Chapter 7 Chapter 7 His Choice

"Hmm?"

"To meet my friends," Ethan said casually, but each word was clear and deliberate.

Sophia suddenly sat up and leaned against his chest, her bright eyes locking onto his, searching for any sign of sincerity.

Sincere-his eyes were incredibly sincere.

He actually wanted to take her to meet his friends?

Her arms wrapped around his firm waist as Ethan set the book aside. "You do realize this is dangerously close to flirting, right?"

"Huh?" She pouted in confusion, then gave a knowing little smile. "Maybe."

"Should we stay here or go back to the bedroom?" he mused aloud, then scooped her up effortlessly. "Better head back-can't exactly do much in here."

"You're the worst!" she giggled, playfully hitting his chest with a mock scolding.

The Saturday came quickly. It was the first time in six months that he had voluntarily brought her into his social circle. She spent the entire afternoon getting ready-choosing the perfect dress, applying flawless makeup.

"You look so good, how's anyone supposed to concentrate at work?" he teased, leaning against the doorframe.

"Is that 'anyone'. you?" she asked playfully.

He smiled but said nothing, walking over and wrapping his arms around her waist. For the first time, she felt like they were finally acting like a real married couple. Maybe the past misunderstandings had just been that-misunderstandings.

The gathering was held at one of the city's most exclusive private lounges. When they entered the private room, conversation paused briefly as several men turned to look at Sophia.

Ethan introduced her with a hand around her waist. "My wife, Sophia."

A man grinned. "So this is the wife you've been hiding for half a year? Didn't expect you to go for the sweet, stay-at-home type."

Sophia's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Ethan pulled her closer with a protective smile. "Don't be fooled-she's got a wild side."

The group burst into laughter. Sophia gave him a mock glare, but inside, she melted a little at his open affection.

She observed the group as they chatted-these people operated on a level far beyond her daily life. She felt like a tourist in a foreign land, smiling politely while struggling to keep up.

Then she saw her.

In a shadowed corner sat a woman in a sleek black dress, her makeup flawless, her posture queenly. She wasn't part of the banter. Her eyes, however, never left Ethan.

Sophia recognized her instantly-it was the woman from the photo.

Chloe Patterson stood and approached, her heels clicking sharply on the floor like nails on Sophia's nerves. She stopped in front of her and extended a hand, smiling with perfect poise. "Hi. I'm Chloe."

Sophia noticed a faint pink scar on her wrist beneath a dainty bracelet-exactly where the bandage had been in the photo.

"I'm Sophia." She shook her hand, noting how cold Chloe's fingers were.

"You're very pretty," Chloe said, eyes scanning her like a scanner.

"So are you," Sophia replied, trying to read her-but all she saw was a bottomless calm.

"Well, look at that-everyone's here?" A cocky voice drifted in from outside before the man himself appeared.

Sophia blinked. He looked familiar. Where had she seen him before?

"Hey, why does this girl look so familiar?"

Their eyes locked for a few seconds before it hit them both at the same time.

"It's you!" Sophia blurted out.

"You're the girl who was supposed to confess to someone that night!" James exclaimed. Then, seeing the situation unfold around him, he stammered, "Wait, wait-you're the wife Ethan said he was bringing?"

"You guys are friends?" Sophia asked, still confused.

She turned to Ethan, who gave her a small nod to confirm. So-he had watched her get toyed with by his friend that night. and said nothing?

Ethan stood and came over, gently pulling her into his arms. As if reading her mind, he leaned down and whispered into her ear, "I'll make him apologize."

Still in a daze, Sophia let him lead her back to the group, unsure how to face James now.

But James didn't hesitate. He followed behind them, patting his chest dramatically. "Oh come on, I was just joking that night. Don't take it to heart. If I'd known you were Ethan's woman, no way I'd have messed with you."

Sophia had been holding in a wave of frustration, but seeing this goofy, apologetic version of James made her anger evaporate. Though. her annoyance with Ethan still lingered.

"Exactly. So all of this is Ethan's fault," she said, shooting him a sharp glare.

James nodded eagerly. "Totally agree. If he'd stopped me back then, we wouldn't be in this awkward mess now, right?"

Sophia couldn't help but laugh. James's antics were ridiculous, and somehow she ended up drinking a few extra rounds because of him. Ethan didn't seem to mind. With a glass of red wine in hand, he sat back and watched them with a faint smile in his eyes.

"Your wife's really something," Chloe said as she sat down beside him, her gaze fixed on Sophia.

Ethan smiled, clearly proud. "She's more than something. She's full of good surprises."

Chloe glanced at the wine on the table, grabbed a glass, and-without a word-downed it.

Ethan's brows furrowed instantly. He reached out and snatched the glass from her hand.

"What are you doing?" Chloe's eyes were dazed, unfocused.

Of course Ethan remembered-she couldn't hold her liquor. One sip, and she was done.

"You still care about me, don't you?" Chloe slurred, her tone suddenly open, no longer hiding behind pretense.

Ethan set the glass down, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

"Do you have any idea what it's been like?" Chloe's voice cracked. "You won't see me, you ignore my messages-you won't even talk to me. Since you came back, I've felt worse than I did after we broke up!"

"You're drunk," Ethan said flatly, pushing her off as she slumped against him.

No one else dared intervene. Chloe was known for being unpredictable, and everyone knew her history with Ethan was. complicated.

Ethan motioned for James to help calm her down.

But Chloe suddenly shouted, "Stay out of this! All of you!"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Are you done yet?"

Chloe seemed to collapse, her energy spent. She slumped into his arms, her breath reeking of alcohol.

"Take me home," she murmured, nearly unconscious.

He froze. Glanced at Sophia, who was slumped on the table, seemingly passed out. Then back at Chloe, sobbing in his arms.

Everyone in the room was watching.

One was his "drunk" wife. The other, his weeping ex.

Who would he choose?