Chapter 73 Call Your Husband to Come Bail You Out

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Call Your Husband to Come Bail You Out

Sophie Winslow hadn’t even gotten a clear look at the person before she was grabbed by the arm and yanked out of the fray. By the time she recovered her wits and looked over in shock, she could already hear the sickening thud of fists hitting flesh.

Lucas Langley had appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed the man who had been blocking her path and began beating him mercilessly as screams echoed through the air.

Inside the hall, the guests attending the one-month-old baby’s celebration banquet flocked over. Caught in the eye of the storm, Sophie felt a barrage of strange stares fixed upon her. It gave her a headache.

She had no choice but to reach out and pull Lucas away. "Mr. Langley! What are you doing?"

She genuinely couldn’t understand what was going through his head. They weren’t even close. The few times they had met could hardly be described as pleasant. So what did it mean for him to step in and help her now?

Lucas seemed convinced that the man had just been trying to take advantage of her. Refusing to let go of his target, he instinctively swatted Sophie away. Although she was tall, her frame was slender, and she staggered a few steps before barely steadying herself.

"Mr. Langley, you..." she started, intending to say more. At the very least, she wanted to tell him not to ruin Jean Hayes’s big day.

But as she lifted her head, her gaze abruptly collided with Julian Sterling, who stood just outside the crowd. He didn’t look like the rest of the onlookers eager for a show. Standing there as if in a world of his own, he looked down with an imposing, unyielding gaze, yet his expression remained completely indifferent. There was no telling when he had arrived or if he had witnessed his own wife being harassed.

Yet, regardless of the answer, nothing could change his stranger-like apathy. He didn’t intervene. He didn’t help. He didn’t protect her. Even though she no longer cared about him and had grown utterly sick of this marriage, Sophie still came to a painful conclusion.

If it had been Stella Sutton in her shoes, he would never have stood by and watched. He would have felt heartbroken and pursued the matter to the bitter end.

Sophie suddenly let out a self-deprecating smirk. All of a sudden, she lost the urge to pull Lucas away.

The scene descended into utter chaos. Someone eventually called the police. Exhausted, Sophie had no choice but to accompany the two brawling men to the police station. Just before stepping into the patrol car, she happened to glance back.

She caught sight of Julian turning around, his arm linked with Stella’s as they headed inside the hall. The woman was looking up at him, chatting happily. He dipped his head slightly, the corners of his lips curving upward in a faint smile as he listened attentively.

The night wind was too strong. It tangled her hair and clouded her vision. Brushing the stray strands away bit by bit, Sophie realized she had long grown accustomed to Julian’s coldness and detachment. She had even reached a point where it no longer stung. Without hesitation, she got into the car.

At the police station, Lucas didn’t seem the least bit panicked. He sat there steadily, turning his head to look at Sophie. "Can you really stomach just anyone?"

Sophie knew he misunderstood and thought something was going on between her and the man who had been pestering her. She met his gaze with a mild look. "My private life is none of your business, Mr. Langley. Are you looking for a ’thank you’ from me, or for me to call you a busybody?"

Lucas was instantly rendered speechless by her words. He was truly baffled by women like Sophie—unforgiving and incredibly sharp-tongued. "Do you have any sense of gratitude at all?"

Sophie looked down to check the time. "Without you, I could have handled it just fine on my own, and I wouldn’t have ended up getting hauled into the station with you."

Lucas let out a breathless, exasperated laugh. So it was his fault now?

Sophie thought Lucas was exceedingly bizarre. Every time they met, his behavior was completely baffling. He clearly looked down on her, so what was the point of putting on this act? She genuinely believed that if it hadn’t been for him, she wouldn’t have had to come down to the station for questioning today.

She really couldn’t figure him out. The last few times they’d crossed paths, he had repeatedly thrown passive-aggressive jabs at her, even though she didn’t think she had ever offended him. Now, he seemed to be standing up for her, but she still didn’t see this as making them even. True payback meant returning the favor tenfold, not settling the score just because someone handed you a piece of candy after slapping you in the face.

Lucas ultimately had a powerful background. The other party had originally wanted to press charges, but after negotiating with Lucas’s side, they sheepishly opted for a settlement.

However...

"You’re adults. Brawling in public is an ugly look. Be more mindful in the future. Miss Winslow, call a family member over to sign for you, and you’ll be good to go." The duty officer walked over and had Sophie sign the paperwork first.

Sophie nodded. "Alright."

Just then, having finished his own procedures, Lucas walked over. He crossed his arms and sneered, "Yeah, perfect timing. Call that shady, mysterious husband of yours over. Let’s see if he minds you fooling around."

He honestly thought today was a prime opportunity to feel out the truth about Sophie’s elusive husband.

Sophie shot him a frosty glare but ignored him completely.

Ivy Hawthorne had gone out of town to scout locations for the past two days, so she could only call Peter Preston. She absolutely didn’t dare disturb Mr. Caldwell. The old man was eighty-eight years old; if he got worked up over her late at night, she would definitely catch a scolding when she returned. Her only hope was Peter.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable..."

Hearing the automated voice, Sophie went completely numb. Not being able to reach him at a critical moment—was the universe just messing with her?

She pinched her fingers together, ultimately deciding against calling Julian Sterling. Setting aside the fact that she had blacklisted him a few days ago, even if she did call, someone with his temperament wouldn’t necessarily come down to sign her out. Why go out of her way to make herself miserable?

Hardening her resolve, Sophie tucked her phone away. "Staying the night here is fine. Mr. Langley, you can leave if you’re done."

Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Lucas scowled deeply. "Is it because you got hauled into the station over a man fighting for you that you don’t want your husband to come?"

Sophie couldn’t be bothered to explain. He could think whatever he wanted.

Lucas grew even more exasperated. He truly felt that this woman had shattered his worldview. She didn’t dare let her husband find out about her private affairs, yet she was out here acting like a fickle, promiscuous tramp?

"You..."

"Mr. Langley?" a woman’s voice called out from behind.

Sophie’s brow twitched as she looked over. At the entrance, two figures stepped through the door.

Stella Sutton stared at Lucas in surprise. "You haven’t left yet?"

Lucas glanced at the steady and composed Julian Sterling beside her. "What brings Mr. Sterling here?"

Sophie pressed her lips together. She never expected Julian to come... to bail her out?

Julian’s narrow eyes nonchalantly swept over Sophie’s figure before he finally spoke. "I’m here to handle something."

Lucas looked even more puzzled. This matter had absolutely nothing to do with Julian. "Mr. Sterling is here to clean up the mess? That doesn’t seem appropriate, does it?"

Stella let out a soft chuckle as she took over the conversation to explain. "You don’t know the whole story, Mr. Langley. Since Jean has to host the baby’s banquet, she couldn’t make it herself. So she personally asked Julian to make the trip, and he couldn’t very well decline."