Chapter 144 - 144: That Was Too Much

There was a big lake in the center of the park. It would be cool on summer nights. But it was late autumn, and a wind came from the lake, Sophia was so cold that she couldn't help sneezing.

Albert heard her sneeze. He paused and turned back. "Is it cold?" he asked.

Sophia shook her head, "No. It's alright."

Albert had already taken off his coat, walked behind her and covered her with the coat, "Put it on."

Sophia wanted to say no, but Albert had stridden forward, leaving a tall figure in a shirt. She could see the good muscle lines on his back.

Sophia couldn't catch up with Albert while taking the reluctant Mitch but had to accept his kindness. Afraid that the coat would fall from her, she let go of the leash and reached for the coat with her hands.

Suddenly, there was a crisp sound near her feet, and it seemed to be something that fell out of the pocket.

Sophia looked down and saw a golden pocket watch on the ground, which should have just fallen out of Albert's coat pocket.

There were few people with pocket watches. Most people didn't even wear watches. Sophia picked up the watch and opened it casually to check the time.

When she saw the dial plate, she was paused.

The image on the plate was a picture of her with Albert.

She didn't like to take photos. She remembered Albert pestered her many times before she agreed to take the picture with him. 

At that time, Albert was very aggrieved when she refused him. "I told my friends that I had become Professor Green's assistant, but they didn't believe it. They said I didn't even have a picture that I must be lying!"

Sophia laughed, "There's nothing to be proud of as my assistant. Just let them be."

"No. It matters about my integrity. I'm an honest person. No one should question that." Albert insisted.

Sophia had been pestered by him many times. In order to silence him, she had to agree.

"Let's shoot with your phone," said Sophia.

Albert shook his head. "No. It's so informal… I'll shoot when I'm prepared tomorrow."

It was just a picture. What preparation did he need? Sophia wondered inside.

When Albert arrived the next day, Sophia could barely recognize him.

He permed his hair and wore a suit. Apparently, he had been carefully styled and seemed... older.

He also hired a stylist to serve Sophia, which was turned down.

Albert didn't mind. He asked the stylist to leave, took a chair and sat next to Sophia, and asked the photographer to shoot.

Sophia thought he took it too seriously. He could just take a selfie with his phone. The "preparation" he had was like they were about to… shoot marriage photos.

Was there any necessity to be so formal?

When they finished shooting, the photographer showed Albert the photos on the camera. Albert complained that he seemed older and asked the photographer to edit them later.

Sophia was busy with her work and ignored him.

***

Sophia didn't expect Albert to print the photo on the dial plate.

With the filter, the photo had a hazy sense of beauty. And there were words on the corner.

Sophia couldn't clearly see the words in the dim light of the streetlamp, she could only make out two words: my life.

Did Albert make the watch to prove to his friends that he was her assistant?

That was too much.

Sophia closed the dial and put the watch back in the pocket. Albert walked not far in front of her. He walked faster but would stop for a moment and wait for her to catch up. He never looked back but always within three meters ahead of her as if he had eyes on his back.

As they walked to the lake, Albert stopped.

Sophia thought he was waiting for her to catch up and hurried up. When she walked to his side, he was still standing there, looking at the lake.

Sophia followed his gaze and saw a man standing by the lake. The man faced them sideways, thin, in a black windbreaker. The half face facing them was barely visible under the streetlamp.

"You know him?" Sophia asked, "Is he your friend? Do you want to say hello to him?"

Albert just stared at that man and flatly said, "No… And I don't want to know him."

He was about to leave, but the man turned to them and strode over.

When he got nearer, Sophia saw his look.

The man was thin, and his eyes were slightly sunken, which made them look deep. His nose was straight, and he looked like a westerner.

"Good evening, Mr. Pearson." The man stretched out his hand and showed a polite smile. But the smile seemed to have no warmth.

Albert paused and then reached out and shook hands with the man. "Good evening, Mr. Patton," he said.

Mr. Patton looked to Sophia and smiled, "This girl is your…"

Sophia saw that smile and remembered who he was.

Benjamin had told her that he suspected the murder of the lab fire case might be a Patton, and he had emailed her their files for her analyzing the case.

This person was a young man of Patton's, Eddie Patton.

Now that he was right in front of her, she had a chance to get in touch with him and speculate whether he might be the real culprit.

Sophia smiled, "Good evening, Mr. Patton. I'm a friend of Mr. Pearson, are you too?"

"Not really." Eddie smiled and said, "It's our first meeting. But I heard that… Mr. Pearson is very interested in me, right?"

Albert said in a flat voice, "In the business competition, having no interests in my competitors means no respect to them."

"Then, it's my honor." Eddie laughed. "I'm also interested in you and… Mr. Terry."

Hearing that, Sophia knew that he should have found that Benjamin was investigating him.. She had no contact with Benjamin these days and didn't know how many clues he had got.