Chapter 40

Sophia remained silent.

From the moment Liam first approached her, she could tell he saw her as nothing more than a plaything—a diversion for the wealthy to amuse themselves with.

She couldn’t afford to play his games, but she also couldn’t risk offending him. With a forced smile, she kept walking.

"Get in," Liam called out, resting his arm lazily on the car window. His grin was teasing. "Relax, I don’t bite. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t dare. My cousin Ethan would turn me into mincemeat."

Sophia shot him a wary glance.

Liam parked abruptly, stepping out to open the passenger door. "If you keep walking alone at night, you might run into someone far worse than me. What then?"

She hesitated—then slid into the seat.

The moment the door shut, Liam hit the gas, taking a sharp turn that sent her tumbling against him. His arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her with surprising strength.

"Mr. Sterling—let me out!" Sophia jerked away.

But he only held her for a second before releasing her, his grip firm yet oddly warm.

"Buckle up," he said, amused. "Wouldn’t want you flying through the windshield."

Sophia bit her lip. "Thank you."

"You’re quiet. Too quiet." Liam glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "For someone who looks like a timid country girl, you’ve got nerve. Showing up at my cousin’s little selection party? Did you really think you could become the next Mrs. Blackwood?"

She didn’t answer.

There was no point. No matter what she said, it would sound like an excuse.

Liam wasn’t someone she needed to explain herself to.

So she stayed silent, staring out the window.

He didn’t seem bothered. "Thinking about Alexander, huh?"

Sophia tensed.

She was thinking about him—the man named Alexander Kensington.

Would he really lend her the money?

They’d barely spoken. Why would he?

But without it, how would she pay for the camera she’d damaged?

"Smart girl," Liam mused. "You know Ethan’s out of reach, so you set your sights on Alexander instead. Clever. But the Thorntons don’t mess around. Their patriarch would never let him waste time on some stray."

Sophia exhaled sharply. "I—"

Liam caught her gaze in the mirror, smirking like a cat toying with its prey.

He found her amusing—this scrappy, ambitious little thing, all wide-eyed and desperate.

The game was getting more entertaining by the minute.

"So," he said casually, "where am I dropping you?"

Sophia snapped back to reality. "Anywhere with a bus stop is fine."

"Not hungry?"

She shook her head.

"Too bad. I am."

Sophia blinked.

Liam shrugged. "Too busy scouting pretty faces at the party to eat. Then I had to chase after you like some knight in shining armor. Now I’m starving."

Her fingers curled into her palms. "I… don’t have money."

He laughed. "Don’t worry. This one’s on me."