Tears still glistened in the corners of Ashley's eyes. She wiped them away, stood up slowly, and paused to gather her thoughts before replying to Sophie, "The 26th, next Wednesday."
"Have you still been telling Amber to turn down all my offers?" Sophie guessed, her voice sharp with suspicion.
"Yes!" Ashley admitted, the word hanging heavy in the air.
Sophie remained composed, her voice steady as she instructed, "Make sure to document every single one and keep all the emails from every client as evidence. Come next Wednesday, I'll make good use of them. If you have any sense left, you'll realize that sticking with me holds more promise than following Amber. Just the fact that she's a mistress doesn't means she'll ever get the chance to step onto the international stage."
Hearing Sophie's words, Ashley pondered why Amber had been stumbling into trouble so frequently, while Sophie's star seemed to be rising ever higher. It dawned on her that Amber had always relied on playing the victim to garner sympathy, whereas Sophie had been using Amber as a mere stepping stone for her own grand comeback.
Ashley weighed the pros and cons carefully, realizing that aligning herself with Sophie might be her best option. "I'll help you prepare everything," she promised
Sophie nodded, turning to leave. But as she reached the doorway, a thought seemed to strike her. She turned back to Ashley with a stern warning, "If you lack the skill to handle a PR crisis, then don't create any scandals for me to clean up."
In other words, if Ashley couldn't avoid being caught in compromising situations, she should steer clear of enticing those she had no business seducing.
Ashley's face went white as a sheet. She had never met an artist who had planned so far in advance without anyone catching on.
From what it seemed, besides enchanting men, Amber didn't have much else going for her.
In reality, she was unknowingly waiting for Sophie to send Global Pictures Entertainment packing.
As she exited the building, the day was still fresh and full of promise.
Sophie walked back to her car, looking completely worn out.
When Lisa saw her, her heart sank. "Did you and Nathan have a fight?"
"Nathan wants to break up," Sophie replied softly, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the car seat, finding some peace in the moment.
She couldn't say Nathan's decision didn't bother her, but it was nothing compared to what she had already endured.
She had already moved Nathan out of her heart, so his decision to end things was just the official word on what she already realized.
"Are you feeling down about the breakup?" Lisa asked softly.
"Honestly, I feel really relieved now. It's like I've been carrying a heavy burden in my mind for so many years, and it's finally gone. I'm ready to embrace the new life I've decided on."
"Nathan wants to put my job on hold for the next three years of my contract," Sophie confided to Lisa.
"What a jerk! How can he be so shameless? Isn't he worried about karma?" Lisa exclaimed, turning to face Sophie. She reached out, gently patting Sophie's arm to comfort her. "Don't worry, Sophie. I believe you'll make him regret it ten times over."
"I want to go home now. Let's head there first," Sophie murmured softly, her eyes closed in weariness.
"Alright!" Lisa agreed with a warm smile. She admired how much Sophie had grown in the past few weeks. Plus, they both needed some rest. Considering how cold Nathan had been, he wouldn't stop giving Sophie trouble anytime soon. The worst part was that with just a word from Amber, things could get even worse.
Sophie knew she had to find a way to dismantle Amber's plans that were blocking her path.
When Noah finally got back home, the clock showed it was already 8 PM.
This evening, though, there was no delicious smell of dinner in the air. Instead, the atmosphere felt chilly and unwelcoming.
Initially, he assumed Sophie hadn't come home yet. But when he walked into the bedroom, he found her lying silently on the bed.
There was no need for words; it was clear she had faced some unfair treatment today.
Noah carefully moved to the edge of the bed. As soon as Sophie felt his familiar presence, she sat up and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"If you need to cry, go ahead. It'll help you feel better," Noah said softly, comforting her with a gentle pat on the shoulder.
Sophie had been keeping her emotions bottled up all day, trying to appear strong in front of others. But now, in the safety of Noah's embrace, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
"I'm sorry," Sophie whispered. "I promised myself I wouldn't cry over things that don't deserve it."
"It's alright," Noah reassured her. "Let it out. Who else can you truly be yourself with if not me?" His voice was soothing as he gently, yet firmly, ran his hand through her hair.
Perhaps it was the tender way Noah comforted her, or maybe it was the sense of safety and maturity he carried, being seven years her senior. Whatever it was, Sophie felt secure in his arms, and she cried there for a long time until there were no more tears left.
"Feeling better now?" Noah inquired softly.
"Yes, much better!" Sophie replied, gently pulling away from Noah's hug. "You haven't had anything to eat yet, have you? I'll go whip up something for you!"
Before she could leave, Noah gently cupped her chin, drawing her close. With all the tenderness he could muster, he kissed her deeply. He wasn't just trying to kiss away her tears; he wanted this moment to soothe the pain lingering in her heart.
A kiss can heal like no other remedy, melting away pain and worries.
Their lips met with such fervor that it felt as if the whole world was swirling around them, leaving them breathless in its wake.
"Sophie," Noah whispered, "I want to be the one you turn to, whether you're smiling or in tears. It doesn't matter how many masks you wear outside; when we're home, let's be honest with one another. Like a true married couple, we only need each other." As he spoke, he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and stood up. "Remember, I've already told you, the kitchen is off-limits for you."
As Noah turned to leave, Sophie quickly reached out and held him back. "I need you," she pleaded softly. "I need you here with me right now. Stay, hug me, and kiss me."
Noah chuckled gently. "I'll need some energy for all those kisses!"
Sophie wiped away her tears, tossing aside her blankets as she climbed out of bed, firmly grasping Noah's hand. "Then I'll be right by your side."
Together, they shared a delightful dinner, savoring each other's company, and later, they enjoyed a warm, refreshing shower.
Once they were back in bed, Noah settled against the headboard, engrossed in reading some documents. Meanwhile, Sophie snuggled under the covers, trying to drift off to sleep.
She fell asleep almost instantly, worn out from the day's events. With Noah by her side, she felt a deep sense of calm and comfort, making it easier for her to relax and rest peacefully.
The following day...
Sophie woke up to the soft and slightly damp air around her, stirred by the buzzing of her phone. On the other end was Ashley, whose voice sounded much softer and kinder than the last time they had talked.
"Sophie, I've just reached your place, but it seems only your assistant is there."
"I've moved," Sophie replied.
"I wanted to let you know that after Nathan announced your appearance at the corporate event, the fans you've regained are in an uproar. They're having heated arguments among themselves. They're saying that if you show up at this event, it means you're backing these unreliable products. They can't accept this and are already prepared to leave you."
"What does Amber think about all this?" Sophie asked Ashley directly.
"She's eager to watch you struggle. Going to this event was her idea all along. Not only does she want to trample all over you, but she also wishes for your life to become a nightmare."
"Well, we'll see next Wednesday whose life actually becomes a nightmare," Sophie replied with a hint of determination in her voice, "In the meantime, don't stress about the fans. Let them shout and complain about me as much as they want."
Amber had just moved up a notch from being just a sidekick, and she was enjoying every moment of her new success. Sophie, her friend, decided to let Amber enjoy this happiness for a few more days.
Sophie had a secret plan she hadn't revealed yet, something that would change everything.
But it wasn't just about ending Amber's modeling career; Sophie wanted Amber to feel so embarrassed that she wouldn't want to face anyone.
Sophie's work had come to a standstill after she filmed the Beautiful Soul commercial, and she found herself with nothing to do.
Despite this, Sophie remained calm and patient. Even though her fans were upset with her for promoting a dodgy product, she didn't react or say anything back, just quietly endured their criticism.
Ashley had observed Sophie closely and noticed that Sophie had a lot more patience than most people. She also realized that Sophie didn't handle being alone very well.
The entertainment news was still buzzing about Nathan and Amber's video, and people were treating Amber very harshly, with lots of unkind words and criticism.
Meanwhile, the public's reaction to Sophie was totally split. On one hand, there were those who felt very sorry for her and believed she was being pressured into endorsing a company she didn't choose on her own.
On the other hand, younger fans were puzzled and wondered why, given the situation, she hadn't decided to leave Global Pictures Entertainment.
Amidst this heated discussion, a passerby leaked an album of photos from Sophie's latest photoshoot.
In no time, the focus of the online buzz shifted, as people couldn't stop praising Sophie's striking and elegantly long legs.
To add to the excitement, several magazines highlighted how, even in spontaneous moments, Sophie's every move seemed more genuine and effortless than those of a professional model.
While all three were tangled up in scandals, Amber and Nathan faced a lot of negative backlash. In contrast, Sophie managed to shift the public's attention with just one photo album. This move made everyone overlook the fact that she had been standing in for Amber and had even apologized for stirring up excitement.
The only thing people remembered about Sophie was her elegance, as she looked back at the camera with tears in her eyes, leaving a lasting impression of gracefulness.
On the very same day all these events were unfolding, Ashley was surprised to see that five different magazines had sent invites asking for Sophie to grace the front cover of their upcoming season's editions.
In stark contrast to poor Amber, who was facing the disappointment of losing contracts one after the other, Sophie seemed to possess a remarkable charm. Ashley couldn't help but feel astonished by Sophie's knack for effortlessly turning situations in her favor.
Sophie's journey back to the spotlight was no longer something Nathan could obstruct. With all the magazine invitations pouring in, Nathan began to doubt whether keeping Sophie on hold was the right decision.
Ashley, eager to share the news, went to Nathan with the stack of magazine invites and started discussing the best opportunities for Sophie's career.
However, her plans were interrupted by Amber, who was comfortably seated in Nathan's office chair. "Haven't we already settled on the fact that we shouldn't be taking any jobs for her? Are you disregarding what I said?!" she questioned sharply.
Inside, Ashley couldn't help but smirk. "Let's go with E-Style," Nathan suggested, as he picked one of the most prestigious magazines, addressing Ashley with a firm decision.
"Nathan! What about the promise you made to me?!" Amber exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration and disbelief.
"Babe, everything I do is for your sake," Nathan explained, his voice serious and reassuring. "Think about it. The uproar over the video has already drawn enough criticism. We just need Sophie to make a public appearance and clear up that we ended things long ago. Then, our relationship won't look like an affair; it'll just be seen as a regular couple's story. People online will understand they were mistaken and might even feel sorry for you. After that, anything you do will be more acceptable. I'm paving the way for you," he concluded, hoping to calm Amber's worries.
Nathan went on, "There's not much time before the top ten model awards. This is your quickest shot at making a fresh start. When you return, do you think Sophie will have any ground left to stand on?"
Hearing this, Amber's anger quickly faded. "Only you could come up with such a clever plan that leaves no stone unturned," she admitted.
Nathan was completely unaware that Ashley had already joined forces with Sophie.
Their plotting soon made its way to Sophie's attention.
"Those two are trying to use you to clean up their mess. What are you going to do about it?" Ashley asked, curious about how Sophie planned to avoid getting caught up in Nathan's scheme.
"Help me turn down the offer. If Nathan asks, just tell him I'm not feeling well," Sophie responded.
Choosing one magazine out of five, only to have to quickly turn down the other four, didn't seem quite right. Still, Ashley understood the necessity of the situation.
Until now, Ashley had been impressed by how Sophie skillfully sidestepped every obstacle thrown her way.
Calmly and with ease, Sophie shifted the responsibility back to Beck.
When Amber discovered this, she was nearly beside herself with frustration. She slapped her hands on the table and told Ashley, "It's obvious she did that intentionally!"
"Well, Miss Amber, just how willing do you think a model would be to cooperate if her fiancé was taken away, and all her work opportunities are being blocked?" Ashley wanted to say it out loud , but stopped herself
After listening to everything, Nathan gently patted Amber's back to offer some comfort. He then looked at Ashley and instructed, "Get Sophie to meet with me!"
Ashley responded, "I'm sorry, but she can't come. She's not feeling well."
"Then let me know where she is... I'll go find her myself."
"First, let me check with Sophie to see what she wants," Ashley replied. After speaking, she turned around, pulled out her phone, and called Sophie.
Meanwhile, Noah had just gotten home and was embracing Sophie in the garden while they watered the plants together. Ashley clearly stated her thoughts over the phone, and since Noah's ear was close to Sophie's, he overheard their conversation.
At that moment, Noah's dark eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and he gave an amused smile. Leaning in close to Sophie's left ear, he whispered, "Give your manager the Tribeca address."
Sophie looked at him uncertainly. "First, tell him you've moved to a new place. As the daughter of the Monroe family, living in Tribeca fits your status better. You're beyond his reach now. Second, the security in Tribeca is really tight. Did you think just anyone could get in?"
Sophie chuckled softly, realizing that Noah's attitude towards outsiders was quite different from the kindness he showed her at home. But she found that she liked this side of him.
Following Noah's suggestion, she gave the Tribeca address to Ashley.
Ashley was momentarily stunned when she heard the address but quickly relayed it to Nathan. "Sophie said she's already moved. If you want to see her, you'll have to go to Tribeca. That's where she's living now."
"Tribeca!? That's one of the most famous and prestigious neighborhoods in New York! How could someone like her, who's just a small-time model, afford to live there?" Amber couldn't help but feel jealous. "She moved to Tribeca! How did she manage that?"
"Miss Amber, have you forgotten that she's the heir to the Monroe empire? For her, living in Tribeca is simply a matter of choosing a place that matches her high status."
In other words , when Nathan and Sophie were still together, she was being forced to suffer by downgrading herself, since Nathan didn't know how to cherish her - she of course returned to the place where she belonged without any cares
This is a level that Amber would never able to reach, because it was already determined at birth
Inside , Nathan was not feeling good, thinking back when he and Sophie were still together, she was never willing to give anything . But as the broke up she actually moved into Tribeca