Zachary stepped forward before Natalie could answer. "Sophia, have you picked
out your bridesmaid dress yet?"
Sophia shook her head. "I''m not choosing one. I won''t be Nat''s bridesmaid."
"Then, let''s head back. We shouldn''t interrupt Ms. Walker and Mr. Holden''s date."
Zachary smiled slightly. "Ms. ir just sent me a message saying that Mr. and
Mrs. Remington came to visit. She wants us to go back."
"Oh. Alright, then." Sophia let go of Natalie''s hand. "Nat, we''ll head back first."
"Okay. Be safe on the way."
"Got it."
"Bye."
"Bye."
After Sophia and Zachary left, Marcus finally stepped forward. He couldn''t stand
how Sophia always clung to Natalie. That was his wife, yet he had no choice but
to trail behind with Zachary the entire time.
Now that she was gone, Natalie belonged to him again. He suggested, "Nat, we
haven''t finished taking our wedding photos yet. Since we''re already here, why
don''t we continue with the outdoor shoot today?"
After thinking for a moment, Natalie nodded. "Sure."
They had only done the indoor shots after picking out their wedding attire, but
even those weren''t done.
When Sophia called, Natalie had put the shoot on hold to go see her.
"Don''t let other people''s issues ruin our good mood about getting married, okay?"
Marcus put an arm around Natalie''s shoulders and led her to pick out a few more
dresses.
"I''m not letting that happen." Natalie smiled. "But I am a little annoyed.
"Samuel lived abroad for so many years, yet he still thinks what happened to
Sophia was her fault. I really can''t wrap my head around it."
"Then, don''t." Marcus held her close as they walked into the store manager''s
office. "Like Elijah said, the thing on Samuel''s shoulders is nothing but a tumor."
Natalie burst intoughter. "Elijah really has a way with words."
She had seen him scold Selena before, and it left her speechless.
"If Elijah ever stops being a bodyguard, he should consider being a professional
trash-talker. With his build, no one could out-insult or out-fight him. Business
would be booming."
"If Elijah heard youplimenting him like this, he''d be over the moon."
"Really?"
Natalie and Marcus chatted andughed as they called over the store manager to
arrange for the rest of the wedding shoot.
After leaving NZ Bridal Boutique, Sophia and Zachary headed straight back to her
new ce.
A death had urred in the Sinir residence. After Ivan''s and Julia''s passing,
Sophia sold it at a low price.
She now lived in D''Jewel, a high-end apartmentplex in Dithoria State. There
were only two units per floor, and her neighbor across the hall was Zachary.
Samantha was caught off guard by Jonathan and Melissa''s unexpected visit. She
hadn''t prepared anything at all to wee them.
But since they were already here, Samantha couldn''t just turn them away. So, she
messaged Zachary to check with him and Sophia before going downstairs to
greet them.
When Sophia and Zachary got home, they saw Samantha sitting on the couch
with Jonathan and Melissa. They were chatting about something, smiling politely
at each other.
Seeing them return, Samantha quickly stood up. "Sophia, Zac,e here. Let me
introduce you."
"This is Jonathan, Sierra''s father, and this is Melissa, Sierra''s mother."
"Just call us by our names,"
Jonathan said with a wide grin as he
looked at Sophia. "So, this is Sophia?
You''re absolutely stunning. It''s a
shame I don''t have a son. If I''d, I''d
tell him to pursue you for sure."
"Mr. Remington, I''m Sophia''s boyfriend." Zachary stepped forward and extended
his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Remington. I''m Zachary Holt, the president of
Holt Group in Dithoria State."
Zachary was polite and well-mannered, but his presence was anything but mild.
He didn''t care why Jonathan had said what he did it didn''t matter. What mattered
was that he needed to make his im over Sophia clear.
He had been taking things slow, staying by her side. She knew how he felt, but
she just couldn''t bring herself to take that final step.
He knew he couldn''t keep waiting. If he did, she might never agree to be his
girlfriend.
Sophia froze. This was the second time Zachary had dered that she was his
girlfriend in front of other people.
Even Samantha was stunned. Not
long ago, she and Sophia had talked
about how she wasn''t good enough
for Zachary. After just one outing,
their rtionship was suddenly
made official. That was fast!
"Nice to meet you." Jonathan quickly stood up and shook Zachary''s hand. "You''re
handsome, refined, and bound for great sess. Outstanding!"
He started showering Zachary with praise. "You and Sophia truly make a perfect
couple. A match made in Heaven!"
"Thank you, Mr. Remington." Zachary smiled slightly, released Jonathan''s hand,
and then wrapped an arm around Sophia''s shoulders as they sat down.
"Sit."
"Oh." Sophia sat down obediently, looking at Zachary with countless unspoken
questions in her mind.
But it wasn''t appropriate to ask now.
"Sophia, Zac, I was nning to have
Mr. and Mrs. Remington stay for
dinner, but we''re low on groceries
Can you two go buy some?"
Samantha could tell that Sophia
wanted to talk to Zachary alone, so
she immediately created an
opportunity for them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Remington, please stay. I have some of Sierra''s childhood photos
here. I''ll go look for them.
"Sophia, Zac, go ahead."
"Alright." Zachary stood up and held his hand out to Sophia. She hesitated for a
moment but eventually ced her hand in his cautiously.
He gently but firmly held onto her fingers and pulled her up.
"Ms. ir, we''ll head out for groceries, then." Zachary nodded slightly at
Samantha before turning to Jonathan and Melissa. "Jonathan, Melissa, make
yourselvesfortable. We''ll be back soon."
"Alright."
"Go on, then."
Zachary led Sophia out the door. As soon as it closed behind them, she started
struggling to pull her hand away.
"Sophia, don''t move." He tightened his grip and interlocked their fingers as his
gaze locked onto hers. "Tell me honestly. Do you really not have any feelings for
me?"
Sophia''s heart pounded wildly. She didn''t dare meet his eyes or even say a word.
"Sophia, look at me." He knew that if he didn''t push her now, she would just keep
hiding in her shell forever.
"Why should I?" Sophia lowered her head, staring at their shoes instead.
"Zachary, you... I..."