Chapter 132 Master Lockwood Meets His Savior

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Master Lockwood Meets His Savior

It was a call from Madam Sterling.

Sophie Winslow figured that for the rich and powerful, finding out anything was a breeze. For instance, Madam Sterling already knew her new phone number.

She answered it.

Madam Sterling didn’t beat around the bush. "What time are you heading over today?" she asked directly.

"I’ll be leaving in a bit," Sophie replied.

"Julian is with you right now, isn’t he?"

Sophie hesitated for a moment, just about to say yes.

But Madam Sterling let out a cold scoff. "What is he busy with this time?

"You two must arrive together today. Otherwise, what will people think?"

Sophie had learned to be smart; she wouldn’t openly defy Madam Sterling. "Alright."

After ending the call, Sophie hesitated again and again before finally dialing Julian’s number. Even though she knew he hadn’t saved her new number, she still had to go through the motions.

Unsurprisingly, Julian didn’t answer. He had even left early this morning without having breakfast with her. She didn’t know if he was genuinely busy or just outright ignoring her. Unable to get through to him, Sophie had no choice but to head over by herself.

Master Lockwood’s birthday banquet was a grand affair. The Lockwood family had extravagantly booked an entire hotel—including the banquet hall, guest rooms, and entertainment areas—to accommodate guests traveling from afar.

Sophie drove herself, taking the highway for part of the trip. It took her nearly an hour and a half to reach the destination. Luxury cars lined the venue. Waiters bustled in and out of the hotel without a moment’s rest. Unfamiliar with the place, Sophie wanted to look around and see if Julian had arrived.

Meanwhile.

Guests were arriving one after another, and the atmosphere was incredibly lively.

Inside the lounge.

Gripping his cane, Master Lockwood cast a cold look at Finn Lockwood. "Didn’t you say you know the young lady who saved my life? Invite her over. I haven’t officially met her yet."

Finn chuckled. "Grandpa, you’re still thinking about that?"

Master Lockwood swung his cane and smacked Finn on the leg. "What kind of attitude is that? Can a person just be ungrateful? Stop fooling around! The Lockwood family owes her a massive favor, one that won’t be easily repaid."

If it hadn’t been for that young lady back then, he wouldn’t have had the chance to host so many people for his grand birthday banquet. He would have long been a portrait on the wall, staring blankly at the younger generation of the family.

Finn quickly dodged and nodded. "I invited her, I invited her! She’ll be here in a bit. Once you meet her in person, you’ll definitely like her even more. I’ll go receive her right now, okay?"

Only then was Master Lockwood satisfied. He had been keeping this matter in mind for a long time. Finn had previously mentioned thanking her properly on his behalf, but today was finally a chance to formally invite her.

Finn didn’t dare delay. His grandfather had quite the temper, and every task he assigned needed an immediate response. The moment he stepped out the door, he made a phone call.

Meanwhile.

Along the way, Sophie encountered many guests chatting with one another. Quite a few had flown in from various provinces and cities. The hotel grounds were vast, so it took her quite a walk before she finally reached the main banquet hall.

She was just about to call Julian again when she heard someone hurrying past say, "Mr. Sterling from Sterling Corp is here. Let’s go see if we can show our faces."

Sophie frowned. Although she had guessed it was highly likely Julian had shown up on his own without caring about her, having it confirmed still made her feel a lump in her chest. After all, if he hadn’t wanted to arrive together, he could have just said so beforehand instead of leaving her hanging.

Following the crowd’s gaze, she prepared to go look for him. But the moment she took a step, she froze in place.

Because...

Sophie’s eyes locked onto the scene ahead. Julian was already surrounded by a crowd in the corridor, and standing right beside him was Stella Sutton.

The two of them were exchanging pleasantries with the crowd, looking for all the world like a pair of newlyweds. Stella was also dressed in an ink-blue gown. With a charming and sweet smile on her face, she hooked her arm through the man’s, painting the perfect picture of a universally admired couple.

It was such a formal occasion. He had demanded she come, yet he had never reserved a place for her. He brazenly forced her to act as an outsider, standing by to witness just how deeply in love they were.

Sophie felt as if she had swallowed a piece of raw iron. Her throat bobbed a few times before she forcefully swallowed down that subtle yet undeniable sense of humiliation.

She wondered why, if Julian had already decided to bring Stella, he had insisted she come too. Who was exactly the third wheel here? No wonder he didn’t answer his phone. From the very beginning, he had already decided his plus-one would be Stella, which was why he had ignored her completely.

In her daze, Sophie noticed Stella’s gaze locking onto her.

A flash of mockery crossed the other woman’s eyes. Stella looked her up and down with utter contempt, then leaned in close to Julian’s ear to whisper intimately. She exuded the confidence and poise of a legal wife.

Sophie looked down at herself. Wearing a blue dress similar to Stella’s, she now looked like nothing but a clown.

She didn’t go over. She knew better. She hadn’t caused a scene even before the divorce was on the table; what was the point of confronting him now? To ask Julian why he brought his mistress to show her face? If anything, it now looked as if she were the one without a proper title or status.

Sophie curled her lips into a bitter smile and turned to walk further inside.

She really had been naive. She actually thought Julian didn’t mind making her identity public at all—that after seven years, on the brink of divorce, he had finally remembered to give her proper recognition. It turned out he never intended to let her stand by his side. Instead, he had chosen to bring Stella along.

"Where is Finn Lockwood?" Stella didn’t mention seeing Sophie. She looked up at Julian, her smile soft and charming. "He called me several times, but now that we’re here, he’s nowhere to be seen."

Julian swept the area with his peripheral vision. "Let’s head inside first."

Stella nodded, in exceedingly high spirits. The Lockwood family was highly prestigious, and she had long wanted to pay a visit. Especially since Finn had said she was his grandfather’s lifesaver, the Lockwood family would undoubtedly treat her as an honored guest.

Entering the main hall, they found the crowd even larger.

Stella adjusted her hair and said to Julian, "I’d like to go greet Master Lockwood first. Julian, could you take me there?"

An introduction from Julian would make Master Lockwood think even more highly of her.

Julian’s eyes darkened for a moment, but he didn’t refuse.

Master Lockwood had a private lounge. When Julian and Stella knocked and entered, the elderly man’s smile broadened upon seeing Julian. "Julian, you’re here. Your grandmother mentioned you would bring your wife today?"

The old man looked at Stella with a hearty smile.

Stella’s expression froze imperceptibly. But she immediately smiled and spoke up, "Hello, Mr. Lockwood."

She neither denied it nor directly addressed it. It was as if she were tacitly confirming the identity.

Seeing the two arrive together, Master Lockwood naturally assumed Stella was the mysterious Mrs. Sterling. His attitude toward the younger generation was amiable. "This is our first time meeting, though Madam Sterling has certainly praised her granddaughter-in-law a lot."

Stella felt a pang of dissatisfaction but didn’t show it. Smiling, she said, "Mr. Lockwood, this isn’t our first time meeting. Have you forgotten? Previously at the holiday resort, I performed emergency treatment on you."

Master Lockwood’s expression faded. Staring at Stella, he suddenly narrowed his eyes. "What did you say?"