Chapter 203

Ethan Winston's phone screen lit up with a breaking news notification. The live feed showed the Valdemar Group press conference.

Sophia Laurent stood at the center of the frame.

She wore a tailored white suit with the Valdemar insignia pinned to her lapel. The diamond ring on her left hand glittered under the spotlights.

The words "Mrs. Valdemar" stabbed through Ethan's heart like a blade.

He slammed the phone face down on his desk.

Just a month ago, Sophia had flown to Switzerland to commission a custom birthday gift for him.

That Patek Philippe watch worth millions still sat in the brand's vault.

Ethan's fingers tapped restlessly against the mahogany surface.

His gaze fell on the calendar.

Only twenty-seven days had passed since his birthday party.

"Impossible..."

He stood abruptly, knocking over his coffee cup.

Dark liquid seeped across important documents, but he didn't notice.

A terrible thought struck him.

Sophia must have been forced into this.

The Valdemars must have used some underhanded tactic.

Ethan grabbed his suit jacket and stormed out.

His secretary jumped at his sudden movement.

"Mr. Winston, the board meeting starts in ten—"

"Cancel it!"

He stabbed the elevator button without looking back.

At the press conference, reporters hurled questions like tidal waves.

"Mrs. Valdemar, how did you and Mr. Valdemar meet?"

"Sources say Mr. Valdemar remains comatose. Any comment?"

Sophia stood poised under the blinding lights, her smile perfectly calibrated.

"Thank you for your concern."

Her voice remained measured.

"Alexander and I were introduced through family connections. As for his health, you can see he's recovering well."

Henry Chamberlain wiped his sweaty palms backstage.

He'd expected this event to be a disaster.

Yet Sophia had defused the crisis with effortless grace.

Live comments flooded the stream:

[Mrs. Valdemar's presence is unreal!]

[That face was made for the Valdemar heir]

[Wasn't she the Lowell heiress before?]

Henry exhaled in relief.

He pulled out his phone and texted the hospital:

"Prepare to play the press conference footage."

One hour later.

In the VIP suite of Valdemar Sanatorium, Henry propped a tablet beside Alexander's bed.

"Sir, you must see how brilliantly the young madam handled things today."

He pressed play.

Sophia's composed face filled the screen.

"As Alexander Valdemar's wife, it's both my duty and privilege to..."

Golden sunset light spilled across the hospital sheets.

The heart monitor beeped steadily in the quiet room.