"We just had western food for lunch, so I want to try something different for dinner," Sophie Smith replied.

Without a word, Oliver Johnson took them to an authentic Chinese restaurant.

They booked a private room on the second floor, where it was quite peaceful.

Before the dishes were served, Eva Miller kept chatting with Oliver Johnson, who was naturally very gentlemanly, so he answered every question she had.

Sophie couldn’t get a word in and sat quietly drinking her tea.

During the meal, a phone call suddenly came in. After glancing at it, she saw it was Asher Land calling, probably to check why she wasn’t home for dinner.

Seeing Eva Miller and Oliver Johnson chatting happily, Sophie quietly stepped outside without interrupting them.

Oliver Johnson’s gaze followed her, causing him to be distracted even while talking to Eva Miller.

Eva Miller didn’t mind and mumbled something under her breath.

"Looks like Sophie won’t be able to finish this meal; surely President Land called her back home!"

President Land? Asher Land?

His grip on the teacup tightened slightly.

...

Sophie walked all the way to the bathroom before taking out her phone to return Asher Land’s call.

The phone was already showing low battery and was about to shut down, so she didn’t hesitate to dial his number quickly, thinking she just needed to inform him of her current whereabouts.

Not long after, Asher Land picked up the call.

"I’m having dinner at a restaurant near the company with Eva, I’ll be back around ten tonight, oh, my phone is running out of battery, so..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she heard the sound of the phone shutting down.

Sophie breathed a sigh of relief in her heart; thankfully, she had said everything she wanted to tell him.

Asher Land looked at the disconnected call and helplessly curled his lips.

Actually, he called her to tell her he was going back to the European headquarters to handle some matters and probably wouldn’t return until half a month later. Yet, this woman didn’t let him say anything at all.

The flight was at nine forty-five in the evening, and he was already at the airport.

But he thought, if he told her he would be away for half a month, she might be so excited she’d be speechless, after all, she had always been thinking about leaving him and wanted freedom.

Still, why does the thought of not seeing her for half a month make his heart feel so heavy?

...

When Sophie returned to the private room, the food was already served.

"Try some and see if it suits your taste?" Oliver Johnson attentively placed some dishes in her bowl.

"Thank you." She ate with a bit of restraint, remembering her phone was dead, she borrowed a charger from Oliver Johnson. After rebooting the phone, in just a short ten minutes, several missed calls appeared, she thought it was Asher Land at first, but upon checking, she realized it was Charlotte Harrison.

"Is there something wrong?" She returned the call.

"Sophie, come back quickly! Your dad is hospitalized, it’s terminal lung cancer! I swear to God, I’m not lying, please come back soon."

"What!" The news hit her like a bolt from the blue, causing her mind to momentarily blank.

"Sophie, what’s wrong?" Both Oliver Johnson and Eva Miller looked at her worriedly.

"My dad is sick; I need to return to Southern County immediately." She grabbed her bag and started walking out.

"I’ll take you there," Oliver Johnson blocked her path, his eyes firm.

"No need."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com