Chapter 49

But... she could not.

If she were to do this, Charles would not let the White family go!

“Sophia, are you too embarrassed to ask me for money?” Leah deliberated for a moment before suggesting. “How about this, Uncle James and the others should be here soon. Why don’t I help put in a word with them so that they allow you to return to the White family.”

A busybody by the side laughed. “Look, Mr. White and the others have just arrived.”

“There’s no need, thanks Miss Jones.” Sophia suppressed the anger bubbling within her. She tried to manage a smile, but it did not reach her eyes.

“Are you worried that Uncle James and the others will not allow you to go back?” Leah tugged at her hand, advising gently. “Don’t overthink it. How will you know if you don’t try? At the end of the day, Uncle James and the others can’t be that heartless.” Saying this, she waved toward James without giving Sophia the chance to protest. “Uncle James, can you and Aunty come here for a moment?”

“I just said there’s no need. Do you not understand the human language?!” Sophia snatched her hand back forcefully, every word felt like it was being squeezed out of her. Her dad did not want to see her at all. If they were to meet, another conflict would surely erupt between them.

As for her mom’s response, she still was not sure.

Leah stared dazedly at her hand which had been brushed away, her pretty little face filled with anguish.

The rim of her eyes reddened, but she forced back the tears that were threatening to spill out.

“Sophia, are you crazy?” William stepped toward Sophia, his amber eyes filled with fury and loathing. “Leah’s just trying to help. What kind of attitude is this?!”

Upon witnessing this, the surrounding people began discussing amongst themselves.

“Miss Jones’s legs were injured by her. Not only did Miss Jones not sue her, but she’s also helping her out of the goodness of her heart. Instead, this woman is swaggering around out there, tsk!”

“In this world nowadays, bad things happen to good people, and those who owe money and favors are all arrogant show-offs!”

“This Sophia really doesn’t know what’s good for her!”

Surrounded by the sounds of public disdain, Sophia took a deep breath and tried hard to suppress the anger that was about to burst out of her chest.

“If I have caused Miss and Mr. Jones to be unhappy, I apologize.”

She bowed low. “I’m sorry. However, please do not trouble yourself with my affairs. I also hope that you and your sister can respect my opinion, thank you.”

After saying this, she turned to leave but happened to bump into James and his wife who were heading in this direction.

James’ tuxedo and leather shoes were elegant and handsome, Jenny Fisher’s eyes glistened with tears. She subconsciously stepped forward but was immediately pulled back by James. She lowered her head to wipe the corner of her eyes and did not look at her daughter again.

Sophia’s throat closed up. The words “dad’ and “mom’ were stuck in her throat like a fishbone giving her discomfort.

Even though two years had passed, she still found it hard to believe that her doting parents chose to abandon her in order to secure the White family’s interests.

“Uncle James, Aunty Jenny, don’t blame Sophia. She didn’t say anything.” Leah lifted her head, forcing a smile onto her face.

“Did she bully you again?” James asked with a raised voice.

Leah avoided his gaze. “Uncle James, you’ve misunderstood. Sophia didn’t bully me.”

“Sophia!” Seeing this, James concluded right away that Sophia had bullied Leah and roared, “It’s only because Leah let you off the hook that you were able to get out of jail. Are you biting the hand that feeds you?!”

William’s handsome face tightened as he eyed Sophia coldly.

In the past, he had merely thought of her as playful and nothing too problematic. It was only when she ran over Leah two years ago did he realize that she was a completely ruthless woman!

“What did I do for you to say that I’m biting the hand that feeds me?” Sophia looked at James directly in the eye, her expression mild. Her fingers, however, were clutching onto her clothes so tightly that her knuckles were turning white.

James was put on the spot under full public scrutiny. His face flushed red as he said, “Everyone saw you bully Leah just now!” Sophia thought she could hold it in, but she had overestimated herself. “Everyone saw it? Did you see it?”

She laughed bitterly, not bothering to disguise the sarcasm. “Weren’t you the one who used to teach me not to take something at face value but to also look at the substance, the cause and effect, and the evidence? Did you see what just happened? Or are you just assuming that I bullied Miss Jones?”

“If it wasn’t you who bullied Leah, how is it that she looks so pitiful?” James had never bickered with so little poise with anyone in the public eye before. At this moment, his ears and neck were the same color as his face—red like blood was going to ooze out.

Sophia felt amused. “What kind of logic is this? When Miss Jones looks pitiful, must it be because I bullied her? Can’t it be some Tom, Dick, or Harry who bullied her? Is it not possible that she’s putting on a show for everyone to see?”

Smack!

A slap landed on her face. It was burning hot, the same as when her father had hit her at Dream Club.

James pointed a finger at Sophia while his other hand was clutching his chest. His face was contorted and flushed red. He looked like he was in extreme discomfort.

“Come, take your medicine quickly!” Jenny scrambled to retrieve the emergency medicine from her handbag and helped James to put it into his mouth, “Soph, for my sake, don’t make your father angry.”

“I... I’m not her... father!” Even though James was in extreme discomfort, he did not forget to emphasize on Sophia’s estrangement from the White family.

Leah was so anxious she was about to cry. Her red-rimmed eyes contrasted starkly against her fair skin. “Uncle James, Aunty Jenny, I really don’t blame Sophia. She has been working at Dream Club for this period of time. It’s quite pitiful. You all should let her return to the White family.”

Upon hearing the words “Dream Club’, the crowd looked at each other in dismay.

“The White family does not want a black-hearted woman like her back!” After taking his medication, James felt a lot better, but he was still flushed red from being put in such a situation. This was something that had never happened before.

Sophia raised her head slightly, forcing down the bitterness.

The loud commotion here drew Mr. and Madam Jones over quickly.

Madam Jones hurried toward Leah and gave her a once-over, ensuring that she was alright before straightening up and walking toward Sophia.

“Sophia, you again?!”

Every word oozed with disgust and contempt.

“I’ll excuse myself.” Sophia eyed her parents who were comforting Leah, pain gripping her heart.

She released her evening dress which was wrinkled where she had been clutching onto it tightly from before and turned to leave.

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

Chapter 48 What Reputation?

“Wait!” Madam Jones seized her from behind, her tone menacing. “Who let you in? Do you have an invitation? If you don’t have one, get out of my sight. Otherwise, I’ll be worried that a murderer like you will poison someone here or do some other harmful things!”

Sophia pursed her lips and scanned the crowd. Everyone here was either against her or treating this as a matter of no concern to them. No one, her parents included, was going to stand up for her.

Seeing this, William could not help but feel sorry for her. He opened his mouth and was about to say something when Mr. Jones gave him a kick. His throat bobbled, and he forced himself to shift his gaze away from Sophia.

“I was the one who allowed her to be here. Do you have any objections?” Right at this moment, Charles’ voice rang from behind.