Chapter 7 - the Awful gossip

Sofia stood frozen for several minutes before snapping back to reality. She touched her lips with her fingertips, realizing that in that moment of closeness with him, she had actually anticipated a kiss.

After watching Sofia leave, Luna didn't miss the chance to bombard her with messages. She channeled all her questions into texts. 

So when Sofia unlocked her screen, she saw 20 messages from Luna. Most of them were asking how she and Rome met and when they got married. However, the last few messages were the most eye-catching:

[You guys left the bar less than an hour ago, and news of your marriage is already spreading like wildfire in the circle!]  

[It's seriously shocking! The supposedly unreachable Rome got married so suddenly! If it weren't for today's accident, how long were you planning to keep it a secret?]  

[But do you know how awful the gossip is? People are saying you must have used some trick to force Rome to marry you.]  

[They're even claiming that your marriage won't last! I've been fighting back for you!]

Sofia wasn't too bothered by these rumors. There was one thing they got right though—her marriage might not last. But she was deeply touched by her friend's fierce defense of her, so she immediately called Luna to explain how the marriage came about.

"Wow, your grandfather really paved the way for you. I should go ask my own grandfather if he has any high-quality childhood fiancés lined up for me," Luna teased.  

"You know I never had any expectations for marriage, so living politely with him isn't too bad. But for you, that might not work..."  

"Wait, when you say 'politely', you don't mean you're in a sexless marriage, do you?" 

Sofia gripped the phone tightly. "What are you talking about? We sleep in separate rooms."  

"Separate rooms?!" Luna was more shocked by this than the sudden marriage. Realizing she had spoken too loudly, she lowered her voice. "Aren't you two just strangers living under the same roof then? Don't you have any thoughts? He's so handsome."  

Sofia's mind flashed back to what happened in the car, and her face flushed. She didn't seem to mind being close to Rome.  

"Umm... let's just take it one step at a time."

Luna wanted to continue, but she noticed something big on her other phone. "Hey, your sister Ruby just posted that you stole the fiancé who was supposed to be hers. Is she crazy? You're not even from the same mother, the engagement has nothing to do with her! Watch me drag her online."  

She was getting more and more worked up, still holding the call with Sofia while preparing to send Ruby a scathing comment. "Hold on for a second."  

"Luna, you don't need to bother with her..." Sofia didn't find her sister's behavior surprising. Ruby had been like this for a long time, and responding would only stir up more drama.  

But Luna wasn't one to let things go easily. As she opened Ruby's post, though, something strange happened.  

"Huh? Where did it go?" Luna muttered, trying several times to reload the page, but the post was already gone. "Could your husband have had it taken down?"  

A big question mark appeared in Sofia's mind. After thinking for a couple of seconds, she realized it was quite possible. "It was probably Grandpa who asked him to do it."  

"Awww... being protected like this really gives a sense of security."  

Sofia was grateful to Rome for saving her from trouble time and again. She wanted to send him a thank-you message but realized she didn't have his phone number.  

Why not just go over and thank him in person? After hanging up with Luna, she walked to Rome's door and gently knocked twice.  

Rome opened the door, his hair still damp from a recent shower, and his loosely tied bathrobe revealed his toned, muscular chest. Sofia was momentarily stunned, forgetting why she had come.  

After several seconds, she finally said, "Thank you."  

Rome raised an eyebrow. "You already thanked me in the car."  

"It's not about the bar incident. I wanted to thank you for getting the nasty comments about me taken down online."  

"That was Grandpa's indicator."  

So, her guess was right. Still, she was grateful, and she lowered her head, ready to return to her room.  

Rome glanced at her, then typed something on his phone. At the same moment, Sofia's phone buzzed—it was a message from an unknown number with just one word: "here."  

"If you need anything in the future, you can reach me through this number." Though his words were warm, his tone remained cold and distant.  

Sofia's lips curled into a small smile. She immediately saved his number. "Okay, I've saved it."  

She blinked and thanked him again before leaving.

On the third day of his business trip, Rome found himself feeling like time had never moved so slowly. He had gotten used to someone waiting for him at home, which made the cold hotel feel even more empty. 

He called in his assistant. "Compress the schedule and finish everything in the next two days."  

"Got it, is there something more important so I can notice?" It was rare for the CEO to adjust his itinerary, so the assistant assumed there must be a critical meeting. He opened his notebook, ready to jot it down.  

"Nothing else."  

"?" The assistant thought he had misheard for a moment.  

"What's the status of the ring I asked you to have custom-made two days ago?"  

The assistant immediately swiped open his tablet and displayed the styles the jeweler had sent that morning, explaining each photo in detail:  

"This one is a 30-carat pear-shaped diamond from Golconda."  

"This one is a cushion-cut diamond from Cullinan in South Africa."  

"..."

Rome wasn't satisfied with any of these options until the last one—a ring with an Infinite Blue diamond surrounded by small pink diamonds. Though its main stone was only 11 carats, smaller than the others, it had more design appeal and would suit her for everyday wear.  

"This one. It's the right size."  

"Understood." The assistant broke into a sweat, knowing that this vivid blue diamond was the priciest of the lot. Of course, it is obviously no problem for Beckett family.  

Before the assistant could put away the information, Rome added,  

"Buy the pear-shaped Golconda diamond as well."  

"Yes, sir."