Audrey was determined not to step aside. She knew that he would not have a falling out with her in public. "I admit that our families just want us to form an alliance through marriage, and that there are no feelings between us."
She looked at his sullen face and was similarly infuriated. "But, don't you forget who these people are. You are clearly embarrassing both the Sommer and Jones family by getting entangled with Sophia in public like that!"
Williamâs good-looking face was tense. He watched helplessly as Sophia disappeared from his sight, a trace of agony flashing across his amber-
colored eyes.
He glanced at Audrey and walked past her.
"Wait a minute!" Audrey trotted over and stopped in front of him.
William looked down at her and roared in a suppressed voice, "What do you want now?"
"My birthday is coming up in another month or so. Our parents are planning to announce our engagement at my birthday party," Audrey said with a sullen look on her face.
Williamâs patience was running out. "So?"
"So don't do anything that you arenât supposed to do with your identity as my fiancé in front of all the guests. Otherwise, our families will be turned into a laughing stock!" His impatience infuriated Audrey even more.
William frowned and stared at her. "You don't need to tell me what to do, just mind your own business!"
"I hope you keep your word. Don't embarrass me like you did a while ago." Seeing that more and more people were looking their way, Audrey took the initiative to take his arm whilst wearing an awful look on her face. "Let's go, Mom and Dad want to introduce you to several people."
William glanced at her hand that was holding onto his and stretched out his hand to pull them apart.
"Are you trying to tell everyone that weâre quarreling because of Sophia?!" Audrey spoke through gritted teeth, wearing an extremely dreadful look on her face.
William raised his head and stared at her. He then pulled her hands apart and strode toward the crowd.
Audrey stomped her feet, her eyes red with anger.
Standing by the second floor railing, this entire scene fell into Charles' eyes. The corners of his mouth curled into an ironic smile. He felt inexplicably upset. His slender fingers slid to the front of his shirt as he unbuttoned two buttons irritably.
"Charles, you saw it too," Leah said softly as she maneuvered over to him in a wheelchair.
Charles took two steps back, keeping half a meter distance from her. "Saw what?"
"Why are you still asking me when youâve already witnessed everything?" Leah sighed and said helplessly. âItâs just like what you saw. Even when Sophia has crippled my leg, even when Will already has a nominal girlfriend, he still can't let her go."
"What an affectionate and kind man Mr. Jones is," Charles looked down at the crowd on the first floor and replied vaguely.
"Iâll take it as a compliment, Charles. This wonât be a good thing for me, though." Leah rubbed her eyebrows, her head hurting slightly. "Will and Audrey are about to get engaged. If anything happens because of Sophia, then both the Jones and Sommer families will not be able to hold their heads up high anymore."
Charles put his hands on the railing, stretching his high-quality blouse. His movement outlined his slightly defined muscles. "Should I give you some walnuts?"
"Huh?" Leah was slightly taken aback by the quick change of topic.
Charles curled his lower lip lightly. "Everything you say implies something else. This must be exhausting for your brain."
"Thatâs not funny, Charles. Iâm just trying to pour out my feelings to someone." Leah wore a bitter expression. "Sophia is dying to go back to her previous standard of living. I'm afraid she will give Will the marriage talk and that silly boy will happily agree."
"Do the Jones have a habit of judging their own family members as silly?" Charles frowned slightly when he heard the word âmarriageâ, but he went back to being normal in no time.
Leah chuckled bitterly. "Iâm just telling the truth. Take me for example. Had I not been silly, I would not have become friends with a person who harbors malicious intentions like Sophia, would I?"
"Is Ms. Jones, the kind-hearted girl that everyone has been speaking highly of, talking bad about someone behind their back?" Charlesâ good-looking brows and eyes were stained with a trace of mockery.
Leah looked up at him, her eyes full of admiration. "Yes, I am only humanânot a god. I experience negative emotions too. Isn't it normal to whine about somebody else to those Iâm close to?â
Charles turned his head back and glanced at her. He grinned inexplicably before walking to the staircase.
"Charles, are you standing up for Sophia today?" Leah asked gently as she maneuvered the wheelchair and followed behind him.
Charles stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at her. "What are you going to do if Iâm not? And what are you going to do if I am?" His eyes darkened as he bent down until they were at the same eye level. "Are you trying to control me?"
"Charles, youâre taking it too seriously. I'm just asking casually." His rhetorical question sounded more like a tacit acknowledgment. Leah could taste the bitterness in her heart.
"Thatâs nice to hear." Charles straightened up and said mildly, "I'll send someone to carry you downstairs. Don't run around if itâs inconvenient for you.
It wonât be good if you hurt your leg again."
"Thanks for your concern, Charles." Leah curved her lips, yet there was only bitterness in her eyes.
When Sophia walked over all muddle-headed, Yvette was talking and laughing with several other madams and daughters of noble families. Seeing that she was approaching, they stopped talking and exchanged glances with each other.
Ryleigh and Elaine, Sophiaâs two âold friendsâ, were also there. They wore an embarrassed expression. There was also a trace of jealousy and unwillingness.
"This is Soph. Since you guys know each other, I won't be introducing her to you anymore." Yvette grinned and pulled Sophia in front of her as though she did not notice their change in reaction.
Her attitude livened things up again in an instant. It felt as though the moment of awkwardness earlier did not happen.
"It has been two years, and Ms. White is still as beautiful as before."
"Ms. White, it seems like you have lost weight again. Do you have any tips on how to lose weight? Mind sharing it with us?"
Even Elaine and Ryleigh expressed their friendliness in a timely manner.
Sophia sneered in her heart. There were obvious scars on her face and body. It must have been really hard for them to lie through their teeth. Even so, she could not bear to brush Auntâs kindness away, so she exchanged conventional greetings with them as usual.
"Yvette." Jenny and Madam Jones came together and were stunned when they saw Sophia standing next to Yvette.
The smile on Madam Jones's face vanished at once. Her complexion turned beyond dreadful.
Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!
ï¤Chapter 51 Perhaps I Am Better Looking?
Sophia noticed their reaction but could not put her feelings into words.
Mom and Dad had cut off all ties with her, but she still kept in touch with the Jones family. Did they believe Leah's nonsense, or did they choose to selectively ignore the truth for the benefit of the Whites?
"Tiff, Lew, youâre here!" Yvette greeted the two with a smile.
Jenny nodded embarrassingly. She simply darted Sophia a quick glance before turning her gaze away, whereas Madam Jones frowned and asked, "Why is Sophia with you?"
"It has been two years since I last saw Soph, so I asked her to keep me company for a while. What's the matter?" Yvette asked in an easygoing manner.