Chapter 92 That’s Right, I Think You’re Dirty!

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: That’s Right, I Think You’re Dirty!

Evan York was also surprised by this turn of events. His gaze landed on Julian Sterling. After all, Julian was the one who had the final say.

Julian’s eyes met Sophie Winslow’s. Only then did he set down his teacup and speak at a leisurely pace. "We’ll think about it."

Hearing this, Sophie furrowed her brows in impatience. She wondered what he meant by that. Were they getting a divorce or not?

Madam Sterling tapped her walking stick heavily against the floor. "Don’t try to brush me off. You’re already thirty this year. You must have a child. Boy or girl, you need at least one, and I’ll only acknowledge a child you have with Sophie!"

"Alright." Julian didn’t try to change the old lady’s mind any further. He simply said, "We’ll do as you say."

Sophie looked at him in sheer astonishment. She had never expected Julian to agree. A heavy sense of suffocation pooled in her chest, and she opened her mouth to question him.

But Madam Sterling was already nodding in satisfaction. "Since that’s settled, you and Sophie can discuss the compensation. Either way, the Sterling Family won’t mistreat her."

She turned and patted the back of Sophie’s hand. "Even if you two divorce, as long as you are the mother of the Sterling Family’s child, we will never treat you unfairly. It will be a guarantee for your future. I know you’ll come to understand the benefits of this arrangement."

Not giving Sophie a chance to refuse, Madam Sterling waved her hand and added, "If you want to protect Stella Sutton, you’d best do exactly as I say."

She directed this last remark at Julian. Having made her point, she turned and left. She knew when to stop pushing.

The moment the door clicked shut, Sophie’s expression darkened. She glared at Julian, her eyes as cold as frost. "I told you, if we’re getting a divorce, we’re making a clean break of it. I’m not accepting any additional terms!"

She didn’t even want the man anymore. Why on earth would she leave a child with him?

Julian closed the divorce agreement, watching Sophie’s face flush with anger. She seemed exceptionally repulsed by the idea.

"Then why don’t you go persuade my grandmother?" he retorted, his placid tone sharp enough to sting.

Sophie choked on her words. If she had any say in the Sterling Family, would she still be worrying about losing custody of Lydia?

Evan sank into the sofa, tilting his head to look at Sophie. "Isn’t this exactly what you used to dream of? Having a child with Julian guarantees you a lifetime of wealth and luxury, even after a divorce. And you wouldn’t even have to raise the kid yourself. Sounds like a pretty good deal."

In their social circle, taking the child and discarding the mother was nothing new. After all, the decision-making power rested entirely in the hands of the wealthy families; the birth mothers had no right to say no.

Given how hopelessly love-struck Sophie used to be, Evan figured her current reluctance was just her playing hard to get. Deep down, she was probably thrilled.

"If it’s such a good deal, why don’t you give birth to one? Who gave you the right to make decisions for my body?" Sophie shot back, the corners of her eyes laced with mockery.

Evan was left speechless. Could Sophie not speak to him like a normal person for once?

"Lawyer Aldridge, give her the contract." Julian leaned back in his chair, completely ignoring the verbal sparring between the two.

Lawyer Aldridge hurriedly handed Sophie a new contract.

Sophie took one look at it, and her breath suddenly hitched. It was the transfer contract for the Winslow Family’s antique shop.

She looked at him in shock. "How did you get your hands on my family’s antique shop?"

Lawyer Aldridge stepped in to explain. "Mr. Sterling bought it out from the Sutton Family a few days ago. The resale process for the Sutton Family was quite complicated, with numerous antique procedures and certification documents. It was only finalized today. It’s valued at nearly eight hundred million."

A tidal wave of emotion surged in Sophie’s chest. She knew all too well how valuable the antique shop was. It was the very thing that had allowed that parasitic leech, Isaiah Sutton, to build his fortune off the Winslow Family’s back.

No wonder Isaiah hadn’t gone back to pester her grandfather into signing the transfer papers. It turned out he had gotten what he wanted from Julian; that was why he had stopped bothering her grandfather.

What she initially thought would be a battle of wits against the Sutton Family had now become a bargaining chip in Julian’s hands to force her to compromise.

Julian flicked his metal lighter twice but didn’t light a cigarette. His dark eyes studied her through the fleeting sparks. "Madam Sterling is a woman of her word. Only if you agree to this will she let the matter rest. Sophie, as long as you agree to her demands first, I will personally hand the antique shop you want back to you."

Sophie stared at the contract. Her hands, resting on her lap, clenched into fists before she let out a soft scoff. "All this just to protect Stella Sutton?"

Madam Sterling’s stance was absolute. If they insisted on divorcing or refused to leave a child behind, she would make Stella suffer, and the Sutton Family would be implicated as well. When all was said and done, Julian was still just trying to protect Stella from Madam Sterling’s wrath. This wasn’t some grand gesture aimed at Sophie; it was all for the sake of the other woman he loved.

Julian didn’t answer her, seemingly agreeing by default.

Sophie didn’t need his verbal confirmation anyway. She pressed her lips together and said, "Even if I want to take back the Winslow Family’s belongings, I won’t sacrifice the rest of my life to do it. I am absolutely getting this divorce."

She made her stance crystal clear.

Julian’s expression remained virtually unchanged. He looked at her face for several seconds. He didn’t miss the absolute resolve in her eyes.

He traced the edges of his lighter for a long moment before finally speaking slowly. "We’ll proceed with the divorce. All I ask is that you keep it a secret from everyone in the Sterling Family."

It was then that Sophie finally understood what he meant. He wasn’t trying to talk her out of the divorce; he wanted her to play along and pretend they hadn’t gotten one.

He didn’t seem to care what she was thinking and simply continued. "Furthermore, you cannot publicly marry anyone else for a year. If I need you to, you must cooperate and continue to act as a married couple with me. If you can do that, the antique shop is yours."

Sophie frowned. Not being allowed to marry wasn’t a difficult condition for her to meet. After all, her focus was entirely on raising her child and building her career. She had no interest in romance anyway. All things considered, Julian’s terms didn’t actually cause her any substantial loss.

The only catch was that she had to cooperate with him to protect his mistress, Stella.

After weighing the pros and cons in her mind for a long time, Sophie flipped through the contract for the antique shop. As long as she signed the unequal treaty he proposed, the antique shop would be transferred to her name within a year. She knew perfectly well that if she stubbornly refused, getting this divorce would become even more difficult.

Without even looking up, she pulled the divorce agreement toward her. Without a half-second of hesitation, she picked up the pen and signed her name.

At her swift action, Julian’s gaze fell on her.

Evan sat up a little straighter, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. He watched in disbelief. Had she actually signed it? Had she really signed the divorce agreement? Did she truly agree to... a divorce?

He had fully expected to watch a dramatic spectacle of her clinging and pleading.

After finishing her signature, Sophie capped the pen and looked at Julian. "When are we going to get the divorce certificate?"

Being able to finalize the divorce and get the Winslow Family’s antique shop back was a good enough deal for her.

Julian’s eyes dropped to Sophie’s elegant signature on the final page. After a moment, he replied, "Half a month. We’ll use the expedited channel."

Sophie understood. It meant that once the application was submitted, they wouldn’t have to wait out the entire one-month mandatory cooling-off period. They could get the divorce certificate early.

Sometimes, she had to admit it. Power and influence were indeed wonderful things.

"As for what Madam Sterling mentioned about leaving a child for the Sterling Family..." Julian picked up the pen Sophie had just used, twirling it between his fingers. His voice was indifferent.

"I can agree to everything else, but that is out of the question," Sophie cut him off.

Since they were already pretending not to be divorced, there was no way she would let herself become a surrogacy tool for the Sterling Family.

Julian stared at her quietly, maintaining the calm composure of someone negotiating a business deal. "You won’t accept?"

Meeting his unflappable gaze, Sophie enunciated every word clearly. "That’s right. I refuse."

He didn’t say a word. His pitch-black eyes, devoid of a single speck of light, were so profoundly dark that they were terrifying.

"Isn’t this a good thing for you?" Evan finally couldn’t help himself. He frowned and interjected.

Being the mother of a Sterling Family child would bring nothing but benefits to someone with Sophie’s ordinary background and capabilities. It would guarantee her smooth sailing for the rest of her life, ensuring she never had to worry about food or clothing again.

If she had to give a reason—

Sophie didn’t look at Evan. Instead, she raised her head to look right at Julian, who was sitting beside her.

Enunciating every word, she said, "Because I find it filthy."