As Sophia and Lily were about to leave the bar, a nervous-looking waiter approached them, glancing anxiously between them and the bar's entrance.
"Excuse me, ladies," he said hesitantly, "but do you know who owns the L*mb*rghini SC18 that's parked right outside? It's causing a bit of a traffic jam, and we need to have it moved."
The mention of the car immediately caught everyone's attention. Heads turned, and murmurs spread through the group. The L*mb*rghini SC18 was an extremely rare, custom-made car—something you didn't just see every day. Its presence at the bar confirmed everything Lily had said earlier about Sophia's life and connections.
Jason's face turned a shade paler as the reality of the situation hit him. He'd been trying to show off, but now he realized he was hopelessly outmatched. Swallowing his pride, he hurriedly stepped forward, bowing slightly in Sophia's direction.
"Sophia, I had no idea," Jason stammered, his voice filled with genuine regret. "I'm really, truly sorry for what I said earlier. It was completely out of line." He then turned to his friends—his so-called "supporters"—who were now trying to shrink away from the spotlight. "Come on, guys," he urged them, "apologize to Sophia. We've all been complete jerks tonight."
One by one, the group mumbled their apologies, each trying to outdo the other in sincerity. "We're really sorry, Sophia. We didn't mean any harm. It was all in good fun, we swear."
Sophia, though slightly amused by the sudden shift in their attitudes, remained calm and composed. She didn't need their apologies, but it was clear that the night had taken a turn she hadn't anticipated.
She turned to the waiter with a polite smile. "The L*lmb*rghini is my husband's. I'll let him know to have it moved right away."
The waiter nodded gratefully and quickly scurried off to avoid any further awkwardness.
Jason, still trying to make amends, looked at Sophia again, his expression one of pleading. "I really am sorry, Sophia. I never meant to offend you. Please, let me know if there's anything I can do to make it up to you."
Sophia gave him a measured smile. "Apology accepted, Jason. Just remember that it's never a good idea to underestimate people. You never know who you might be dealing with."
Jason nodded vigorously, clearly eager to put the whole incident behind him. He then turned to his friends, who were all trying to disappear into the background. "Come on, let's not make things worse. We should go."
As Jason and his entourage shuffled out of the bar, Lily turned to Sophia with a smirk. "Well, that was satisfying, wasn't it?"
Sophia laughed softly. "I didn't expect any of that, but yes, it was. And I have to say, your timing was perfect."
Lily grinned. "What can I say? I live for the drama."
They shared a light-hearted moment, the tension from earlier dissipating into the night air. As they stepped outside, Lucas was already standing by the L*mb*rghini, talking to the valet who had been sent to find him. When he saw Sophia, a relieved smile spread across his face.
"There you are," Lucas said as he walked over to her, slipping his arm around her waist. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine," Sophia assured him. "Just some old classmates getting a little too comfortable."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, glancing at the group of people who were now awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact as they made their way to the parking lot. "I take it they learned their lesson?"
Sophia nodded with a small smile. "I think so."
"Well, that's good to hear," Lucas said, leaning down to kiss her gently on the lips. "Shall we head home?"
Sophia nodded, feeling all the stress from the evening melt away in his presence. "Yes, let's go home."
As they drove away in the L*mb*rghini, Lily watched them with a smile, feeling genuinely happy for her friend. The night had taken an unexpected turn, but in the end, it had only served to reinforce the bond between Sophia and Lucas, and remind everyone else that appearances can be very deceiving.