Chapter 4
Once they walked out of the mall and got in the car, Sophia finally let out a deep breath.
The confrontation just now had left her completely exhausted.
James started the engine and gave her a sidelong glance as he drove.
"You okay?" he asked.
Sophia leaned back in her seat, nodding, then shaking her head.
"It's not really good or bad. Honestly... I'm just tired," she admitted.
The three years she spent with Andrew had been suffocating.
She'd been like a bird trapped in a cage—even if the cage was made of gold, she still yearned for the sky outside.
Now, she was finally free.
But after so long, she still couldn't shake off the old habits—there was a lingering sense of discomfort she couldn't quite explain.
James pulled over, unbuckled his seatbelt, and reached over to pull her into a gentle hug.
His arms were warm, with a subtle cedar scent that somehow made her feel safe and at peace.
"It's all behind you now."
He whispered in her ear.
"From now on, I'm here for you," he promised.
Sophia's eyes suddenly grew hot, tears threatening to spill.
She actually met James after breaking up with Andrew.
That day, she'd just moved out of Andrew's apartment, dragging her suitcase and looking pretty miserable as she stood on the street.
That's when James pulled up in his car right in front of her.
He rolled down the window and asked, "Need some help?"
Later, she discovered that James was actually her childhood betrothed—the fiancé she'd lost track of for years.
Her mysterious grandfather had promised her hand to him when she was just a kid.
As the Lane family fell on hard times, she gradually let that old engagement slip from her mind.
But the Foster family never forgot.
They found her when she was at rock bottom, at her most desperate.
"Thanks, James," Sophia said, her voice sincere.
James smiled and gently ruffled her hair.
"No need for thanks between us," he said, his tone warm.
James fired up the engine again.
"So, where to? Let's celebrate your new life, Sophie," he said warmly.
Sophia thought for a second, then her eyes sparkled.
"Let's go to the riding club! I want to ride horses!" she burst out, excitement shining in her voice.
Andrew always said riding was too risky for girls, and he never let her go near a horse.
But now, nothing could stop her from doing whatever she wanted.
"Sure," James replied right away.
The car cruised smoothly toward the Royal Equestrian Club on the outskirts of the city.
Sophia watched the scenery whip by outside her window, her spirits soaring with every passing moment.
But neither of them expected to run into someone they'd hoped never to see again at the stables.
And this time, it was clear the other party wasn't here with good intentions.
To Sophia's surprise, Andrew and Olivia showed up at the stables too.
Andrew was decked out in stylish riding gear, leading a stunning Akhal-Teke stallion. The second his eyes landed on Sophia, his face instantly turned cold.
Olivia clung to his side, looking all fragile and helpless, like the towering horses were about to eat her alive.
"Andrew, I... I'm kind of scared," Olivia whispered, her voice quivering.
Andrew immediately switched to a gentle tone, reassuring her, "Don't worry, I'm right here. I'll show you how it's done."
He was all gentle and caring with Olivia, a stark contrast to the cold, indifferent way he treated Sophia.
He was deliberately putting on this act for Sophia to see.
He wanted her to realize just how thoughtful and attentive a man she'd lost.
He wanted her to feel jealous, to regret ever walking away from him.
But Sophia didn't even look his way.
She was excitedly picking out her own horse. In the end, she settled on a pure white Arabian—it was so gorgeous, like something straight out of a storybook.
"This is the one!" Sophia said, her voice bubbling with excitement.
The staff member looked uneasy. "Miss, this horse's name is Blizzard. He's got a wild streak—he's the best horse we've got, and most people can't handle him."
Before anyone could react, Andrew's sarcastic voice rang out.
"Ha, biting off more than you can chew. Can't even see your own limits with horses—just like some people," he snarked.
He gave Sophia a look that said it all, making it obvious who he was talking about.
Sophia completely ignored him and walked straight up to Blizzard, reaching out to gently stroke his neck.
Miraculously, the wild Blizzard, who'd been restless just moments ago, mellowed out under her touch, even nuzzling her hand like he was totally smitten.
Everyone's jaws dropped.
Andrew looked like he'd just swallowed a lemon—his face was so dark it was almost comical.