The phone rang abruptly during Sophia's dinner with colleagues.

The caller ID showed Ethan Sullivan.

"Sophia, get to La Belle Époque now! Ethan's drunk, and that vixen Isabella is all over him!"

Sophia's fingers trembled, dropping her chopsticks.

She grabbed her coat and rushed out, forgetting her purse.

"What's wrong?" Dr. Julian Evans followed with her bag.

"Emergency." Her voice tightened.

Without hesitation, Julian pulled out his car keys. "I'll drive."

Twenty minutes later, tires screeched outside La Belle Époque.

Sophia dashed into the elevator, her heart pounding violently.

When she pushed open the door to Le Jardin Secret, she froze.

Isabella was spoon-feeding soup to Ethan with a sugary smile. The man sat impeccably dressed, tie slightly loosened—not a trace of drunkenness.

"My mistake." Sophia turned to leave.

Oliver Granger lunged forward to stop her. "Don't go!"

Ethan's gaze locked onto Oliver's grip on Sophia's wrist, his eyes turning glacial.

He took a disinfectant wipe and meticulously cleaned where Oliver had touched her.

Sophia suddenly laughed.

He found others dirty? What about himself?

Isabella was practically glued to him, yet he didn't seem to mind.

"Isabella, leave." Ethan's voice cut through the tension.

Isabella pouted. "Ethan..."

A teacup shattered as she stood.

"Ouch!" She clutched her bleeding finger, eyes welling up. "Ethan, it hurts..."

Ethan rose. "I'll take you to the hospital."

He glanced at Sophia. "Oliver will drive you home."

Sophia quietly signed the check and packed her things with precise movements.

Waiting for the elevator, Oliver hesitated. "You're too reserved. Men prefer women who..."

"Like Isabella?" Sophia smirked.

"That woman's ruthless! If I hadn't been there, she'd have been on Ethan's lap!"

Downstairs, Ethan leaned against his car smoking.

Seeing Sophia, he stubbed out the cigarette. "Don't overthink. I'll be back soon."

Sophia turned away. "Go ahead."

Watching the taillights disappear, her eyes finally reddened.

"Who was...?" Julian asked carefully.

"My cousin." The lie slipped out.

During the ride back, Julian kept stealing glances at Sophia's profile.

Streetlights cast delicate shadows on her lashes, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Actually..." he murmured, "I prefer women like you."

Sophia blinked.

So not all men favored Isabella's type.

At her apartment complex, Julian insisted on walking her up.

Under moonlight, they discussed antique restoration, the atmosphere uncharacteristically light.

Until a tall figure emerged from the shadows.

"Cousin?" Julian extended a hand with a smile.

Ethan's gaze turned arctic as he yanked Sophia to his side.

"I'm her cousin?"