Chapter 292

“Okay,” Jenny replied with a forced smile, but her smile looked worse than her crying.

Sophia stared at Jenny, and for some reason, she felt uncomfortable about something. Her right eye twitched a few times. It was a feeling of insecurity. Her heart was beating wildly because of it. She pressed on her right eye in an attempt to stop it from twitching, but it was pointless.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you’re suffering from depression?” Sophia walked to the side of her luggage and started to help unpack it.

Jenny’s eyes flashed as she replied guiltily, “Stop bothering yourself with it. I remember you can’t even fold a piece of clothing. Once you’re done, I’ll still need to tidy everything up.”

She lowered her head and did not look at Sophia. There was a slightly anxious look on her face.

“I know how to do it now.” Sophia lowered her eyes.

Jenny stopped whatever she was doing and broke down in tears. “That’s right, you were in prison for two years and spent a few months at Dream Club. You would have had plenty of chores to handle.”

Jenny covered her face with her hands, but the tears continued to flow through the gaps between her fingers. She was sobbing badly. “It’s... It’s my fault. This is all... This is all my fault. If I found out earlier about that terrible plan your father had, you wouldn’t have...”

Sophia stood up and took a few tissues to pass to her. “It’s all over, let’s not talk about it. Why didn’t you tell me something as serious as your depression?”

Jenny took the tissues from her hand and wiped her tears. It took her a while to recover herself before she smiled bitterly. “It’s really nothing important. What is there to tell you about?

“You’ve come close to death’s door numerous times, and as your mom, I was never by your side. I even went as far as to pour salt on your wound.

What right do I have to ask for your sympathy by telling you about something as minor as my depression?”

Silence.

Sophia replied, “Our family is all broken up now from all those past shenanigans because it was Leah Jones’ fault, but it was also my fault. Even you and Dad had your faults. Everyone played a part in it. You can’t put all the blame on yourself.

“I...” Jenny could only manage one word before swallowing the rest of her sentence.

She shook her head and continued, “You don’t understand. This is all my fault. If I wasn’t so stupid, too easily manipulated, too useless, it...”

Her voice got lower as she continued speaking, and Sophia could hardly hear her by the end of the sentence.

“What did you say at the end?” Sophia’s right eye twitched a few more times before stopping. She still felt that something was not right.

Jenny sniffled and tried her best to smile. “Nothing.”

Downstairs.

James and Charles were sitting on the sofas placed at two ends of a table. The fragrant aroma of tea wafted from the table, calming the heart and refreshing the mind.

“Have a taste. This is Xinyang Maojian tea which I’ve recently bought.” James picked up his cup and blew on it, pursing his lips slightly. There was a satisfied look on his face, but his gaze subtly fell on Charles.

He watched as Charles picked up the cup and had a taste. His actions were fluid with a touch of elegance that would be difficult for others to copy.

Charles tasted the tea in his mouth for a while before slowly swallowing it. He then sighed with appreciation. “That’s good tea.”

James was slightly relieved when he heard Charles’ praise. “Charles, you do know your tea. Sterling gulps it down like a bull. He doesn’t really know to appreciate tea, so he only ends up wasting my good stuff!”

Charles took another two sips before placing his cup down. “From what I gather, Sterling enjoys collecting antiques. Not only does he collect them, but he evaluates them as well. He’s someone even professional evaluators give praise to. I could never compare to him when it comes to evaluating antiques. In fact, I can’t compare at all.”

“It’s just a hobby that requires throwing money away, it’s nothing too significant,” James said casually.

Charles laid back, leaning on the sofa. “How is it insignificant? Archaeological experts, antique market owners, and antique evaluators... So many of them would covet a good pair of eyes.”

James frowned. “If he could truly use what little ability he has on business, it would make me happy, but besides learning antique evaluation from those so-called experts, all he does is bid for things in auctions. Let’s not talk about the fact that he throws millions into those biddings and not a single cent of return can be seen from it!”

Charles laughed. “Well, this is your doing. You didn’t guide Sterling well in the art of business and didn’t make good use of his abilities. It’s no wonder he can’t bring home a single cent of return.”

James did not want to stay any longer on this topic and steered the conversation away. “... He’s different from you and isn’t a good businessman. Tell me, what sort of business do you have in mind to discuss with me about?”

His expression looked normal, but there was a bright light hidden deep in his eyes.

A quick sarcastic look flashed in Charles’ eyes as he replied casually, “If I want to have Harris Corporation in the palm of my hands in a short time, I’d have to break up with Sophia. What would you choose if you were me?”

This was not what James wanted to hear. The light in his eyes disappeared in an instant as he replied disinterestedly, “If I were you, I’d choose to continue my life with the person I love.”

Charles smiled slightly and said meaningfully, “Why do I feel that this wouldn’t really be the choice you’ll make?”

James sighed. “All I can say is that you’re wrong about this. Soph has always been as stubborn as a donkey since she was young. Once she decides on something, she’ll never look back unless she hits a wall. If you choose the company now, you’ll regret it.”

Charles raised an eyebrow. “Oh? It’s not because of the fact that you won’t get any benefits if I give Sophia up?”

James stiffened at Charles' direct statement. “Of course not. I always thought that even if Sterling and my family misunderstood me, at the very least, you would understand.”

“Why do you think so?” Charles sat up straight as he picked up his cup to take another sip.

James smiled bitterly. “Because you made the same decision as I did. Soph is in your heart, yet you did not blatantly reject the marriage of convenience proposed by the Jones family. Isn’t it because of furthering your career?”

Charles frowned ever so slightly.

James’ voice started to escalate a little. “Actually, I do think that it would be the best choice for you. It would make no difference to be with Soph later once you’ve gathered enough power. Although, in the eyes of women, this would mean betraying the loyalties of love. It’s considered totally unreasonable to them!”

James’ voice went to a higher point at the end of the last sentence, his voice almost breaking.

Charles picked up the teapot and refilled James’ cup. He pushed the cup toward James but did not say anything.

“Tell me, if you were in my position two years ago, would you have given up the White family and White Industries over Sophia, or choose to give up one individual, who is Sophia, in order to save the White family and White Industries?

“This is an obvious choice. Sacrificing Sophia was unavoidable, and it was also the decision with the least damage. I was doing it for the good of everyone, yet in the end, no one truly understood my choices!” James was so angry that his face and ears were red. He picked up the cup to drink his Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!

Chapter 291 Are You Trying To Murder Me tea but did not expect it to be scalding hot. James almost threw the cup on the ground from being scalded.

Charles’ long, slender legs were placed together while his hands rested on his knees. He nodded and said, “Yes, if it was me, I would definitely have chosen to do the same as you.”