I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 64

**TITLE: Through Silent Meadows We Trace Stories Left Behind**

**Chapter 64**

An impenetrable air surrounded Marcus now, a palpable barrier that made Sophie hesitant to find herself alone in his company.

“Not coming up?” His voice, though low, carried a weight that felt heavy in the air.

Sophie bit her lip, her mind racing. “I just remembered something. You go ahead; I’ll be up in a bit.”

“Are you avoiding me?” The darkness in his tone sent a shiver through her. “Sophie, I specifically told you to keep your distance from others, not from me.”

“I’m not avoiding you!” Sophie blurted out, the frustration bubbling to the surface.

Marcus pressed the button for the elevator, his unwavering gaze fixed on her. It was as though he was a stone wall, and she had no choice but to either step inside or be crushed by the weight of his stare.

The atmosphere thickened, a tension so tangible that Sophie felt it wrap around her like a heavy cloak. With a reluctant sigh, she stepped into the elevator, the doors sliding shut behind her with a finality that echoed in her mind.

As the elevator began its ascent, Marcus’s voice broke the silence, a question laced with suspicion. “Was dinner with Ryan just to thank him?”

“Yes,” Sophie replied quickly, her heart racing. “I’ve had some things I need Ryan’s help with. I couldn’t just let him help me for free.”

The moment those words left her lips, a chill crept down her spine, as if she had inadvertently spoken a forbidden truth.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. Had she said something wrong? Why did it feel like Marcus’s mood had darkened even further, like a storm cloud rolling in?

The thought gnawed at her, lingering in her mind until they reached their floor, but she couldn’t unravel the mystery of his sudden shift in demeanor.

Desperate to lighten the mood, Sophie spoke up as they approached the door. “Didn’t we agree that you’d have dinner with me tomorrow? When would be a good time for you?”

“I’m not eating,” Marcus replied curtly, swiping the keycard to open the door. He strode in with an air of finality, leaving Sophie standing in the doorway, perplexed and frustrated. Why did it seem like he was even angrier now?

Later that evening, a secretary discreetly sent a series of photos to Liam.

As he opened them, his brows knitted together in a storm of anger.

The phone rang, and he answered it swiftly, his voice sharp.

“Mr. Morgan, Miss Chandler met with Ryan again. The person who was following her overheard the owner refer to Miss Chandler as Ryan’s girlfriend. Neither of them denied it.”

“And Miss Chandler inquired about the transfer. Our people didn’t catch everything, so we’re uncertain about the rest of their discussion.”

Liam’s mind raced. “No wonder she’s been so hot and cold with me lately. So she really is getting involved with another man.”

His grip on the phone tightened, knuckles whitening. “Gather more evidence of Sophie’s affair. I’ll find a use for it.”

If Sophie agreed to marry him, that would be one thing. But if she refused, this could be the evidence that tarnished her reputation forever.

The following morning, Sophie awoke with the dawn, a sense of determination coursing through her veins. She slipped into the dress she had meticulously prepared the night before, calling her makeup artist and stylist to come to the hotel for her transformation.

The Starlight Cup was set to commence in the afternoon, and as the hours ticked down, the anticipation built within her.

The event was to be held at the South City Grand Theater, a landmark renowned for its unique eggshell-like architecture that had inspired countless contemporary artists.

For any aspiring designer, participating in an event at the Grand Theater was a prestigious honor, and winning here was a dream cherished by many.

This was not Sophie’s first visit to the theater; however, it marked her inaugural entry as a contestant.

“Sophie, that’s the contestant seating area. What are you doing there?” Celine raised her voice, drawing the attention of several onlookers.

“Use your brain and think about why I’m heading to the contestant seating area,” Sophie replied, a hint of sass in her tone.

Celine scoffed, disbelief etched on her face. “Sophie, don’t tell me you’re actually competing in the Starlight Cup too?”

“That’s ridiculous! Sure, you graduated from a prestigious university, and your graduation project was commendable. But who doesn’t know that ever since you graduated, you’ve been chasing after Liam? You haven’t even touched a pencil these past few years, and now you’re suddenly talking about design work?”

“Don’t tell me you know that Liora himself is coming today, so you’re just here to ride on his coattails?”

Sophie frowned, curiosity piqued. How did Celine know about Liora’s presence?

“Liora is an idol for all designers. Sophie, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave now. If you stay and try to ride on his fame, don’t blame us fans for making things difficult for you!”

At those words, a wave of disdain rippled through the crowd surrounding them, all of them fervent followers of Liora, unwilling to let someone like Sophie, a love-struck girl, steal his spotlight!

“So you’re a fan of Liora?” Sophie raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Someone like you doesn’t deserve to speak Liora’s name. Just hearing you say it lowers the class!”

Celine’s face lit up with a lovestruck glow at the mere mention of Liora, sending a shiver down Sophie’s spine.

If only Celine knew that she was, in fact, Liora! Would she wish she could rip her own tongue out?

“Sophie, what are you doing here?”

Liam, representing Liora, had just entered the Grand Theater and spotted Sophie immediately.