Chapter 343

“This is my fault. You told me how serious Mom’s depression was, but I thought it was because you were sensitive due to your pregnancy. If I had been more alert, things might not have escalated to this...” Nicole felt bad after finding out about Jenny slitting her wrist.

Sophia shook her head. “It’s our fault.”

It was her father’s fault for valuing profit over family, her fault for being unforgiving before, her brother’s fault for having a terrible temper... Her mother’s fault for having an indecisive personality.

However, what was the use of blaming anybody now?

“Mommy, where’s Grandma?” Jenna yawned. She could hardly keep her eyes open.

Nicole quickly wiped away her tears and smiled. “Be a good girl. Grandma’s gone away for a holiday and won’t be back for quite a while.”

“Grandma went on holiday. Why didn’t she tell me... Does she not like me anymore?” Jenna was a little dejected.

Nicole’s eyes were red when she was consoling Jenna. She later stood up and pressed a letter into Sophia’s hands. “Mom’s last letter. I think she left it in our room before she did it.”

Sophia opened the letter with trembling hands.

It was short and had only one to two hundred words.

[Soph, Sterling, I’ve let both of you down. The only thing I can do for you is to give you both all the shares and assets I have in my hands.

Don’t hold a funeral for me and don’t bury me in the cemetery. I can’t bring myself to see your grandparents, nor do I want to share a grave with James after I die.

Spread my ashes into the sea. My life was spent either with your grandparents or with James and you kids. I never really had the chance to see the world.

Goodbye, kids, take care. I love you both.]

The letter was covered with tears when Sophia was done reading it.

“Letter? Where’s the letter?” James hurriedly ran toward her, then snatched it from Sophia’s hands.

When he was done reading what was instructed in the letter, his face went completely pale as he fell weakly to the floor.

How was that possible?

How could she not even want to be with him after death? Was she crazy?!

“Shouldn’t you be happy that she’s gone? No one’s here to stop you from doing great things anymore, and no one will be crying non-stop in your ear,”

Sophia said with a neutral expression.

She snatched the letter from his hands and passed it to Sterling who was crying silently at the side. “Read it.”

His face was full of tears when Sterling was done reading it.

Both siblings went to collect the ashes and stood guard over it the entire day. The next day, they drove to the seaside and spread the ashes into the sea. James wanted to join them, but Sterling had shouted at him. It caused James to have another heart attack. He had to be sent to the hospital.

Everyone was silent on the way home.

Sophia gave things a thought and said, “Ster, I won’t be going home with you.”

The house had traces of Mom everywhere. Sophia was unable to bear it.

Besides that, her mom did not know the real reason she was home even after she had died. Sophia did not come back for the sake of the family.

Sophia had no idea if this was considered a good thing for her mom. After all, it would just serve to hurt her mom even more if she knew the truth.

Sterling grunted a reply unhappily. His voice was hoarse. “Where do you want to go? I’ll give you a lift.”

“Bamboo Virtues Village.”

It was close to seven at night when the car parked in Bamboo Virtues Village.

Sophia looked at the Land Rover parked outside the villa and frowned. She turned to Sterling and Nicole to say, “It’s getting late. Why don’t you both head back home? I don’t think I’ll be inviting you in.”

Sterling did not think much of it and only said “okay’. All he did was advise her not to feel too sad over things and to take care of her health.

“Wait, let me get out of the car and speak to Soph!” Nicole said as she got out of the car and approached Sophia.

She asked quietly, “What’s wrong? Did someone come uninvited?”

Sophia replied, “Nicole, please don’t ask so many questions and go home with Ster. Ster has always been a straightforward person and doesn’t really think things through, but he’s the most loyal and compassionate. Mom’s death must be a big blow to him. Please help him out of this rut, Nicole.”

Nicole sighed. “I know that, but you can still tell me who’s here, right?”

Sophia lowered her eyes. “There’s no one. I’m just too tired to entertain both of you.”

“Fine, your brother and I don’t need you to entertain us. We’ll just sit in there for a while, that’s all,” Nicole said as she started to walk toward the house.

Sophia pulled her back and frowned while she said, “It’s Master Harris.”

“No wonder you wouldn’t let us in. If your brother does anything out of line in front of him, I don’t dare imagine what the consequences will be. Your brother’s a troublemaker and even I wouldn’t be brave enough to let him in. We’ll head back, then. When you’re about done here, give me a call,” said Nicole.

Sophia nodded.

Nicole got into the car and said nothing about Master Harris being here. She waved at Sophia and left.

“Miss White, please.” Master Harris must have gotten tired of waiting and instructed Ken to come out to get her.

Sophia took a deep breath and walked in.

Nothing unexpected happened when she stepped into the house. Only a glass flew toward her direction, which was now a common opening for Master Harris’ appearance.

Sophia cocked her head to the side, evading the glass. She said before Master Harris lost his temper, “Any wound cut by the glass might cause an infection. If the problem turns serious, it might affect my child.

“If you don’t feel happy about it, then just mark down a reminder and throw another at me once I’ve given birth.”

Charles was kneeling with his top-half naked in the living room. His wide back had purplish-green bruises criss-crossed all over. They looked like they were caused by a beating from a cane.

Master Harris had a bloodied cane next to him, which proved her guess right.

Sophia’s fists clenched slightly as she stopped herself from running forward.

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

Chapter 342 I Can’t Do Sophia Anymore Wrong Master Harris grunted loudly. “You sure know how to find yourself a protection charm! Since I can’t beat you, I’ll let Charles take the beating instead.”

He picked up a glass and threw it at Charles.

There was a horrified look in Sophia’s eyes as she was about to go forward and block off the glass, but Charles shook his head slightly at her, hinting at her not to go near him.

She pursed her lips and stopped in her tracks, her gaze falling on his wounds. Master Harris’ continuous bullying and insults the last few days and the sadness brought on by her mom’s death had now gotten too much for her. Sophia exploded.

“Can I ask you, Master Harris, what mistake did Charles make to deserve such punishment from you?” Sophia asked sarcastically.

Master Harris was quite unhappy with her attitude as he roared, “What mistake did he make? His biggest mistake is to be with such a stupid woman who can never compare to Leah!”

Sophia sneered coldly. “Looks like it’s always a huge calamity to you whenever something doesn’t go according to your plan. If I really think about it, if you found out that your third son really belonged to your woman and her lover right before your death bed, what would you...”

Before she could finish, Master Harris picked up his cane and interrupted her with a stern, angry look. “Scoundrel!”

Charles brows knitted tightly together as he quickly stood up. He held Sophia in his arms as he prepared to take the beating for her.

“How can I constantly allow you to bear the punishment for my sake?” Sophia smiled as she turned around.

Bam!

The cane fell heavily on her back as she clenched her teeth tight. The pain was so severe that her forehead beaded with cold sweat and there was a bloody taste in her throat.

“Why are you being so silly?” Charles' expression went dark as he asked in angry frustration.