Being Pursued By Ex-husband

"Get in."

Sophia closed the umbrella, turned sideways, and got into the car.

Claudius handed her a handkerchief, and she reached out to take it.

"Thank you." She wiped the rainwater on the back of her hand and turned to look at Claudius beside her. "Why are you back in the country?"

"To negotiate a project."

Sophia smiled. "I thought you specifically came here to see me."

Claudius gazed at her. "I did come specifically to see you."

Hearing that, Sophia couldn't help but click her tongue. "I don't believe you now after hearing you say that."

"Why?"

She merely smiled silently in response and glanced outside the window. "Did you just get off the plane, or have you been here for a while?" She changed the subject.

Claudius had been on a flight for more than ten hours. As soon as he got off the plane, he asked the driver to send him there to meet with Sophia.

The plane had landed at around two o'clock in the afternoon, and he had reached Odyssey at around four, but he didn't go upstairs to find her.

As Rose had said, he didn't remember anything now. Returning to the country and encountering the people who were familiar with him would only make Sophia feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Odyssey was once his. If he were to get out of the car and show his face in public, he would undoubtedly be recognized. Unfortunately, since he couldn't remember anyone, it would only cause more trouble for Sophia if word about that got out.

Claudius had planned to wait inside the car until Sophia got off work, but he didn't expect her to have just returned to the office too.

Having just gotten off the plane, he was a little tired. He raised his hand to rub his temples while replying to Sophia, "I just arrived today, and I'll be staying at Silverstone Hotel."

Noticing his worn-out appearance, Sophia suggested, "You just got here and are still experiencing jet lag. Why don't you take a rest at the hotel first?"

Claudius shook his head. "Let's have a meal first."

Boring her eyes into him, Sophia didn't decline further.

Twenty minutes later, the car came to a halt outside Mirage. Sophia couldn't help but glance at Claudius. "You used to like coming here to have your meal too."

"Really? My secretary recommended it."

"Oh," Sophia grunted in acknowledgment and got out of the car with her umbrella.

Claudius also alighted from the car, but he didn't have an umbrella. He stood by the vehicle and stared at her, seemingly waiting for her to come over.

Sophia arched her brow and walked up to him while holding her umbrella.

"Let me."

Claudius reached out to take the umbrella from her. Sophia let go of her hand and looked up at him. Only then did she notice the stubble on his chin.

Her fingers twitched, and she couldn't stop herself from stretching out her arm to touch it. "You've grown some bristles."

Only after doing that did she realize her gesture might've been a little inappropriate.

Sophia retracted her hand and looked at him graciously. "I'm sorry."

"I've had more dreams recently." Instead of responding to her, Claudius changed the topic of the conversation. He held the umbrella and led her inside. "But I can't tell which ones are real and which ones are fake."

That night, the words Claudius had mentioned had left a deep impression on Sophia. When she heard him talking about his dream, she wondered if he was having erotic dreams again.

Looks like I can never get over this.

She looked downward to conceal the guilty look in her eyes. "What did you dream about?"

"I dreamed that you slapped me."

Hearing that, Sophia looked up and suddenly burst into laughter. "That might be real."

As they spoke, Claudius closed the umbrella and handed it to the doorman before entering Mirage. Right after they stepped through the door, the server stepped forward and greeted, "Ms. Yarrow, M-Mr. Xenos."

For the past six months, rumors about Alexander's death had been circulating in Jadeborough.

The sudden appearance of someone said to have died shocked the server. Even the people nearby were astounded when they heard the server utter the words "Mr. Xenos." They turned to look at the entrance. Isn't the man standing beside Sophia Alexander?

Although Sophia couldn't guess Claudius' intention for suddenly returning to the country, she had mentally prepared herself to face the possible reactions his reappearance might cause.

The server was flabbergasted when he saw Claudius. He blocked Sophia and Claudius' way and remained unmoving for a few seconds.

Sophia didn't bother taking offense at the server and merely grinned. "Excuse me. Please let us through."

The server pulled himself together after hearing her voice and hurriedly stepped aside. "I'm sorry, Ms. Yarrow, Mr. Xenos!"

"It's fine." Sophia smiled and led Claudius inside. "Did you reserve a private room?"

Claudius shook his head. "No."

"That's all right. I have a private room."

Over the past six months, Sophia had been frequenting Mirage for collaboration discussions, so the restaurant had tactfully reserved her a room. Whenever she visited, they would make the arrangements for her without requiring an advanced booking.

Claudius followed her down the corridor and into the private room.

A waiter entered and handed them the menus right after they got seated. Sophia received the menu and gave the other copy to Claudius. "Have your preference for food changed?"

"No." Claudius didn't take the menu. "I'll let you place the order."

Sophia glanced at him. Not bothering with pleasantries, she ordered four dishes and a soup.

The news about Alexander being alive spread like wildfire throughout Mirage. Upon hearing that news, Samuel immediately ditched his secretary. "Have Yosef attend the dinner tonight."

With that, he swiftly left. The secretary couldn't even stop him.

Inside the private room, Sophia took a sip of the soup and looked at Claudius. "Does the food suit your taste?"

"Yes."

"How long are you planning to stay here?" She paused briefly before adding, "Your grandfather's death anniversary is coming up in a few days. Since you're back, it'll be great if you can spend time visiting his grave."

The other members of the Xenos family weren't particularly kind to Alexander, but Beau had undoubtedly devoted himself to nurturing him. Even before his death, he did his best to pave the way for him.

If Beau had been more fortunate and lived a little longer, Sophia wouldn't have been bullied by Kristen and her daughter when she married into the Xenos family.

Regrettably, there were no ifs.