Chapter 244


    “Jadeborough University''s anniversary celebration?”


    Sophia had just buckled her seatbelt when Alexander''s voice rang out. Raising her brow, she queried,


    “Yeah. Is there a problem?”


    The man shook his head. “I think I''ve been invited, too.”


    “What do you mean ''you think''?” she asked, tilting her head to look at him.


    “I''m invited to plenty of events.”


    A snort escaped from Sophia''s nose on that note. “How impressive of you, Mr. Xenos.”


    “So when are you extending an invitation to this impressive man, Ms. Yarrow?” said Alexander as he


    reached out to hold her hand.


    Amused by his serious behavior, she chuckled. “Aren''t we going out for lunch together now?”


    He nced at her, his eyes flickering slightly. “I would like you to invite me to City Hall. That said, I don''t


    mind taking care of any expenses that may be incurred.”


    “What? Do I not have the money?”


    It''s such a small sum. Everyone can afford it!


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Sophia was merely going along with his words, and she soon realized that she had spoken too quickly


    and fallen into his trap.


    “We''ll be going to City Hall tomorrow, yes?”


    shing a half-smile at him, she remarked, “Mr. Xenos, don''t you have a long way to go with your


    progress bar?”


    “Isn''t my so-called progress entirely up to you, Ms. Yarrow?”


    Alexander had picked up one of her tricks and sessfully outsmarted her. Dismayed, Sophia red


    at him. “You wish!”


    At the same time, a chuckle escaped her lips. “Can we go eat now? I''m hungry.”


    Although he was aware that she was trying to change the subject, he also knew he should not be too


    hasty. As such, he nodded and did not continue the topic. “Sit tight.”


    Alexander had always been a smooth and stable driver. Otherwise, Sophia would not have almost


    fallen asleep in the car multiple times.


    At that point, they were regrs at Mirage. While Sophia did not hold a grudge against the restaurant


    for the mishaps involving Ka, Alexander was not as benevolent as she was, for he had asked


    Samuel to express his dissatisfaction on his behalf.


    Hence, as soon as the duo arrived at the entrance, someone came forth to receive them. As for the


    waiter who served them back then, Sophia did not know if they had been fired or transferred


    elsewhere. Nheless, they were nowhere to be seen during her visit.


    Alexander and Sophia had yet to reach their car when they spotted Samuel.


    The man stood next to their car, and it was apparent he was waiting for them.


    Sophia raised her brows as she greeted him, “Mr. Schild.”


    “Sophia, Alex.” Samuel beamed at them before ncing at Alexander. “What a coincidence! There''s a


    competition on the mountain tonight. Why don''t you bring Sophia to spectate?”


    He only found out the day before that his childhood friend had been trying to win Sophia''s heart for a


    long time, but his efforts had yet toe to fruition.


    As a fiercely loyal man, Samuel felt the need to help Alexander.


    It just so happened that they bumped into one another during lunch, so he looked for Alexander''s car


    and waited for them there.


    Thest time Alexander participated in a race was before he turned twenty-two. Therefore, the man


    Sophia came to know after arriving at Jadeborough differed from his younger self.


    Hearing Samuel''s words, she could not help feeling curious. “Where''s that?”


    Samuel noticed that her interest was piqued, so he shifted his attention to her instead. “Are you


    curious? Have Alex take you there, then! Did you know that, back in the day, he was the boss of the


    mountain?”


    Alexander shot a cold nce at his talkative friend, a hint of disdain shing across his eyes. “Why do


    you have so much to say?”


    His words rendered Samuel speechless.


    Ugh, he''s so ungrateful! Whatever. I''m forbearing, so I won''t hold a grudge against him.


    Sophia quirked a brow and turned to Alexander, a smile spreading across her face. “Can I go?”


    The look in his eyes softened as he gazed at her. “Of course.”


    As he spoke, he opened the car door for her. “Hop in. I''ll take you there.”


    Meanwhile, Samuel, who was entirely ignored, uttered, “I didn''t drive here, so can I—”


    “No.”


    Alexander''s merciless rejection came before he could even finish his sentence.


    A thud echoed as the car door was shut. Alexander then drove by his friend, and in a matter of


    seconds, the car disappeared, leaving nothing but a trail of dust in its wake.


    “He''s so mean!”


    Samuel could not let it slide, so he whipped out his phone, intending to hail a taxi home to get his car.


    Just then, he recalled something and gave someone else a call.


    After hanging up, he gged down a taxi and returned home.


    “Can you drive a little faster, mister?”


    “How can I go any faster at this hour?”


    Samuel let out a sigh, wondering if he could watch the interesting scene unfold before his eyes.


    The car gradually came to a halt at a red light.


    Alexander turned to look at Sophia and exined to her, “That mountain is a ce where people race


    in Jadeborough. Not a lot of cars pass by there, so racing clubs would seal off a section of the road to


    race. This happens once or twice every month.”


    She nodded in understanding and smirked at him. “Mr. Schild said you were the boss of the mountain,


    so does that mean you''re the Racing King of Selton Mountain, Mr. Xenos?”


    The man had no retort as he was once the Racing King at the peak of his youth.


    Noticing his silence, Sophia let out a chuckle. “No wonder there are two precious limited-edition race


    cars in your garage.”


    When she married into the Xenos family, the butler toured her around the Xenos residence. At the


    garage, he arrogantly told her that the two race cars were Alexander''s precious possessions, and no


    one was allowed to touch them.


    Alexander gazed at her eyes which were crinkled in delight. Thinking she was making fun of him, he


    cocked an eyebrow and asked, “Who told you those are precious to me?”


    “Oh, is that not the case? The butler was the one who told me.”


    After so many years, Sophia had already let go of the past, which was why she could bring herself to


    talk about these things humorously.


    However, the man felt a sting in his heart that made him mildly ufortable, and he lowered his head


    in silence for a moment. “Sophia, you''re the most precious to me,” came his response.


    Blushing, she scoffed at him. “Those two race cars should be the most precious to you.”


    “They''re merely cars.” A smile yed about Alexander''s lips as he added, “Don''t be jealous, Precious.”


    He then lifted his hand and gently tousled her hair.


    Sophia''s ears turned crimson as she looked at him.


    Oh no, I can''t afford to tease him.


    She retracted her gaze and pointed toward the front. “The light''s about to turn green.”


    Alexander grunted an acknowledgment in response. His gaze lingered on her for another second


    before he turned his attention to the road and began driving.


    Twenty minutester, they drove out of the suburbs.


    Alexander gradually stepped on the elerator while Sophia gazed out of the car window. Upon


    seeing the abundant greenery, she knew they had left the suburbs.


    It took another twenty minutes before she saw lights from five to six hundred meters ahead of them.


    Rock music was ring in the air, and she could hear it clearly, despite being in the car.


    Alexander pulled up, after which they both got out of the car together.


    It was still early, and the sun had just set.


    The breeze was extremely cold at the foot of the mountain. He held onto her hand and led her to the


    side, moving further away from the crowd.


    Since he did not say anything, Sophia did not probe either.


    They walked for another two minutes before Alexander suddenly voiced a question, “Aren''t you afraid


    that I''d sell you off?”


    That had her raising her eyebrows. “Am I not your Precious, Alexander?”


    Her voice was gentle, crisp, and clear. It was practically music to one''s ear.


    He looked at her over his shoulder. Under the faint glow of the moonlight, Sophia''s eyes shone brightly,


    resembling a sky full of stars in them. Alexander thought of the day they got married. It was the same


    gaze she had when she asked him to look after her for the rest of their lives.


    At the thought of that, he felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach. It was a heavy yet inexplicably warm


    sensation.


    Alexander tightened his grip around her hand. “I can''t bring myself to do that.”


    How could I possibly bear to sell my precious off?