After the car smoothly turned and passed through the metal gate, it pulled up in front of a stunning villa with a beautiful fountain gracing the entrance.
Lisa was gently guided out of the car and taken into a lavish living room that looked like it belonged in a Spanish palace.
Sophie was lounging on the sofa in cozy white loungewear, her face free of makeup, yet she looked as gorgeous as ever.
"Sophie, what's all this about? Did you find yourself a wealthy old man?" Lisa whispered as she got closer to Sophie. "Did you do this just for Nathan's sake?"
"Lisa, there's something important I need to tell you, but you must promise not to get upset," Sophie said, pulling Lisa down to sit beside her on the sofa.
"TELL ME! Did you find a new boyfriend?" Lisa demanded.
"No!" Sophie replied, shaking her head with a hint of a smile she tried to hide.
"That's a relief!" Lisa sighed with contentment.
"I'm married!" Sophie suddenly revealed, leaving Lisa completely speechless.
A few minutes passed before Lisa finally blurted out, "What did you say?! You're married?! To whom? Why would you risk your happiness like this?" As Lisa bombarded Sophie with questions, Noah finished some urgent business matters and emerged from the study room upstairs.
To Lisa's shock, he walked behind the sofa, leaned down lovingly, and whispered softly into Sophie's ear. Sophie turned to look at Noah and nodded in agreement, "I know, I won't take more than another thirty minutes."
Noah seemed pleased with her response, gave Lisa a quick glance, and headed back upstairs.
In just those few moments, Lisa was left frozen in disbelief. "Sophie, pinch me, please. I need to know if I'm dreaming."
"Why?!" Sophie tugged at her to snap her back to reality.
"So, you're telling me you married Noah Kingsley, the CEO of Collider Scope Entertainment?" Lisa asked, trying to wrap her head around it.
"Uh-huh," Sophie confirmed.
"For real?!" Lisa asked again, needing reassurance.
"Yes, it's true. He's my husband now," Sophie nodded, affirming Lisa's disbelief.
Upon hearing this, Lisa's emotions swung from deep sadness to overwhelming joy. "No wonder your article stayed on top of the search rankings, and Nathan couldn't take it down no matter how much money he threw at it. Sophie, this is an amazing surprise! You made the right choice. If you were going to marry, it couldn't be someone like Nathan. But I never imagined you'd marry the CEO of the top modeling agency in the country, Collider Scope Entertainment. They're on a whole different level than Global Pictures. This news completely erases my hatred. Can you imagine Nathan's face if he found out? How satisfying would that be?!"
"But I'm not ready to announce my relationship with Noah just yet," Sophie explained calmly, radiating confidence and a dazzling aura. "With Noah's support, I know my career can soar to new heights. However, I fear that people will only see me as Noah's wife, not as Sophie the model. Three years ago, I became the top model in New York, and now, three years later, I believe I can achieve that again on my own terms. I want to reclaim what's rightfully mine. Lisa, if you're still willing to help me, we can tackle this together. But if you're not interested, I won't push you. I can help you cancel your contract with Global Pictures and find a better job elsewhere," she said gently.
"What are you talking about? Of course, I want to stay by your side! I dream of becoming the top manager of an international supermodel!" Lisa replied with determination. "But are you planning to stick with Global Pictures Entertainment?"
"What do you think?" Sophie shot Lisa a knowing look, encouraging her to piece the answer together. "Nathan has used me time and time again, and no matter what, I'll make sure he pays for it."
After hearing Sophie's words, Lisa burst into laughter, leaning on Sophie as her shoulders shook with mirth. "Sophie, after all these years of knowing you, I never realized just how cunning you could be! What's our next move? Are we going to release that video?"
"No! First, we need to secure a Brand Ambassador deal. More specifically, we'll take back what belongs to me right from Amber's hands. Once that's done, Amber's fans will definitely have something to say, and that's when we'll release the video. Lisa, you'll need to put in some extra effort. Help me edit the clips from the Crown Star Show and get them posted online."
"Got it! Leave it to me!" Lisa replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she nodded eagerly.
Hearing the plan filled her with a sense of purpose, and she realized just how much Sophie had changed. No longer the weak and fragile person she once was, Sophie had transformed into someone fiercely powerful when the situation called for it.
After their discussion, Sophie asked Ethan to drive Lisa home. She then rose from the sofa and gracefully made her way back into the gorgeous bedroom at the center of the villa.
Noah had changed into a comfortable robe and was relaxing on the sofa, savoring a glass of red wine. His head was slightly tilted back, accentuating his jawline like a perfectly crafted sculpture, making hearts flutter at the sight.
Despite feeling a bit anxious, Sophie gathered her courage and sat down next to Noah. He continued to sip his wine, then unexpectedly leaned over, gently pulling her closer by the shoulder and pressing his lips against hers.
Noah still had the wine in his mouth and shared its aromatic taste with Sophie through their kiss.
Sophie was taken by surprise, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. Noah chuckled softly and placed a tender kiss on the tip of her nose.
"You know, if you can't handle your drinks, you'll be at a disadvantage at social gatherings. You need to practice," he teased playfully.
Sophie leaned against Noah's smooth chest, playfully replying, "So, Mr. Noah, how do you suggest I practice?"
"How about a small glass every day? What do you think?" he proposed with a smile.
"With the same technique as just now?" Sophie asked, raising an eyebrow with a hint of mischief.
Noah couldn't resist a gentle laugh and nodded, "Did you enjoy it?"
"Uh-huh," Sophie nodded with a smile.
"Alright, let's do that then," Noah said softly. He raised the glass to his lips again, and using the same method, leaned in once more. This time, after finishing the wine, they didn't part. They continued kissing passionately, transforming the sofa into their cozy haven.
As Noah's gentle kisses trailed down her body, Sophie felt herself trembling, her thoughts swirling in a haze of sensations that left her unable to think clearly.
She had never felt anything so electrifying, making her feel weak and pliable, like sand slipping through fingers.
Amidst the passion of the moment, all she could focus on was Noah's striking features—his handsome nose and those soft lips—but she felt the strength of his arms enveloping her. "Noah... let's move to the bed. I don't want to do this on the sofa," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of longing and vulnerability. Hearing her plea, Noah paused, admiring the grace of her long, slender legs, as mesmerizing as a mermaid's tale.
Resisting his own desires, he wrapped Sophie in his arms, her bathrobe enveloping her like a cherished treasure. He lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom, gently placing her into the bathtub.
"What are you doing?" she asked, curiosity and confusion mingling in her eyes.
Noah kneeled before her, wrapping a towel around himself. He gently lifted her chin, looking into her eyes as he spoke, "I want your heart first. When I'm the only one in your heart, then I'll make you completely mine." His words were tender, filled with genuine care.
When he stood up, Sophie reached out, her hand grabbing hold of his towel. "I don't mind us being together like this. Do you still not trust me?" Her voice was tinged with desperation.
Noah patted her head gently, trying to calm both her and himself. "I truly want you, Sophie. You don't realize how irresistible you are. But I want all of you—your body and your heart. I want to wait until you're sure."
Sophie nodded, understanding the depth of his words, and held onto Noah's left hand, a silent promise passing between them.
"It's been a long time since someone has treated me with such respect," Sophie said softly. Noah understood the depth of her words. Despite her lingering anger towards Nathan and the desire to see him crumble, Noah believed in her strength and abilities. He trusted that she would find her own way to achieve what she truly wanted.
The Following Morning...
The big news about the two models from Global Pictures Entertainment had already been pushed aside by fresh stories making the headlines that day.
Meanwhile, any gossip about Nathan and Amber's supposed relationship was swiftly managed by the Global Pictures Entertainment's public relations team.
In the world of entertainment, news tends to vanish just as quickly as it pops up.
However, because of Sophie's responsible attitude and her decision to take all the blame onto herself, she gained a significant number of new fans.
These new admirers were eagerly searching the internet for all of Sophie's past appearances and photos. Little did anyone realize that Sophie was gradually making her way back into the spotlight.
Particularly during the Moon Night Show, Sophie's performance outshone that of the hottest models at the moment. Her newfound fans felt it was unjust for her talent to be overlooked.
As a result, they began sharing her videos online and reached out to Beautiful Soul to support her.
Upon watching the videos of Sophie, the designer at Beautiful Soul was completely captivated by her beauty. This admiration grew even stronger after seeing numerous photos of Sophie in various poses. The same designer, who had previously been upset with her on the day of the show, suddenly realized how perfectly Sophie complemented his jewelry. It was as if the pieces were crafted just for her.
The designer at Beautiful Soul took a moment to reflect. Earlier, his opinion had been swayed by misleading information from Global Pictures. However, with a clear mind, he recognized that Sophie's grace and professionalism were the perfect fit for the Crown Star theme.
Furthermore, Sophie's willingness to admit mistakes had built a sense of trust with Beautiful Soul. As a result, the company's senior executives quickly convened a meeting to discuss the possibility of appointing Sophie as their new brand ambassador.
After thorough deliberation, they reached an agreement. A phone call was promptly made to the office of the manager at Global Pictures Entertainment.
"Mr. Smith, Amber is almost fully recovered from her injuries, so the launch of your new product will definitely stay on schedule," Nathan assured.
"No, that's not why I'm calling, Mr. Nathan," Mr. Smith responded in flawless English. "We want to change our brand ambassador. We're considering replacing Amber with Sophie."
Nathan was taken aback by the request and struggled to find his words. "N... N-No, Mr. Smith, I don't think that's the right decision!" he urged.
"We haven't officially signed the contract yet," Mr. Smith pointed out. "If you aren't open to swapping Amber for Sophie, we'd prefer to cancel this collaboration between Beautiful Soul and Global Pictures and explore partnerships with other companies."
"W... W-We have other models, some even more famous than Amber," Nathan replied, trying to salvage the situation.
"We only want Sophie," Mr. Smith insisted firmly.
Mr. Smith was unwavering in his decision, leaving Nathan with no option but to concede.
Originally, this deal was Amber's ticket to securing a spot in the top 10 model awards. Who could have predicted that Sophie would end up reaping the benefits instead?
With this unexpected change, it was certain that Amber would be upset and throw a tantrum.
Beautiful Soul had reached out to Nathan's office with a request for a new brand ambassador. When Lisa heard about this, she couldn't contain her excitement and immediately called Sophie to share the news.
"Sophie... SOPHIE, you got the deal!" she exclaimed.
"Don't get too carried away," Sophie replied cautiously. "Amber isn't going to let this happen without a fight." Despite having the upper hand, Sophie remained vigilant and didn't let her guard down.