Chapter 371

I used to believe her delicate appearance stemmed from her naturally reserved demeanor—aloof, indifferent, and detached from most worldly concerns. But today, Ethan Blackwood realized with startling clarity that Sophia Montgomery’s complexion was truly flawless.

Especially when well-hydrated, her face glowed with youthful vitality, her skin so supple it seemed to radiate from within. She wore no makeup, yet her natural beauty held his gaze captive.

Noticing his intense scrutiny, Sophia’s cheeks flushed instantly.

The rosy tint spread across her face like twin blossoms. Flustered, she cleared her throat softly. "Um—"

Before she could finish, his lips sealed hers.

What had been interrupted at the driving school’s training lane was now being claimed in full within the privacy of their home. Before she knew it, Ethan had swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

The night’s passion needed no elaboration.

The next morning, Sophia awoke in high spirits.

Life, as it was now, felt nearly perfect. The only shadow cast over her contentment was the lingering question—where was Noah Whitmore?

She didn’t dare ask Ethan.

Their relationship hadn’t yet reached a point where she could casually inquire about his associates. So, she resolved to wait.

After breakfast, Ethan drove Lily to kindergarten as usual, then dropped Sophia near her workplace. From there, she took a detour to the internet café district, where she had been job-hunting for the past week.

Then, on the second Monday morning, barely a stop into her commute, her phone rang.

An unfamiliar landline number flashed on the screen. Her pulse quickened—this had to be a callback from one of her applications. Sure enough, the caller invited her for an interview at a suburban construction site.

Though the location was remote, Sophia didn’t care. A job was a job.

Excitement bubbled within her as she transferred buses, heading toward the designated site. But when she arrived, chaos greeted her—workers clustered in heated arguments.

What was happening?

She nearly turned back, but the thought of wasting the trip gnawed at her. Edging closer, she listened. The dispute centered around a critical design flaw in the foundation—one that had already been laid, with no apparent solution.

Sophia slipped quietly into the fray, absorbing the technical debate before stepping forward. "I can fix this."

Her voice, though soft, carried conviction.

A hard-hatted supervisor scoffed. "You? Some college kid playing around? Get lost. This isn’t a playground."

Unshaken, Sophia held her ground. "I’ve handled similar issues before."

Her experience wasn’t just theoretical. She’d spent years on construction sites, solving practical problems most designers never encountered.

"Sophia?" A familiar voice cut through the tension.

She turned—Julian Montgomery stood there, eyebrows arched in surprise.

"Mr. Montgomery?" Her breath hitched. "What are you doing here?"

He smirked. "This is my company’s project. Why are you here? Did the design department send you?"

Sophia shook her head. "I resigned. I came to apply for a job. But since I’m here, I can help."

Julian’s gaze swept over her, lingering. A week’s absence had done wonders—her skin glowed, her demeanor brighter. And now she claimed she could salvage his troubled project?

Intrigued, he waved off the arguing technicians. "Let’s hear her solution."

Sophia donned a safety helmet and descended into the foundation pit. With precise gestures, she outlined her plan—excavating minimal soil, reinforcing with concrete pillars, then bridging the gap with steel beams.

The technicians fell silent, then erupted in approval.

One grizzled veteran gaped. "How does a girl your age know this?"

Sophia shrugged. "I’ve spent more time on sites than in offices."

Julian watched, stunned. The problem that had stumped his entire team had just been unraveled by this unassuming woman.

As the crew dispersed to implement her solution, Julian cornered her. "Why did you resign?"

Sophia hesitated. "I… didn’t belong there."

It was the truth. That job, comfortable as it was, had never felt right. This site, though farther from Ethan’s penthouse, felt like a fresh start.

Julian’s lips curved. "Well, consider yourself hired."

Sophia blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." His grin widened. "Welcome to Montgomery Designs."

Her heart raced. Fate, it seemed, had other plans.