Ruby’s expression softened into a gentle smile. “Perhaps I’m being too forward. I’m curious about the lucky lady who has captured your heart.”
Bianca glanced at Sophia and noticed her tightly gripping her dress hem in silence.
Could it be that Sophia was the one Michael cared about?
What was going on between them?
After dropping off Ruby and Bianca at their homes, Michael turned the car around and drove Sophia to her place.
Elaine had fallen asleep, and Sophia remained silent, lips pursed tightly as she stared out the window.
Ultimately, the car stopped in front of Sophia’s apartment building. Sophia lifted Elaine and opened the car door without saying a word, preparing to step out.
But Michael swiftly exited the car, his tall figure blocking her path.
Looking at Sophia, he asked earnestly, “Sophia, could you consider skipping the audition tomorrow?”
Sophia felt a wave of disbelief and met his gaze. “What are you suggesting?”
Michael locked eyes with her. “I know you’ve been through a lot since marrying Gabriel all those years ago. I take responsibility for what happened. Let me make it right. You don’t have to struggle in the entertainment industry. Come live with me. I have a vacant house in Edenfield with a reliable staff. I’ll take care of you and Elaine. Stay with me.”
Despite his caring manner, Sophia couldn’t help but feel disgusted.
“Michael Hayes, are you serious? Who do you think you are to me? Why should I rely on you?”
Michael motioned towards the peacefully sleeping Elaine nestled in Sophia’s arms. “You seemed uneasy when I mentioned someone special in my life. Could it be that there’s still some affection for me in your heart? And Elaine…”
He wanted to reveal that he might be Elaine’s biological father.
However, in Michael’s heart, uncertainties lingered, preventing him from confessing this undeniable truth.
Sophia smirked, “Michael Hayes, spare me your excuses!”
“Sophia…”
Michael tried to speak, but Sophia cut him off with a sneer, “Michael, why not just admit that you’re afraid to take me to Blosa?”
He opened his mouth, but silence held him back, keeping him from saying anything.
His silence reminded Sophia of the day she was kicked out of the Hayes house, leaving her deeply disappointed. She scoffed, “You’re still as cowardly as ever. You say you want to help, yet you only let me stay in Edenfield. Your fear of your controlling mother stops you from bringing me to Blosa. You’re still under her thumb. You can’t stand up to her! She despises me so much. Why would you risk angering her by secretly seeing a divorced woman with a child?”
“Michael, go back home. There are plenty of young women in Blosa who would be more suitable for you. I can live a happy life without your pity. The best thing you can do is leave me in peace!”
With those words, Sophia turned away and walked off, holding Elaine in her arms.
Her words cut deeply into Michael.
As he watched Sophia walk away, his hands tightened into fists, veins standing out on the back of his hands, and his eyes turned cold as ice.
Michael sat back in his car, shielding his red eyes with his hands.
He knew Sophia was right. He couldn’t risk bringing her to Blosa. The thought of his mother discovering his relationship with Sophia and their child frightened him. She might go to great lengths to remove Sophia from their lives.
Feeling frustrated, Michael pulled out his phone, intending to call someone. He ended up dialing Dave’s number.
Dave took a moment to answer, his voice icy and chilling.
“What’s going on?” Dave’s voice was cold enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.
“Dave, it seems the woman living with you isn’t Bianca Scott after all.”
Michael lit a cigarette and broached the topic with Dave.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw Bianca today, along with Ruby Garcia and Sophia, at the city park. I’ve mentioned before that Bianca isn’t an ordinary person. I didn’t even know Ruby was back in town, but there they were, Bianca and Ruby, looking quite close.”
“What did you just say?” Dave’s voice was icy.
Michael cleared his throat and blew out a smoke ring. “Don’t worry, I didn’t reveal anything. I just gave them a ride home. But I noticed Bianca doesn’t live in one of your properties. So, you two aren’t together?”
There was a moment of silence. Then, instead of answering, Dave asked abruptly, “What should I do to make a woman happy if she’s angry?”
Dave’s question caught Michael off guard, making him choke on his cigarette.
“Uh, Dave, don’t scare me. Are you really asking me for advice on how to please a woman? That’s not like you.”
“If you keep messing around, I will refuse to help with your international business and mess things up for you abroad.”
“Okay… I admit I messed up.”
Michael quickly admitted his mistake, feeling unsure about advising Dave. After all, if Michael knew how to calm a woman down, Sophia wouldn’t have been upset with him for so long.
In an ironic twist, the two business tycoons of Blosa and Edenfield were both dealing with relationship issues at the same time.
Michael sighed and suggested, “Dave, maybe you should talk to Brandon about this. He’s good at handling women. Maybe we could all have dinner together soon?”
“I’m busy at the moment. We’ll talk about it later.”
As Dave was about to hang up, Michael hastily interrupted, “Wait! You didn’t tell me who’s staying with you.”
But the line went dead, leaving only a dial tone.
The next day, Bianca arrived at the audition location bright and early. The place was buzzing with activity. It wasn’t even nine in the morning, yet the entrance was crowded with media and journalists who wanted to be the first to report the news.
Dave hadn’t reached out to Bianca at all the previous day. Despite feeling disappointed and upset, she knew she had to stay focused. She had prepared diligently for this audition and couldn’t afford any mistakes.
When the reporters saw Bianca, they swarmed around her for interviews.
Bianca answered several questions with a friendly smile just as Natalie’s car pulled up at the theater entrance.
The crowd surrounding Bianca immediately shifted their attention and rushed towards Natalie’s car.
Natalie looked different from her usual flamboyant style. She stepped out in a long, beige dress with subtle makeup, looking stunningly beautiful and elegant.
Seeing the reporters and media flock to Natalie, Bianca felt relieved and made her way into the theater.
As she walked, she dialed Sophia’s number. “Sophia, where are you right now?”
“I just got into the car. I’ll be there soon.”
“Great, I’ll wait for you.”