Chapter 257

Ethan Smith and Hugo Wilde's expressions darkened instantly after hearing the full story.

"Do you know what's going on?" Ethan tapped his slender fingers against the desk, his sharp gaze fixed on Hugo.

Hugo let out a bitter chuckle. "Tiffany Quinn has been pestering me to get back together. She even insisted I ask Lucy White to treat her cousin."

He paused. "After I refused, her cousin died. She probably blamed Lucy for it."

"As for Sophia Taylor..." Hugo's eyes flickered. "We had dinner twice. Tiffany must have misunderstood."

Lucy mused, "Given Tiffany's personality, she wouldn’t come up with such a revenge plot on her own. Someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Hugo nodded. "I’ll get to the bottom of it." He gave them both a solemn promise. "You’ll have your answers."

Sophia's phone suddenly rang, and she stepped aside to take the call.

Lucy lowered her voice. "As the chairman of a conglomerate, why are you personally handling endorsement deals for a subsidiary?"

Hugo's ears turned faintly pink. "I find Sophia... unique."

That day at the nursing home, watching her patiently play chess with the elderly, his heart had skipped a beat.

"I want to know her better," Hugo admitted. "If things feel right, I’ll pursue her properly."

Lucy arched a brow. "And if she rejects you?"

"Then it wasn’t meant to be." Hugo smiled easily. "I won’t force it."

Only then did Lucy look satisfied.

After leaving the police station, Hugo offered to drive Sophia home. Glancing at Lucy and Ethan standing side by side, Sophia tactfully accepted his offer.

"Do you think they’re compatible?" Lucy couldn’t help asking once they were in the car.

Ethan chuckled. "Hugo’s never been this invested in anyone before." He turned the steering wheel. "The Wilde family is open-minded. As long as her character is good, they won’t care about her background."

Lucy finally relaxed.

"I’ll take you tomorrow," Ethan said suddenly.

Lucy smiled and nodded. "Remember to watch the livestream. We might just win the championship."

Warmth flickered in Ethan’s eyes. "I’ll be waiting."

The next day at the airport, Ethan adjusted Lucy’s scarf. "Be careful."

"Got it." She waved at him before heading through security.

Meanwhile, Asher York was already waiting at the foreign airport. After picking up Lucy, they went straight to the hotel.

Two days later, at the competition venue.

The international event utilized cutting-edge holographic tech, broadcast live worldwide. Led by the production crew, the five contestants boarded a helicopter headed for the arena.

Amid the roar of the rotors, Lucy gazed out the window at the shrinking cityscape below, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably.