The driver squinted, frowning as he remarked, “It looks like it’s Henry’s car. Strange, though—this isn’t the direction home, so why is he taking this route?”
He paused as if realizing something and observed Scott Livinus’s expression through the rearview mirror.
Scott Livinus frowned. “Head to Liam’s restaurant.”
“Yes, sir.”
Scott Henry parked his car a short distance from the restaurant. He had heard of this place; apparently, Liam, the eldest son of the Martins family, owned it. Rumor had it that Liam chose not to take over the family business and instead opened this restaurant nearby. It didn’t even have a sign—its reputation was solely based on the quality of its food. Strangely enough, business was good, and Scott Livinus was a regular at this unnamed restaurant.
Through the glass window, Scott Henry saw Scott Livinus holding a young woman’s hand, a slight smile on his face.
The young woman blushed, immediately lowering her head.
For some reason, Scott Henry felt a sudden sense of relief.
So Scott Livinus was here on a date. That made sense; Scott Livinus had only just returned to the country, so it was unlikely that he would have become involved with Sophia.
Perhaps he had just lifted her since it was on the way.
With that thought, Scott Henry started his car and left.
Inside the restaurant, Scott Livinus’s faint smile lingered. “I didn’t bump into you, did I?”
“No…” The young woman replied shyly, “The floor was slippery. I just wasn’t paying attention.”
“Alright.”
As Scott Henry’s car disappeared down the road, Scott Livinus’s expression turned darker.
“Sir?” The young woman looked at him shyly, nervously asking, “Do you have WhatsApp? Maybe we could…”
“No.” Scott Livinus replied curtly, cutting her off.
The young woman looked stunned, unable to understand how the man who had been so polite moments before could suddenly become so distant.
Once she left, Liam chuckled, shaking his head.
“You’ve broken another girl’s heart! What’s your heart made of? Ice?”
Scott Livinus narrowed his dark eyes, took a sip of his drink, and replied in a raspy voice, “Ice? I thought everyone acted like this toward people or things they don’t care about.”
Liam laughed, shaking his head. “But you don’t treat Sophia this way.”
Scott Livinus paused, his hand still holding the drink for a moment.
“Don’t tell me you don’t feel anything for her. If you truly weren’t interested, why don’t you treat her as you did that girl just now—distant and indifferent? Why do you make exceptions for her every time?”
Scott Livinus took another sip, shaking his head.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Not what I think?” Liam grinned. “I think you know better than anyone. But Sophia, despite her good qualities, is still Henry’s wife. If you two ended up together, people would talk.”
Scott Livinus’s smile was cold. “Since when have I needed others’ approval to do what I want?”
Liam laughed even harder.
—
The cool breeze and slight buzz of summer night drinks made the evening seem perfect for a bit of alcohol.
“Sir, has Henry already left?” the driver asked.
Scott Livinus nodded, though he felt a vague irritation. He didn’t need to worry about Scott Henry; after all, he had never taken his nephew seriously.
But earlier, he had deduced why Henry was following him and subconsciously created a misunderstanding.
He hadn’t needed to do that!
Staring out the window, his gaze was deep and thoughtful.
When he got home and entered his bedroom, Scott Livinus sat down only to feel a sudden, sharp pain in his back.
As he moved slightly, the pain shot through his lower back like a tearing sensation.
Enduring the pain, he picked up his phone and dialed Felix.
“Yes, sir?”
“Felix!”
Hearing the restrained pain in his voice, Felix frowned. “What’s wrong? Is it your back pain again?”
“My lumbar spine.”
Felix was silent for a moment. Scott Livinus worked at an intense pace, almost from dawn until late at night, and he often traveled. Although he tried to fit in exercise and kept in excellent shape, the high stress and frequent late nights took their toll on his health.
His lumbar disc issues were one of the resulting ailments.
Scott Livinus’s lumbar problems were longstanding, though they rarely flared up because he exercised regularly. The last time it acted up was two years ago.
But since returning to the country and resuming his rigorous work schedule, he had been seen rubbing his lower back more frequently.
Felix asked worriedly, “Is it serious?”
“I can’t move. Find me a massage therapist immediately.”
“Got it!” Felix hung up and quickly searched for the contact details of the city’s most renowned massage therapists. At the end of his search, he suddenly thought of someone.
So, just as Sophia finished her shower, she received a call.
“Hello, Miss Sophia. Do you treat lumbar disc issues?”
Sophia smiled and nodded, “This kind of minor problem? Of course.”
“Bingo!” Felix laughed cheerfully. “Then please go out your door, take a right, and head into the second room. Mr. Scott is waiting for you there!”
