Bankrupt Tycoon? No Problem – This Villainess Will Make Him Rich Again

Chapter 145: Chapter 148: Sonia Quincy (Green Tea Version)

"Crying?"

That word was a jab to Ethan Lockwood’s heart. He frowned slightly, and almost against his will, took a step toward Sonia Quincy.

Collins immediately stopped him. "Mr. Lockwood, where are you going?"

Ethan Lockwood said without hesitation, "I’m going to see Sonia."

"Huh?" Collins glanced back at the people gathered around them, his expression troubled. "But Mr. Lockwood, there are several business partners waiting to speak with you."

"You go talk to them for me." Ethan Lockwood brushed Collins’s hand away, his brow furrowed in irritation. "The real business is already done. All they want to do now is spout some sycophantic nonsense. You handle them. I’m going to see Sonia."

Before he even finished speaking, Ethan Lockwood was already striding away.

"Mr. Lockwood..." Collins stood there helplessly. He wanted to say something to dissuade him but didn’t dare. In the end, all he could do was watch as Ethan Lockwood walked over to Sonia Quincy.

’Sigh...’ He let out a breath, then composed his expression and turned to deal with those long-winded old men for Mr. Lockwood.

"Sonia?"

Ethan pulled out a chair and sat down beside Sonia as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Sonia turned her head at the sound of his voice. When she saw Ethan Lockwood’s cold, handsome face, a perfectly timed flash of shock crossed her reddened eyes.

A smile touched Ethan Lockwood’s lips. "What are you doing here?" he asked softly. "And why are you crying?"

"..." Sonia shot him a glare and impatiently turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

He didn’t mind. "Did something happen?" he pressed.

Sonia sniffled, keeping her face turned away. Then, she theatrically raised a hand to wipe away the eye drops clinging to the corner of her eye. "None of your business," she snapped.

Ethan Lockwood loved that headstrong, unreasonable streak in her. Being snapped at didn’t make him angry; in fact, it made him smile even more broadly.

"It’s not my business, no. But can’t I ask?"

Sonia scowled at him fiercely. "Did I say you could ask?"

The corners of Ethan Lockwood’s mouth curved up as he shook his head. "You didn’t. But I asked anyway."

"...Get lost." Sonia didn’t want to banter with him. She scooted her chair around so her back was facing him.

The fiercer she was, the more interesting he found it. He propped his chin on his hand and tilted his head, trying to see her face.

"Sonia, did something happen to you? Why are you sitting here crying all by yourself? Where’s Felix Preston?"

"Don’t you mention him to me!"

That string of questions seemed to strike a nerve. Sonia’s tone was suddenly even fiercer than before.

Ethan Lockwood froze for a second, then suddenly understood something.

"What is it?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze on Sonia’s face holding a faint trace of excitement. "Why can’t I mention Felix Preston to you?"

"...No reason." Sonia bit her lip in anger. Her tone was still fierce, but her expression was now visibly tinged with grievance.

"Anyway, just don’t mention him to me."

That didn’t sound right at all. With just a moment of thought, Ethan Lockwood could guess what had likely happened between Sonia and Felix Preston.

He raised an eyebrow meaningfully. He wasn’t just going to mention him; he was going to pry and get to the bottom of it.

"What’s wrong? Why such a huge reaction when I bring up Felix Preston? Did he bully you?"

Sonia pressed her lips together in frustration. "It has nothing to do with you."

"So he did bully you." Ethan Lockwood was instantly sure of his guess. He placed a hand on Sonia’s shoulder, unable to hide his excitement. "Aren’t you two supposed to be so great together? Weren’t you dead set on living a happy life with him? How did he suddenly end up bullying you?"

"Tell me about it?"

Sonia irritably shook off his hand. "Why should I tell you? Who do you think you are?"

Ethan Lockwood answered righteously, "I’m the ex-boyfriend you once loved so deeply. Putting aside all the unpleasantness, we were entangled with each other for years. That bond is probably deeper than whatever you have with Felix Preston, right?"

"..." Sonia lowered her eyes in silence, deliberately putting on an act of having no rebuttal.

Ethan Lockwood stared at her, encouraged by the obvious wavering on her face.

He reached out again, but this time, instead of touching her shoulder, he grabbed the armrests of her chair and swiveled it, her included, to face him.

"Sonia, as the ex-boyfriend you once loved so deeply, I feel it’s my duty to show some concern when you’re feeling vulnerable."

"So, tell me. How did Felix Preston bully you? If he went too far, I can help you take care of him."

"Hmph..." Sonia sneered but stubbornly refused to say anything.

Ethan Lockwood looked at her simple, beautiful face and felt a strange restlessness stir within him. Seeing the crystal-clear droplets on her cheeks, he suddenly found it a shame.

"Don’t cry." He reached out and touched the tears on Sonia’s face, his gaze slowly darkening.

Sonia blinked, and as if to defy him, squeezed out two more tears.

Helpless, he raised a hand to check the pocket of his suit jacket but didn’t find the tissues he was looking for.

"Wait here a second." He got up from his chair, personally walked over to the cafe’s counter to buy a pack of tissues, and then presented it to Sonia.

Sonia knew the tissues at this shop were expensive and didn’t want to take advantage of Ethan Lockwood. She pulled out her phone and said sullenly, "Add me on WeChat. I’ll transfer you the money for the tissues."

Ethan Lockwood was taken aback by her words, then broke into a laugh. "It’s just a pack of tissues. What’s there to transfer? Do I look like I’m short on cash?"

Sonia held up her phone stubbornly. "I don’t care if you’re short on cash or not. The point is, I’m not taking anything from you for free."

"You..." Ethan Lockwood was rendered speechless by her retort, yet he couldn’t bring himself to get angry.

Seeing him hesitate, Sonia pushed the tissues back at him. "If you won’t take the money, then take these back."

"..."

Ethan Lockwood had well and truly lost to her.

It was rare for him to compromise with anyone. He smiled, almost indulgently. "Fine, fine. I’ll add you on WeChat, and you can transfer the money to me."

With that, he took out his phone, pulled up his WeChat QR code, and let Sonia scan it.

The moment she added him, Sonia immediately transferred twenty yuan and ordered him to accept the payment.

He obediently did as she said, then handed the tissues to her again. "Now you can use them without any worries, right?"

Sonia stared at the tissues for a moment before finally agreeing to take them.

She tore open the packaging, took out a tissue, and slowly and meticulously wiped the eye drops from her face.

"Thank you." She temporarily retracted her hostility and, for once, gave Ethan Lockwood a sincere thank you.

Ethan Lockwood’s heart melted at her soft "thank you." A comfortable smile spread across his face, and he said in a contented tone, "So, are you ready to tell me how Felix Preston bullied you now?"

Sonia kept her head down, still reluctant to speak at first. But after a little coaxing from Ethan Lockwood, she relented.

"I found out that Felix... I think he might be..."

"Seeing someone on the side?" Ethan Lockwood finished her sentence for her.