I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 48

**Through Silent Meadows We Trace Stories Left Behind Yesterday**
by Asa Rowan Flint

“Sophie, slow down—” Liam began, his voice laced with concern, but the moment his eyes caught sight of Marcus, he straightened his posture, adopting a more formal demeanor.

“Good morning, Mr. Morgan,” he greeted, his tone polite yet cautious.

Marcus, however, offered no reply. Instead, he strode into the elevator with an air of assuredness, each step deliberate and commanding. The tailored lines of his suit hugged his muscular thighs, an image that suddenly flooded Sophie’s mind with vivid memories of the chaos that had unfolded the previous night.

“Not getting in?” Marcus’s deep voice sliced through her reverie, drawing her attention. His intense gaze pinned her in place, making her heart race.

Feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her, Sophie swallowed hard and quickly stepped into the elevator, her eyes cast downward, avoiding his piercing stare.

As the doors slid shut, an oppressive silence enveloped the three of them. The air felt thick, heavy with unspoken tension, as they stood in a confined space, each lost in their own thoughts.

Sophie faced away from both men, but she could sense Marcus’s eyes on her, gliding over her form intermittently. It was unsettling, that awareness of his scrutiny, and it made her heart clench with unease.

Liam stood right beside her, seemingly oblivious to the charged atmosphere. Did Marcus not care about being caught stealing glances at her?

Ding—the elevator came to a halt.

A quiet sigh of relief escaped Sophie’s lips as the doors opened.

“I’ll go get the car,” Liam announced, giving Marcus a respectful nod before stepping out.

Now, only Marcus and Sophie remained in the empty hallway, the air still thick with unspoken words.

Sophie stepped out first, her heart pounding.

“Are you going out together?” Marcus’s voice was inscrutable, his expression unreadable.

Sophie nodded, a hint of hesitation creeping into her demeanor. Then, a thought struck her. “By the way, about Liam’s head…”

“Sophie, come on, get in!” Liam called out, having pulled the car up beside her with an eager grin.

She abruptly halted her sentence, waved at Marcus in a hurried farewell, and slipped into the car, the door shutting behind her with a soft thud.

Marcus remained rooted to the spot, watching the vehicle drive away, his expression darkening with an unsettling thought.

Was she genuinely worried about Liam? Had she come to confront him out of concern for her friend’s injury?

Sophie felt a shiver run down her spine, her skin crawling at his words. She rubbed her arms, trying to shake off the discomfort. “Can you not be so creepy?”

Liam chuckled, unfazed, and without warning, he placed his hand on her lower belly, a gesture that felt too intimate.

“Good thing we have a baby now. No matter how much those men want you, you’re already mine,” he declared, a mix of pride and possessiveness in his tone.

“Sophie, I swear I’ll treat you well from now on,” he promised, his eyes earnest.

She smacked his hand away, her irritation bubbling to the surface. “Did getting hit in the head mess you up? What are you even saying?”

“It’s nothing,” he replied quickly, waving off her concern. “Let’s go ride the carousel first.”

With a gentle nudge, he urged her forward, oblivious to her discomfort.

What Sophie couldn’t see was Liam casting a discreet glance toward a nearby shrub, giving a small, almost imperceptible nod.

Meanwhile, Irene had just finished shopping for baby supplies and was making her way to a nearby café.

As she entered, a few wealthy socialites caught sight of the items in her hands, their eyes lighting up with curiosity. They exchanged glances, the air thick with intrigue and whispered gossip, as they wondered about the unexpected visitor in their midst.