I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 86

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

**Trustration**

Cheptos sa

The fake taxi stood idly by, its engine humming softly, as Sophie felt an unsettling wave of anxiety wash over her. She had steeled herself for this moment, her heart pounding in her chest as she prepared to confront the tangled web of emotions that had ensnared her. The thought of Ethan’s disapproving gaze made her feet feel heavy, as if she were wading through thick mud.

“Hope you’re doing well,” she murmured to herself, trying to muster the courage she so desperately needed.

As she entered the small, cluttered office, she spotted Ethan standing, his posture rigid, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. He was pacing like a caged animal, his eyes darting toward her with an intensity that made her stomach churn.

“Ethan,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “Stop preventing us from being together. Don’t you want to see your sister happy?”

Before Ethan could respond, Sophie felt a surge of determination. “Liam, you should go back first. I’ll discuss this matter properly with my brother. Don’t worry about it.”

Liam, sensing the urgency in her voice, nodded quickly. “Alright, then I’ll go first.” He wasn’t keen on lingering in the tension-filled room any longer.

As Sophie escorted Liam outside, the cool breeze brushed against her skin, offering a momentary reprieve. With no one around, Liam leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “Sophie, if your brother really doesn’t agree, maybe we should just tell him about the child…”

Sophie’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing as she cut him off. “Liam,” she said, her tone icy, “this matter is my bottom line. If you go behind my back and spill it, then we won’t get married.”

Liam, sensing the gravity of her words, quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I swear I absolutely won’t mention this before we get married.”

“Mm, you should go now,” Sophie replied, her demeanor growing colder.

Liam noticed the shift in her attitude and panic flickered in his eyes. “Sophie, I already swore! Why are you still angry?”

“I really hate it when you bring up the child,” she admitted, her voice trembling with frustration. “It feels like you’re trying to threaten me with it.”

“I want to marry you because of love, not because of the child. Do you understand?” His voice softened, pleading for her to see his sincerity.

“Just don’t mention the child again in the future, or I’ll really get angry.” Sophie’s words were firm, resolute in their intent to prevent Liam from using their child as leverage.

Liam nodded, his tone gentle. “Alright, I’ll never mention it again. Then I’ll go now.”

“Good,” Sophie replied, offering him a smile as she saw him off. But the moment he turned away, her smile vanished, replaced by a weight of anxiety that settled heavily on her chest.

“Sophie…”

Ethan’s sudden appearance startled her, and she instinctively placed a hand over her heart, trying to calm the rapid beating.

“Why were you with him?” Ethan demanded, his tone sharp, laced with suspicion. “To push up the date of your engagement with Liam? Why are you bringing him home?”

“You don’t understand,” Sophie said, her voice trembling as she struggled to keep her composure. “It’s complicated.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed, frustration boiling beneath the surface. “What’s complicated about it? You’re my sister, and I just want what’s best for you.”

Sophie felt the heat rise in her cheeks, her frustration bubbling over. “Ethan, don’t overreact. You’re not seeing the bigger picture.”

Ethan took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. “I just want to protect you, Sophie. But it feels like you’re making decisions without thinking them through.”

“Exactly,” Ryan affirmed. “And I can’t help but notice your situation with Liam. Given how things have escalated, you probably don’t really intend to marry him, do you?”

Sophie, oblivious to the probing nature of his question, nodded earnestly. “This is just a temporary measure. I could never marry him.”

A flicker of joy crossed Ryan’s face, but he quickly masked it. “Then tell me your plan. Perhaps Liora’s matter and the engagement can be resolved together.”

Sophie hesitated, her lips pressed into a thin line. Breaking off an engagement was a deeply personal matter, one that their social circle deemed taboo to discuss publicly.

“Please trust me,” Ryan urged, his tone earnest. “In this world, anyone might hurt you, but I could never do anything to harm you.”

His serious demeanor, coupled with the complexity in his eyes, made Sophie feel an inexplicable trust in him. She had fought alone for far too long, and the prospect of having someone by her side brought her a sense of relief.

“Alright, I’ll tell you,” she finally said, determination settling in her voice.

“Through this failed attempt to catch him cheating, I can sense that Liam’s scheming runs too deep. Going head-to-head with him might very well result in mutual destruction.”

“So I’ve decided to pretend to surrender, make him lower his guard against me. That way, it’ll be easier to gather evidence against him.”

Sophie paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “Last time at the hotel, I found a woman’s hair on Liam. That hair still had the follicle attached, so it was obviously deliberately pulled out by that woman and left on him.”

“Was that woman making a statement?” Ryan asked, confusion evident in his voice. He didn’t quite grasp the audacity of a mistress leaving such a trace behind.

Sophie sighed, the weight of her situation pressing down on her. “It seems so. I just need to play my cards right.”