded but strangely… reassured.
Alexander seemed to study her for a moment, then his tone turning cold. "You might not want revenge," he murmured, "but have you considered they might not leave you alone even if you do?"
The realization hit her like a slap. He was right. The Hawthornes weren't going to let her walk away quietly. Evelyn and Lauren's actions today proved that.
As if reading her thoughts, Alexander pulled out his phone, his expression turning cold once again. "I want every piece of news concerning Sophia dealt with," he said sharply into the phone. "And I want the people behind this mess held accountable." He ended the call with a curt nod, his jaw set.
Sophia could feel the tension radiating off him. Sitting this close, she was acutely aware of every line of his posture, the controlled fury simmering beneath his calm exterior. She found herself holding her breath, afraid that even the smallest movement would break his concentration.
As they drove into the Eldridge city, Sophia leaned back, feeling the weight of the day beginning to lift. Alexander might be cold, intimidating even, but in this moment, he was her shield—her unexpected savior in a world that seemed determined to break her. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to feel just a sliver of hope.
As the black Rolls Royce pulled up to Valmere's gated entrance, Sophia glanced at Alexander. His gaze was distant, as if calculating something far away, and his hand hovered briefly over her own before he pulled away, slipping back into his usual composed expression.
"You'll be safe here. And if anything happens, call me," he reminded her in his low, commanding tone.
"Thank you," she murmured, unsure whether to say more. Something was reassuring in his presence, a silent promise of protection. But as quickly as he'd arrived, he was gone, leaving her standing in the quiet dusk outside the building.
Not long after, Sophia's phone buzzed, and Amelia's name lit up on the screen. She let out a shaky breath and picked up.
"Amelia?"
"Sophia! I just saw the news! Are you okay?" Amelia's voice was tight with concern, and Sophia could hear the faint hum of TV noise in the background, confirming she'd seen it all.
Sophia forced a calm tone. "I'm fine, Amelia. It was… just a chaotic moment." But her voice wavered as memories of the swarming reporters filled her mind.
"A chaotic moment?" Amelia's tone was sharp. "Those vultures were attacking you. I can't believe they threw you out of the café like that! And who was the man who showed up? They're already calling him the 'Masked Hero' online."
Sophia's cheeks flushed. "It was… just a friend," she replied, though she knew her words held little weight against the flurry of questions Amelia was holding back.
"Just a friend? Sophia, this mystery guy just pulled off a Hollywood-style rescue in front of half the city's media. People are already shipping you two as a couple! Who is he?"
Sophia hesitated, unsure what to reveal. "Well… he's my new husband, the one I told you about." Her voice softened.
"What's? The masked hero is your husband?" He is so cool, Sophia. Amelia said, her voice filled with admiration. "You hit the jackpot this time Soph." She added giggling.
Sophia blushed and she could feel her cheeks become hotter. She changed the subject, "Amelia, it was humiliating. They made it feel like I was some kind of criminal. All those questions, and every single one felt like a jab."
"Forget them," Amelia said firmly. "You did nothing wrong, and everyone knows the Hawthornes are behind this."
Sophia went silent, and Amelia sighed. "Listen, I'll come visit you when I'm free. Let's talk over tea again, and we can sort through all this together, okay?"
Sophia managed a small smile. "Thanks, Amelia. That means a lot."
***
Meanwhile, across town, in an exclusive beauty parlor, Lauren and Evelyn lounged in plush armchairs, sipping sparkling water as a team of stylists pampered them. Evelyn was flipping through a magazine while a manicurist buffed her nails to a high shine. Lauren, getting a soothing face mask applied, frowned as she watched the TV screen hanging in the corner of the room.
"She got away again," Lauren muttered, eyes narrowing. "Every time she falls, someone's always there to pick her up."
Evelyn glanced up, irritation flashing in her eyes. "Who was that guy anyway? And how does she keep attracting this kind of attention? First, there was someone who paid for that surgery her mother needed, and now this." She scoffed, folding her arms. "It doesn't add up."
Lauren's lips twisted in a smirk. "If she thinks a mystery man can keep saving her, she's wrong. No one's invincible, not even little Miss Perfect."
Evelyn laughed softly, a chilling sound. "She's living on borrowed time. Next time, Sophia won't have anyone to pull her out of the fire. We'll make sure of it."
---
Back at Alexander's office, his assistant, Mark, was going over a digital file on a sleek tablet. Alexander's gaze was sharp, his expression unreadable as he watched Mark sift through the information he'd gathered on the Hawthorne siblings.
"Marcus and Lauren Hawthorne," Mark began, his voice smooth but tinged with satisfaction, "quite the scandal. Marcus has been spotted with multiple women, checking into hotels and spending nights with them—definitely not the behavior of a reputable businessman." He swiped to the next file. "And Lauren… well, she's no innocent either. She's been seen with various men, and not in any platonic context. The so-called 'sweetheart of the Hawthorne family' has quite the hidden life."
Alexander's lips twisted in a hint of a smile. "Did you manage to pull down all the slandering news about Sophia?"
Mark nodded. "Everything has been scrubbed clean. Not a trace left."
"Good." Alexander's gaze darkened. "Release what we have on Marcus and Lauren. Let the public see who they truly are."
Mark's eyes gleamed as he nodded. "Consider it done."
Within hours, the headlines took a drastic turn. The scandalous details of Marcus and Lauren's escapades flooded the media, eclipsing every piece of slander they'd thrown at Sophia. The photos, videos, and witness accounts painted an unflattering picture of the Hawthorne siblings, revealing lives mired in deceit and indiscretion.
***
As evening fell, social media was abuzz with comments:
"Wow, and to think they tried to ruin Sophia's name!"
"Sophia deserves better than that toxic family. Maybe she's better off without them."
"I wonder who was that guy who rescued her. Anyone know?"
"They look amazing together! He's like a knight in shining armor. #SophiaDeservesBetter"
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