Poof! Wife Status, ERASED

Chapter 5: Are You Hiding Something from Me?

Ethan Vanderbilt had just settled into his car when his phone buzzed with a series of photos. His fingers swiped through them, his throat tightening as a dark desire flickered in his eyes. With a quick jerk of the steering wheel, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan swerved away from Sunshine Street.

Less than twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang at the Vanderbilt mansion. Emily Vanderbilt breezed in, carrying two large boxes of pan-fried buns, slightly out of breath as she announced, "Sophia! My brother had an emergency at work, so he sent me—your humble servant—to deliver these to the superstar!"

Sophia Roberts knew it was a lie, but at this point, she didn't even care.

In just a few days, she wouldn't have to bear this torment of lies and betrayal anymore.

After forcing down a few bites, Sophia excused herself, claiming she was tired, and retreated to her bedroom. Emily immediately noticed her strange behavior and rushed to defend her brother, even joking that if Ethan ever dared to hurt Sophia, she'd personally "clean house" for her.

"Don't worry, Sophia! Ethan said he has a surprise planned for you the day after tomorrow!"

Sophia forced a smile at her sister-in-law's innocent face.

When she was gone, maybe Emily would be the only one who genuinely mourned her.

Two days later, Sophia "unwrapped" the so-called surprise.

There was a prominent figure in the fashion industry who Sophia admired deeply—a woman who had retired from the spotlight to create her own globally renowned brand, Blaze. Six months ago, Blaze began searching for a global ambassador. The woman had spent three days in Oceanview City, but Sophia had been stuck on set and missed the chance to meet her.

To Sophia's shock, Ethan had tracked the woman all the way to France, pulling strings to bring her back to Oceanview City.

Sophia and the woman immediately hit it off, but when offered the chance to be the global ambassador, Sophia turned it down.

The woman was taken aback. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime! Why would you refuse? You're perfect for it."

Sophia gave a bitter smile. A brand ambassador contract meant years of commitment, constant events, and endless travel.

And she… would soon be gone.

The woman seemed to understand, sighing. "I suppose we'll have to work together some other time then."

"But I have to say," she continued, "your husband really adores you. He arranged a private flight just to track me down. Scared me half to death! I thought I was being kidnapped, but instead, I found a man willing to risk everything just to make his wife's dream come true."

Before the words could fully settle, Ethan stormed in and kissed Sophia passionately. "Baby, I missed you."

Cameras flashed, capturing the moment. The woman couldn't help but laugh, calling them "disgustingly sweet."

Their love story was already a public spectacle, and today was supposed to be about announcing Blaze's new ambassador. Everyone assumed it would be Sophia—until the woman surprised everyone by declaring the position was still open.

"Why?" a reporter asked. "Did you find Ms. Roberts unsuitable?"

The woman sighed. "Sophia and I clicked right away, and I would've loved for her to represent my brand. But she turned me down."

The room went silent. The media buzzed, but none were as shocked as Ethan. Having known Sophia for so long, he understood how much she revered this woman.

Why would she refuse?

A chill ran through him, seeping deep into his bones. He grabbed Sophia and pulled her into a tight embrace, as if trying to dispel the dread curling inside him.

"Baby, didn't you always want to work with her? Why did you say no?"

His voice wavered, and his eyes shone with uncertainty. "Baby… are you hiding something from me?"