Replacement Bride Left With His Baby (Sophia and Easton) novel Chapter 41

**Chapter 41**

A profound stillness enveloped the room as Easton processed the news, his features darkening with each passing second, shadows of concern etched across his brow.

With a suddenness that startled even him, he sprang to his feet, shrugging into his coat as he hastily gathered his keys and phone. “Reschedule my afternoon meeting for two hours later,” he called back over his shoulder, his tone clipped and urgent as he strode toward the door. “I need to be at the nursing home.”

Gordon, standing by the desk, watched Easton’s retreating figure with a mix of confusion and concern. This was not the composed, unflappable man he was accustomed to.

‘Is something wrong with Mrs. Irene Foster? That seems highly improbable. Just this morning, I personally relayed Dr. Zane’s update confirming her good health. What could possibly warrant such an immediate response from Easton?’ he pondered, a frown creasing his forehead.

Easton’s car sped through the streets, the city blurring past him as he focused solely on reaching the nursing home. Upon entering Irene’s room, a wave of unease washed over him as he discovered it completely deserted—neither Irene nor Sophia was present.

Spotting a nurse hurriedly passing by, he intercepted her with a sense of urgency. “Excuse me, have you seen my grandmother?” he inquired, his voice steady but laced with concern.

The nurse, visibly startled at being addressed by the renowned CEO of the Foster Group, lowered her eyes, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “I… I just saw Ms. Roth take her to the garden for a walk,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Easton nodded, gratitude flickering in his gaze before he turned away, the nurse’s excitement palpable as she rushed back to the front desk, her heart racing. “Oh my, Mr. Foster is absolutely stunning. I heard he and Ms. Roth were actually married at one point,” she gushed to her colleagues, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

“I know,” another nurse chimed in, her voice filled with intrigue. “I only found out after stumbling across some old tabloids. It’s such a pity it only lasted a year.”

“Well, that’s the way these business marriages often go,” a third nurse added sagely. “But you’d think a catch like him could have made it work, especially with someone as beautiful as her. It’s strange, isn’t it?”

Meanwhile, Easton crossed the expanse of lawn with purposeful strides, his heart racing with anticipation. As he reached the back garden, he spotted Sophia kneeling beside his grandmother, their laughter mingling with the gentle breeze as they prepared to fly a kite.

The intensity of his own feelings unsettled him, leaving him on edge, as if he were a ship tossed about in a stormy sea.

When Easton finally stepped into the company’s conference room, he found Gordon waiting patiently by the door, files clutched in his hands, a knowing look in his eyes.

Easton pushed aside the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind, his expression settling back into its familiar mask of impassivity as he instructed Gordon to summon the senior executives for an immediate meeting. Work was the only refuge that could offer him clarity amid the chaos.

Having served as Easton’s secretary for years, Gordon had developed an uncanny ability to read his boss’s moods with ease. He sensed the brewing storm within Easton, the tension that hung in the air like a heavy mist.

Yet, he knew better than to pry into Easton’s personal life, though a quiet conviction was building within him—Sophia was undoubtedly the catalyst for Easton’s recent emotional upheaval.