Chapter 267

When everyone heard what she said, their proper views of life, values, and the world were completely shattered—

"F*ck me, I didn’t know that you can say it this way."

"Tsk. From what she was saying, her daughter isn’t the least bit wrong!"

"The proper views of life, values, and the world aside, I’m genuinely impressed that a person with her IQ could even give birth to a daughter like Leah!"

"I think Audrey is the most pitiful one yet. Her fiancé doesn't like her at all."

Audrey’s complexion was alternating between crimson and blue. She was dying to walk away but she could not.

She walked up to William with fury burning on her face, tugging at him with all her might. "You have knelt and apologized enough, William. Can we go now?"

"You should go. I'm the one who has let you down." William knelt on the ground, not moving an inch. He put on a frosty look on his face, not showing a single response to whatever Audrey and Madam Jones said to him. Every once in a while, he would apologize to Sophia at the top of his voice.

Seeing that there was absolutely no way to make William leave, Madam Jones entered Dream Club and asked, "Where is your club manager? Can you ask him or her to come out and see me?"

"Sure, please wait a minute," the employee said.

At this moment, Marie just happened to sashay down the stairs. She flashed her a beaming smile. "Why are you so angry, Madam Jones? June, go make a cup of tea for Madam Jones to cool her down."

"No!" Madam Jones growled. "You’re in charge of the entrance of the club, right? Hurry up and disperse the crowd. Ask them to go back to doing what they were doing."

Marie sighed. "You have overestimated me. The guests here are wealthy and respectable figures. This isn’t within the power of a mere manager like me. All I can say to you is that I’m sorry."

Marie apologized repeatedly no matter how Madam Jones tried to intimidate and bribe her, saying that she had no power over these guests and asked her to understand. This made Madam Jones hopping mad.

*

Harris Corporation, the president's office.

Charles answered the phone. When he heard the request made by the person on the other end of the call, he sounded like he was put in a dilemma.

"Dad, you know that I was removed from my position as president and my five percent shares have been confiscated. Right now, I am being investigated for financial crime. How can I afford to offend anyone when I’m dealing with internal and external threats right now?"

"Don’t use bureaucratic jargon with me!" Mr. Harris said in a deep voice, "Aunt Lewis said that Dream Club is now jam-packed with people. You are the club’s boss, aren’t you supposed to come forward and deal with it?"

Charles tapped his fingers on the table a few times. "Since you feel sorry for Aunt Lewis, would you like to step forward and deal with it instead, Dad?

The onlookers standing on both entrances are all young juniors, so they would probably listen to you."

"Nonsense!" Mr. Harris said, "They’re all children of rich families and officials. I would only cause unnecessary trouble for the Harris family if I intervene!"

Charles twitched his lips. "I would seem inconsiderate if I insist on not going when you’re already so dead set on getting what you want. Why don’t we do this, I’ll talk to Grandpa and let him know that you want to rescue a beauty like the hero that you are by having an extramarital affair with Aunt Lewis, so you want me to..."

"Charles!" Mr. Harris cut him off. There were traces of warning in his voice.

Charles sneered. “If it doesn’t work either way, then I really don't know what to do anymore. I still have a lot of things to deal with in the company. I’m hanging up."

Having said that, he gave him no chance to respond and hung up the phone straight away.

Charles continued to go through his files but was stuck on the same page after a very long time. He closed his files and stood up, hanging the windbreaker on the crook of his arm, then opened the door of the lounge. "Go out with me."

"What are we going to do?" Sophia frowned, raising her head to look at him, then turned and stood up to put on her coat.

Charles raised his eyebrows vaguely and chuckled. "We’re going to stick up for you."

When Sophia had walked to the door, he extended his hand towards her.

Sophia looked at his well-defined and slender hand and hesitated before putting her hand in his. The curvature hanging on the corners of his mouth widened as he wrapped her hand in his palm, his index finger stroking the back of her hand gently.

Finding it hard to get used to such intimacy, Sophia frowned slightly and backed away subconsciously, trying to break away.

"Don't." Charles lowered his head to look at her, holding her hand tighter.

Sophia pursed her lips and glanced at their interlocking fingers with a complicated look on her face. After getting in the car, she hesitated and said, "Charles, we’re not suitable for each other."

"You were the one who teased me first." Charles closed the door, revved up the car engine, and said in a mild tone, "It’s too late for you to realize that we’re not suitable for each other now."

The scenery outside the window flew by.

"It's my fault. I shouldn’t have overestimated my capabilities and teased you." Sophia said, "You, Leah, and I are worlds apart. I will only be a burden to you if I stay by your side."

Charles stepped on the accelerator and overtook the Volkswagen ahead. "Do you think Sterling and Nicole are a burden?"

Sophia opened her mouth and said after a long while, "...This is different."

"It’s the same." Charles stopped the car at the red light. "Sterling and Nicole are the most important people to you, that’s why you don't think that they are a burden; you’re an important person to me, hence I don't think that you’re a burden."

The Bentley stood out among other cars. The pedestrians crossing the crosswalk would turn over to look at them from time to time.

Sophia chuckled. It was hard to describe the mixed feelings in her heart. "I would probably die of happiness if you said these things to me two years ago."

"What about now?" Charles asked.

Sophia lowered her gaze, the fingers of her right hand digging into her left hand’s index fingernails. "Do you know what kept me alive when I hovered between life and death several times in prison in the last two years?"

Charles's Adam's apple rolled slightly. There seemed to be something surging in his eyes before he suppressed it again.

"It was hatred at first." When she recalled the days she spent in prison, Sophia closed her eyes and chuckled miserably. "Every time I was insulted or bullied, I vowed to myself to get out alive and tell everyone that they have misunderstood me. I want them to feel guilt and regret! Especially you!!!"

Charles' good-looking face was tense. His hand that was holding onto the steering wheel jerked, almost crashing into the Audi next to him.

Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!

Chapter 266 How Dare You Favor An Outsider Instead Of Someone Of Your Own Blood The Audi owner rolled down the car window and yelled something at him. His voice was loud and clear, but he could not hear a single word that he was saying.

"Later, even hatred wasn’t enough for me to hold on. I kept thinking to myself, why should I continue to live such an agonizing life just to make you regret?"

"It was better to die, I thought. Everything will be over once I’m dead. However, I couldn’t stop thinking how unfair this is, hence I thought I should probably die after I see my mom, dad, and Sterling one last time.”

"After I was released from prison, I bumped into you before I could meet any of my family and was turned into an escort lady at Dream Club..."

Sophia's eyes were vacant when she said all these.

There was not much fluctuation in her voice, even her descriptions were flat and dull, without any touch of embellishment. Even so, Charles' heart hurt like tens of millions of insects were gnawing on it.

Pain.

It hurt a thousand times, ten thousand times more than when he was beaten by Grandpa.