Chapter 162 Setting Sophie Winslow Up with Other Men

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Setting Sophie Winslow Up with Other Men

Winnie Hayes never cared whether her words were appropriate. Especially after guessing that Stella Sutton wasn’t in a legitimate relationship, her disdain naturally grew.

The demure smile Stella Sutton had initially offered upon seeing Winnie Hayes stiffened. She didn’t understand why Winnie would have a problem with her. Even if she and Julian Sterling weren’t officially married yet, that was their own business. In terms of conduct and capability, she was irreproachable. She certainly hadn’t done anything to offend Winnie Hayes. She couldn’t comprehend the reason behind Winnie’s refusal to give her any face. Fortunately, there weren’t many people around.

Julian Sterling appeared much more composed. He shot an imperceptible glance at Sophie Winslow. Seeing that she showed no sign of interjecting, he casually replied, "My wife is busy."

Just like that, an eerie silence fell over the scene.

Sophie Winslow was almost angered to the point of laughter. Julian Sterling wasn’t denying that he had a wife, but he was also unwilling to admit that his Mrs. Sterling was standing right next to him.

Stella Sutton had initially felt shocked and displeased that Julian openly admitted to having a wife, but she quickly figured it out. It was simply because Winnie Hayes knew he was married, so he couldn’t blatantly deny it. He admitted to having a wife, but he didn’t admit that it was Sophie Winslow! Stella glanced at Sophie, her eyes filled with thinly veiled mockery.

At the end of the day, she thought, Sophie Winslow was far more pathetic! She was standing right there, yet she didn’t even have the qualifications to be acknowledged. She could only watch helplessly as Stella proved to be the woman Julian kept by his side.

Winnie Hayes couldn’t be bothered to pry into other people’s domestic affairs. She simply detested this kind of behavior; it wasn’t as if she would actually make things difficult for Julian Sterling over someone like Stella Sutton. She didn’t even spare Stella another glance. Instead, she looked back at Sophie Winslow. "Winslow, quite a few researchers from our industry have arrived today. If you’re not busy later, come over for a chat."

Surprised, Sophie Winslow replied, "Sure, no problem."

Stella Sutton frowned, utterly bewildered and stunned. She wondered if Winnie Hayes was trying to introduce connections to Sophie Winslow. With Winnie’s status, why would she bother playing matchmaker for a nobody like Sophie?

At this, Julian Sterling also shot a sidelong glance at Sophie Winslow, his gaze unfathomable.

Since Winnie Hayes had to oversee the event, she couldn’t chat with them for long. After giving her instructions to Sophie, she brushed past Stella Sutton and headed elsewhere.

"What did you use to win Chairman Hayes’s favor?" Stella Sutton asked with a frown.

Sophie Winslow tilted her head. "It doesn’t matter what I used. What matters is that Chairman Hayes has sharp eyes and clear ears. She wouldn’t support a junkyard with poor character who loves acting like a bandit and snatching other people’s leftovers."

A dead silence lasted for a few seconds. Stella Sutton’s face instantly darkened. Sophie Winslow was overtly insulting her. And she was also calling Julian Sterling...

Julian Sterling naturally caught the implication. His infinitely dark eyes fixed on Sophie’s face. He didn’t get angry; instead, the corners of his lips twitched in a faint, enigmatic half-smile.

Acting as if she hadn’t seen it, Sophie Winslow grabbed Ivy Hawthorne and prepared to leave. Although Ivy was being dragged away, she still looked back at them, craning her neck as if trying to stretch it a mile long to stare at Stella Sutton. She kindly offered a translation: "She called you garbage."

Even Finn Lockwood’s brow twitched. He knew Sophie Winslow had never been a good little girl, but to be so blatantly rude to Julian Sterling—he wondered if she truly no longer cared, or if she was playing hard to get again. After all, given Julian Sterling’s status, he had probably never been insulted like this in his entire life.

Just then, Evan York finished his business at the front and walked over. He didn’t know what had happened, but upon seeing Sophie Winslow, he couldn’t help but frown, a heavy look flashing across his handsome face. He naturally hadn’t forgotten about the incident with Adrian Hawthorne.

He stepped directly in her path. "My family has a sizable archery range over here. Many potential partners that Helios might find useful are over there. Want to go check it out?"

Sophie Winslow thought for a moment. The people who came today were all from the medical and healthcare sectors. It was a rare opportunity and a great platform. So, she agreed, "Sure."

Only then did Evan York look toward Julian Sterling and the others. "Let’s all head over together." He then turned to Stella Sutton. "Meeting more people will make the future development of your project go more smoothly."

Stella Sutton could tell that Evan York was genuinely looking out for her. Even though Winnie Hayes refused to give her resources, she had a good relationship with Evan, which naturally made her happy.

Sophie Winslow couldn’t be bothered with them. In the business world, everyone relied on their own abilities. Ivy Hawthorne, however, curled her lips. "No worries. When my brother gets here later, he’ll take the lead, and Helios will have no shortage of partners knocking on our door."

They arrived at their destination. The separated archery range was situated outdoors, making it much more enjoyable than an indoor facility. It covered a vast area, and indeed, quite a few people were already chatting while they played.

Sophie Winslow wasn’t surprised by such a scene in the investment circle. Collaborations and resource exchanges didn’t always require formal, rigorous negotiations; they could also be finalized in the midst of leisure and entertainment.

However, as she walked over, she spotted Lucas Langley from afar, clinking glasses and chatting animatedly with someone.

Lucas Langley looked sideways. Surprised to see Sophie Winslow, he walked straight toward her without hesitation. His eyes couldn’t help but roam up and down her figure, his gaze burning. "I sent you messages. Why didn’t you reply?"

He didn’t think there was anything inappropriate about bringing this up or asking about it. A man didn’t need to save face over such trivial matters. Lucas Langley was so blunt that Julian Sterling, who was walking up behind them, heard everything. He cast a leisurely, unhurried glance in their direction.

Finn Lockwood was even more bewildered. Sophie Winslow’s romantic suitors seemed to be far more persistent and high-quality than he had imagined. What exactly did they see in her?

Sophie Winslow recalled the relationship between Lucas Langley and the York family. This circle was a tight one; Lucas’s sister was married to Evan York’s cousin, essentially making them family.

"I didn’t want to," Sophie Winslow replied without sugarcoating it. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand social etiquette; she simply couldn’t be bothered to put on a polite front for Lucas Langley. If he asked about her project, she would gladly chat with him, considering he was the investor who had poured three hundred million into Helios. As for any other topic, she wasn’t interested.

Lucas Langley choked on his words. He realized that there hadn’t been a single instance where he wasn’t shut down by her. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he just loved gravitating toward her.

"Mr. Langley, it’s been a while," Stella Sutton greeted as she walked over.

Lucas Langley merely gave a nod in response.

Stella Sutton looked slightly surprised, noting that Lucas Langley still seemed intent on talking to Sophie Winslow. Was he really not angry with her after that? Stella frowned, wondering how exactly Sophie had hooked them. Adrian Hawthorne had proposed to her, and Lucas Langley was deeply interested...

Despite her displeasure and confusion, Stella Sutton still looked up at Julian Sterling beside her. Julian was on the phone, paying absolutely no attention to Sophie Winslow and Lucas Langley. It was as if he didn’t care, or perhaps he simply didn’t think there could be any spark between them.

When Evan York came over, he cast an unreadable glance at Lucas Langley. In truth, he had intentionally invited Lucas today. He knew Lucas was interested in Sophie Winslow, and since he couldn’t convince Adrian Hawthorne to draw a clear line with her... that didn’t mean he couldn’t play matchmaker for Sophie and other men. And today, he would figure out a way to make Adrian completely disgusted with Sophie Winslow.