Sophie lifted her head and met Cedric's smiling eyes. She suppressed her irritation and responded with distant politeness. "Thank you.""You're welcome." With a flick of his wrist, Cedric pressed the remote, and the blinds retracted, bathing the room in soft, ambient light. "Better, right? Staring at the computer in low light can easily cause eye fatigue. But don’t worry. I have plenty of top-quality carrot juice that can help relieve discomfort in your eyes."The sudden brightness made her squint, aggravating her further. Cedric's meddling was becoming a daily challenge."Cedric, aren't you bored of all this?"'Renovations! Carrot juice! Doesn’t Cedric have any actual work to handle at X Corp. that he has time to be so idle?'"Actually, I'm quite bored, so I came over to see you. But now that I see you, I find these little visits refreshing." He smoothly turned what was meant to be a complaint, his expression earnest.Sophie’s hand, hanging by her side, clenched into a fist. It

Sophie's unease was evident as she absorbed Charlie's patronizing remarks. She wrestled with her frustration internally, suppressing the urge to walk out. She now understood why Linda had repeatedly warned her that Charlie was difficult to deal with. Talking to him was like shooting yourself in the foot.Upon seeing her seated quietly, Charlie's expression hinted at amusement. "It seems Ms. Luxford's business capabilities are somewhat better than the other managers who have dealt with me.""I'm honored to hear Mr. Nielson’s praise.""There’s no need for such formalities unless you want to risk breaking your heart, which would be an inconvenience to our janitorial staff."Sophie clenched her fists under the table, maintaining a polite smile despite her growing irritation. If she could endure Cedric’s antics, she could certainly handle Charlie."Would Ms. Luxford care for a cup of coffee? My treat." Before she could respond, Charlie signaled to the waiter. "Two cups of Blue Mountain

Sophie's brows could not help but furrow. 'What is he up to again?'Anyone could see she clearly looked unwelcoming, but Cedric seemed oblivious, and his sexy lips parted as he asked, "Would you like to have dinner together?""Sorry, I'm not hungry," Sophie replied without hesitation.Her straightforward rejection was exactly as he expected. He smiled faintly and strode toward the nearby couch.Sophie watched as he elegantly yet not domineeringly occupied one side of her couch, and her frown tightened. "Mr. Carlson, this is my office. You won't find food here.""I know, that's why I ordered takeout." Cedric grinned with an eyebrow raised, letting off a seductive curve through his eyes.'Takeout? Cedric Carlson ordered takeout?' Sophie was astonished for a split second.He was particularly picky about food, never touching anything too cold, fishy, or spicy, let alone food that took dozens of minutes to arrive after being cooked. He probably would not even spare it a glance."Sui

After the meal, the sky outside gradually darkened. Inside the dimly lit room, the lingering scent of Jalpurian cuisine mingled with the tense atmosphere, creating an ambiguous allure.The chefs respectfully cleared the tableware and departed, leaving the office quiet once more—so silent that Sophie and Cedric could hear each other's breathing.Sophie pursed her lips, feeling a hint of embarrassment from the lingering taste of salmon. She realized she had momentarily yielded to Cedric's influence, quickly suppressing the faint smile tugging at her lips, yet unable to calm her racing heart.'Sophie Luxford, have you never eaten Jalpurian food before? Why did you succumb to him so easily over just one meal?'Annoyed, she gritted her teeth. She knew her frustration wasn't solely about the meal—it stemmed from the realization that the once arrogantly domineering man she loved was now making an effort to understand her.Deep down, she acknowledged that without Cedric, she had been livi

The elevator doors opened, and Sophie still had her hand pressed tightly against her chest, her face flushed, but gnashing her teeth. 'I actually fled in front of Cedric!'"Mommy, you're back!" Before she could even knock on the door, it swung open from the inside, and a soft little figure rushed into her arms like a gust of wind.Accustomed to such surprises, Sophie quickly regained her composure, smiling as she reached out to pinch the chubby cheeks. However, Cherry dodged sideways.Cherry's big round eyes blinked mischievously, and she lowered her voice, "Mommy, Papa Austin is here."'Austin?' Hearing Austin's name, she instinctively looked into the room and saw him, dressed in a suit, walking toward them from the window with a smile."I went to the client's farm today and picked some fresh cherries. Since Cherry loves them, I brought them over." He gestured toward the exquisitely arranged basket on the coffee table, filled with enticing cherries.But their existence made Soph