âLetâs gather all the evidence we need first and expose him on his daughterâs wedding day. That way, we could show all the guests his true colors without letting them know weâre onto them. What do you think?â Elliot made his point.
âI guess you have a point. If Johnny knows weâre onto them, he could destroy the experiment results and leave no evidence behind.â
As Richard continued to keep tabs on the Jennings Family, Johnny later returned home but didnât discuss the matter with anyone until it was 9.00PM later that night. At that moment, he brought up the matter to his wife and discussed it with her in the study.
âJohnny, Emily said the lady that Arthur met overseas is back. She also said she was very close with him, so please do something to make him forget about her completely.â
Johnny was surprised to hear that. âHow is that possible? Iâve been watching him and noticed symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorder. So, there is no way heâll show anyone else affection.
Instead, heâll only behave like a robot to everyone else.â
âWhat about Emily? Is she going to be treated like that too, when they both get married? Is her marriage going to be destroyed if thatâs the case?â
âDonât worry. Iâm working on creating some fake memories of him and Emily. By then, he is going to love her very dearly.â
âReally? Are you sure this is going to work?â
âMy experiment will soon be a success as soon as both of them get married. So, Emily wonât have to wait much longer before she is going to have the happy life Iâm going to give her.â
âIt looks like Iâm going to have to drive Sophia away from the family to keep Arthur from ever thinking about her again. If we donât put a stop to it, there is no telling when sheâll ruin Emilyâs wedding.â
When Richard heard that, he knitted his eyebrows, thinking it was perhaps time to remind his good friend about the imminent danger. Therefore, he decided to help Arthur win back the heart of the woman he loved and left an anonymous note behind. When Arthur returned later, he saw a note on the desk and picked it up to take a closer look at it. âSophia is in grave danger. Please protect her at all costs, or youâre going to regret it.â
Upon reading the note, Arthur couldnât help but feel stunned by the person who wrote the anonymous note because he couldnât understand why Sophia would be in danger. Nevertheless, he was quickly reminded of the strange incident that happened earlier that day when Sophia fell off the horse at the turf club. Is someone plotting against her?
At that moment, Arthurâs mind was flooded with images of Sophiaâs face just as he recalled something he had just discovered earlier. I just asked. The reason Sophia will show up during my wedding is that he is the assistant of my friend, Elliot, but why would someone take an assistant like her to the turf club and let her ride a crazy horse? She may be dumb, but I doubt she is so foolish that sheâd put her life at risk. At the thought of that, Arthur looked back at the note one more time, his eyebrows frowning as he slowly began to recognize Richardâs handwriting.
Wait a second. This looks like that fellaâs handwriting. Is this from him? Because of that, he reckoned it was necessary to take the matter seriously, or Richard wouldnât have left him a warning like that so suddenly. Well, if Iâm going to protect Sophia, I guess the only way to do that is to keep her by my side all the time. If I can watch her all the time, she should be safe. Soon, Arthur stepped out the door and summoned his butler, whom he ordered to arrange a room for Sophia next to his.
âIs there any specific reason, Young Master Weiss?â the butler asked in surprise.
âNothing. Iâd like to have a word with her about something in the next few days. âArthur finished his words and retreated to his own room before the butler ordered the maid to tidy up the guest room next to his. After that, he headed upstairs to fetch Sophia down to her new room.
In the meantime, Sophia was spaced out in the room, her eyes still tearful because she had just cried for no good reason not long ago. However, the doorbell outside her room suddenly rang, whereupon she limped toward the door and opened it. Then, she was greeted by a man in a classic suit and curiously asked him his purpose of visit. âHow may I help you?â
âMiss Sophia, weâre getting a new room, so please pack your luggage and belongings.â
âUm. Why is that so? Iâm good with this room.â Sophia refused to impose on anyone.
âI have orders from Young Master Weiss.â The butler smiled at Sophia.
Sophiaâs smile stiffened for a few seconds when she heard what the butler said. What? Itâs Arthurâs idea? Where is he taking me? Am I causing so much disturbance to him that he wants to get rid of me?
Filled with that bitter thought in her head, Sophia braced herself to accept the harsh truth that she didnât deserve to attend Arthurâs wedding, anyway. Therefore, she had nothing to say, thinking he wanted her gone. âAlright, please give me a moment.â Sophia then limped into the room, but when the butler saw that, he quickly ordered the maids to come and help her.
After Sophia took care of her luggage, the maids carried them out of the room for her while the butler came back to her with a wheelchair. âMiss Goodwin, please sit in this wheelchair. It should make it easier for you.â
âThank you very much, sir.â Sophia was embarrassed.
As soon as Sophia sat in the wheelchair, the butler wheeled her out the door all the way to the garden.
When Sophia looked in the direction in which the butler was wheeling her, she was stunned to see the manorâs main building instead of the guest room beside it. Upon that realization, she couldnât help but ask herself where the butler was taking her. Soon, they arrived at the elevator, which they took to reach a room on the fourth floor. At the sight of the grand-looking interior, the lady was left with her jaw wide open. Wait a minute! This place looks so magnificent that it is meant for the owner to live in, not the guests. Sophia then looked around her until her gaze fell upon a man sitting on the couch. As the evening sunlight shone on him, he seemed especially charming and handsome, especially in his white button-down paired with a plaid vest. At the same time, the fact that he was crossing his legs in his sitting posture only served to make him look even more attractive. Isnât that Arthur? At that instant, Sophiaâs heart was beating rapidly like a jackhammer as she suddenly realized that was what happened every time she saw the man.
Soon, Arthur stood up and walked up to the butler, taking over the wheelchair, whereupon he wheeled the lady to her new room. âWait a second! Whatâs going on? Why am I moving to this room?â Sophia looked up, asking Arthur with a surprised voice.
âYour leg is injured, so itâs more convenient for you to be taken care of staying here.â Arthur brushed her off with an excuse, Sophia shook her head and replied, âNo need for that. Iâll be fine in a matter of days with enough rest.
So, I should probably return to the guest room without imposing on you.â
Nevertheless, Arthur soon wheeled her into the room and responded with a commanding voice, âMy house, my rules.â
âB-But⦠wouldnât this be inappropriate, considering the fact that youâre about to marry Miss Jennings?
I canât be staying here with you, can I? What if she misunderstands the situationâ¦?â Although Sophia was tempted to stay close to Arthur, she didnât want to ruin his reputation.
âIâll explain to her if she misunderstands.â Arthur finished his words, but when he noticed her still sitting in the wheelchair, he asked, âAre you going to try and walk yourself? Or do you need me to carry you from the wheelchair?â
âIâm going to walk by myself.â Sophia finished her words and held the armrests on both sides of the wheelchair, desperate to show the man that she could take care of herself, only to be tripped by the armrests. âAhâ¦â Staggering, she fell forward and instinctively hugged the thing that she thought would make her feel most secureâArthurâs waist. At the same time, the man also extended his arms and wrapped them around her to make sure she wouldnât get hurt from the fall.
The next second, Sophia found her head resting on Arthurâs firm chest. As she could hear his steady heartbeat, her heartbeat was somehow raised by a few BPMs. Great! I oversold my mobility and ended up in his awkward embrace. âThank you.â Sophia then quickly stood up, backing away from Arthur with her cheeks blushing bashfully.
Meanwhile, Arthur looked down at her, somehow finding Sophiaâs face strangely attractive as he simply couldnât take his eyes off her. He then seized her arm and helped her walk to the couch, where he sat her down. When Sophia sank into the couch, she heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the man. âIâm fine now, so you may leave and attend to your own business.â
Upon hearing the ladyâs words, Arthur walked away while the maids stayed behind to tidy her luggage and place her clothes in the wardrobe. Soon, when the maids were finally gone, the room was back to its peaceful state, with Sophia left sitting on the couch in a bitter manner. Deep down, she could sense the manâs feelings for her even though he appeared to have forgotten about her.
Later that night, the maids prepared dinner for Sophia, who thought she was going to enjoy her meal alone until Arthur showed up and had his dinner with her. At that instant, she couldnât help but feel uncomfortable, wishing this had happened back in their country because she would have been so happy about it. Nonetheless, the maids were standing right beside them, adding food for them while watching them dine. Whatâs going on, Arthur? You have a fiancée, and youâre getting married in two days, yet here you are, dining with another woman.
On the other hand, Arthur appeared surprisingly natural, glimpsing Sophiaâs reaction every once in a while until he noticed her picking at her meal in an absent-minded manner. âWhatâs wrong? You donât like the food?â he asked with a deep voice.
âOh, of course not. Iâm just not feeling that hungry.â Sophia shook her head. When she was done with her meal, she returned to her bedroom shortly before she got a call from Anastasia, who asked her about her whereabouts because she had gone looking for her in her room. âHey, Anastasia⦠Iâm currently staying in the manorâs main building. Itâs Young Master Weissâ idea, apparently.â
âOh wow, that sounds great! He can take good care of you in that case.â Anastasia was happy for her.
âCome on, Anastasia. Stop pulling my leg. You know he is almost getting married, so why is he keeping me by his side?â Sophia smiled bitterly.
âLook, Sophia. Just stay with him patiently. I believe he still loves you. The reason he doesnât remember you is that he is suffering from memory loss.â Anastasia consoled Sophia because she knew the actual reason behind Arthurâs amnesia. Therefore, she truly believed that Sophia was the Mrs.
Right meant for Arthur, while the Jennings Family would soon have to pay the ultimate price for the bad deeds they had done. In the meantime, Sophia had no choice but to stay by Arthurâs side because she couldnât go anywhere either in her current condition, but deep down, she told herself that she would try her best to keep her distance from Arthur.
Meanwhile, a maid, who was in the garden, reached for her phone and dialed Emilyâs number. âHello.â
âThere is something I want to tell you, Miss Jennings. Young Master Weiss just arranged a guest room next to his bedroom for Sophia and even dined with her earlier tonight. If you ask me, they seemed to be interacting with each other pretty intimately.â
âWhat? What a b*tch! How shameless of her to seduce Artie knowing that Iâm about to marry him!â
Emily was exasperated.
âMiss Jennings, I suggest that you move in here right away. After all, there are only 2 more days until your wedding, so you must make sure nothing goes wrong!â
âAlright, Iâm moving in tomorrow.â Emily had no choice but to postpone her plan to the next day, thinking it was too late for her to do that. Soon, she mentioned what she had just learned to her mother, Vera, who also agreed that Sophia was trying to ruin her daughterâs wedding. For that, Vera decided to confront Sophia the next day to make her leave Arthurâs manor, or she would smear her name and make her a sinner by telling the outside world that she was the one who seduced Arthur.
In the meantime, Sophia decided to take a shower despite the overwhelming pain around her ankle when it was 9.00PM. Not long after she entered the bathroom, someone knocked on her room door, but when she didnât answer it, the man standing outside frowned and wondered whether she was already asleep. Is she in bed already? But itâs only 9.00PM now. There is no way she sleeps so early.
In fact, Arthur was thinking of telling the maid to prepare him some supper just when he thought he should also ask her about that since she didnât eat much during dinner. Thus, he turned the doorknob and opened it, easily entering the room as the door wasnât locked. âAre you there, Sophia?â Arthur called out to the lady.
Nevertheless, Arthurâs response was only met with silence. Noticing how tidy the room was, he began to believe Sophia was not in her room but continued to wonder where she could be in her condition.
Just when he was about to leave the room, he suddenly heard a scream that was filled with horror and fear from the bathroom. âAhâ¦â As his heart skipped a beat, he barged into the bathroom without hesitation, only to see the naked lady lying on the tiled floor after her shower.
Arthurâs first thought was to turn his back and ask anxiously, âWhatâs the matter with you?â
Sophia didnât expect him to be in the bathroom because he had just rushed in without hesitation. âI-I slipped.â Her legs were still not their usual self, so when she came out of the bathtub just now, she slipped.
She felt extremely embarrassed for him to see her like this. Although they were intimate before, and she expressed herself easily in front of him, the situation was different now.
Sophiaâs face blushed involuntarily. She wanted to get up, but she found that her waist hurt so much that she couldnât get up on her own. She could only ask, âWill you hold me up?â
Arthur breathed a long sigh. He turned around, then looked at the girl on the ground. His eyes did not avoid her; instead, he came over and carried her naturally. On the other hand, Sophia felt mortified. To her, Arthur, who lost his memory, was undoubtedly nothing different from a stranger. He had forgotten her and everything they once had.
Arthur carried her to the sofa, then quickly took a bath towel and draped it over her. At the same time, he thought that if he didnât come in, what could she have done?
If another man came in and she fell like this, would she also let that man carry her out?
All these thoughts caused Arthurâs eyes to narrow a bit.
Seated on the couch, Sophia tightly wrapped herself in a bath towel as she continued blushing hard.
Then, she pleaded, âWill you go to the closet and get me some pajamas?â
Arthur got up and went over to bring it to her. Then, he turned his back and did not look like he was going to leave.
âGet changed,â he said.
Sophia couldnât help but hesitate for a few seconds. âGo out! Iâm fine now; you donât have to stay here.â
Arthur didnât leave; he snorted. âYou have no ability to take care of yourself right now.â
âThatâs my business! It has nothing to do with you, Young Master Weiss,â Sophia said bitterly, her eyes turning red.
Arthurâs chest couldnât help tightening, and he found an excuse to say, âYou are my guest, so I canât let you meet with an accident.â
âNo, Iâm not your guest at all. I was able to come to your wedding this time because I pestered Anastasia about it. Otherwise, I wouldnât even be qualified to attend your wedding.â Sophia choked up.
If she didnât know Anastasia, she wouldnât even know that he was getting married. She would wait for him to come back like a fool in the country all her life, and then he would never come back for the rest of her life.
âSince youâre here, youâre my guest.â Arthur had plenty of excuses.
Sophia covered her face as tears suddenly overflowed from her eyes. Choking up, she suddenly felt extremely hurt.
Arthur turned around and found that she was not wearing clothes. Instead, she covered her face and cried. He couldnât help but ask in a low voice, âWhat are you crying for?â
Gasping, Sophia sniffed, wiping tears from her face in a panic. âDonât worry about me; just go!â Before, she cried under the dim lights in the garden. Now, when she cried, the sadness in her eyes and her tears were as clear as day.
Her sadness gripped his heart, as if her grief was also infecting him, causing his emotions to recover gradually. Emotions that could not be suppressed by drugs filled his chest, causing him to turn around involuntarily and squat down by her side. Then, he raised his hand to wipe her tears away.
Why does this feel like second nature?
When he was still stunned by his behavior, Sophia pushed his hand away. âNo, thank you.â
She spoke in a very polite voice.
Inexplicably, Arthur was a little annoyed. She was clearly crying because of him. He wanted to comfort her, but she refused to let him. Weâre just running in circles if this goes on.
âIâll ask someone to prepare a late-night snack. You can come out to eat later.â Arthur didnât ask anymore and simply decided for her.
Sophiaâs heart softened. âThank you.â
Next, Arthur put the paper on the table beside her. âCry if you want to! You can call me if you have any issues.â
Sophia was stunned for a few seconds. Considering how kind he was to her, she suddenly wondered if he did remember her and still liked her.
However, these questions were meaningless because his wedding would be held the day after tomorrow. Whatâs the point of life now that heâll be someone elseâs sweetheart soon?
The servants outside prepared two portions of supper. They were light and delicious, and Arthur came knocking on the door again.
Sophia opened the door after changing into a set of casual clothes. As she limped out, the man naturally supported her. She looked up at him and saw a servant nearby, so she hastily withdrew her arm. âThereâs no need. Thank you.â
But just as she was stumbling out, the manâs arm that was pushed away came over again and held her arm firmly, not allowing her to refuse.
Sitting at the table, Sophia was famished. So, she lowered her head and ate.
The servant also left wisely. In the quiet dining room with gentle lighting, the man seated in front seemed to have no appetite. He just stared at the thin girl under the light from time to time.
He glanced at her phone again, really wanting to see if she also had his photo on her phone and to know how close they were to each other.
âDo you really have a boyfriend?â Arthur asked again. He was beyond shocked when he heard her say that last time.
Sophia raised her head and nodded earnestly. âYes.â
âDo you live together?â
âIn fact, we do,â Sophia answered naturally.
Arthur put the spoon down with a clang. For some reason, it sounded like he was upset.
Sophia was startled and looked at the man opposite, who stared back at her with a dazzling gaze.
âWhen are you getting married?â he asked.
âWhy do you ask this?â
âSince youâre coming to my wedding, I will also go to your wedding,â Arthur announced domineeringly.
Sophia was taken aback for a few seconds, and her thoughts became a little muddled. She bitterly thought that he would never be able to attend her wedding because she didnât have any hope of marriage in the future at all.
She would never meet a man she loved more than him.
âNo need. Itâs just a simple meal between the families. We will not invite other guests,â Sophia replied.
Arthur tugged at the front of his shirt as if something made him extremely uncomfortable. He lifted his head and asked, âSophia, then why were you crying like that for me?â
Sophia blinked her eyes, feeling panicky. She turned her face away and said, âIâm not crying for you.
Donât think about it too much. I just so happen to have a⦠melancholic temperament.â
Although Arthur had an emotional disorder, he was not stupid! He was clear about who she was crying for.
âNo, you donât. Youâre crying for me.â I need to know! Admit it!
In reality, Sophia had no courage to come clean to him. She didnât dare to admit that all her grief came from him, so she stirred the porridge and said, âNo, I cry often. Itâs better for me to cry once in a while.â
This excuse was a bit of a reach, but there was no other explanation.
Arthur took a deep breath. He seemed to be even more annoyed and snorted coldly. âWho would believe in your dumb reasoning?â
âIt doesnât matter if you believe it or not, Young Master Weiss. I sincerely wish you a great wedding and a happy marriage,â Sophia raised her head and said to him.
Arthur bit his thin lip and pressed his tongue against his cheek. Obviously, his mood fluctuated somewhat abnormally.
When others wished him a happy marriage, he had no feeling or even response, but when she said it, it made him feel bad. He was even very unwilling to hear it.
âIâll be happy in marriage,â Arthur replied to her.
Then, he got up and said, âIâm done eating. Have a restful evening.â
He seemed to be rather angry. After he left, Sophia felt a little lonely in the big dining hall.
Sophia no longer wanted to eat because her chest felt tight, and an inexplicable feeling of wanting to cry came again.
Thus, she went back to her room, but she didnât know that at the end of the corridor, a figure stood in the shadows and watched her go back to the room.
That night, Sophia cried many times and didnât sleep well at all.
Early morning the next day, there was a knock on her door. Sophia opened the door and saw an extravagantly dressed woman standing at the door. She asked in surprise, âAre you looking for me?â
âLetâs talk.â Vera stared at Sophia, looking a little serious.
âMay I know who you are?â
âIâm Emily Jenningsâ mother,â Vera revealed her identity directly, then walked into the bedroom and sat down on the sofa.
Sophia caught her breath. She didnât expect Emilyâs mother to find her in person, but she walked over calmly on crutches. Vera frowned. âWhatâs wrong with your leg?â
âWhatâs wrong with my leg? I think your daughter knows best,â Sophia replied calmly.
âWhat? Donât blame everything on my daughter. My daughter is going to get married tomorrow. I also know about the past history between you and Young Master Weiss. I hope you donât cause any trouble and hinder the happiness of my daughter,â Vera bluntly explained her purpose for coming here.
Sophia was of course aware of this. She nodded and said, âDonât worry! I wonât hinder your daughterâs happiness; Iâm just here as one of the guests for the wedding.â
âI looked through the records of the guests, and it seems that you donât have an invitation. So, how did you come here, and what is your purpose? I should ask the concierge to check it again.â
âNo need. I am participating as my bossâ assistant. She is the wife of Young Master Weissâ best friend,â
Sophia explained seriously.
Vera sneered, âVery well! So, there is no place for you at tomorrowâs banquet. You are just a subordinate, so you are not qualified to dine with the other guests, right?â
Sophia couldnât refute her words, so she nodded. âYes, so I wonât go to the banquet.â
âHow about this? Iâll give you 1 million, and you can go back to your country now. Will you stop affecting my daughterâs wedding here?â Vera wanted to bribe her.
Sophia refused almost immediately. âIâm here this time to accompany my boss on a business trip. I wonât leave early. Mrs. Jennings, you donât need to bribe me, as Iâm not short of 1 million.â
Veraâs face sank. âYou donât know whatâs good for you, huh? Iâll tell you clearly now that I want you to leave here today.â
Sophia shook her head. âI canât agree to that.â
âLet me ask you this. Why do you live in Young Master Weissâ house if youâre just a low-level subordinate? Moreover, your room is next door to his?â Vera asked.
Sophia choked. âThis is Young Master Weissâ arrangement, and I donât know anything about that.â
âI think you are very happy about it, right? Sophia, now everyone knows that you are seducing my future son-in-law. Are you really so shameless? Have you ever respected my daughter? The servants are watching you being intimate with my son-in-law now. It wonât be good for my daughter and my son-
in-lawâs reputation in the future. You should know better.â Vera looked at her sternly.
Sophia was not afraid at all. Instead, she smiled and replied, âOriginally, my legs were well, and I didnât need Young Master Weiss to carry me. However, your daughter tied me to a runaway horse, and then I fell and injured my legs. Then, I happened to meet Young Master Weiss. He carried me out of concern for me, so what can I do?â
âYou⦠Shameless brat!â Vera couldnât help but get angry. She thought Sophia would be easy to deal with, but it seemed that it was not that simple.
Sophia didnât want to offend her, so she continued, âI can guarantee that I will not hinder your daughterâs happiness. I will go back to my country after attending the wedding, and I will never set foot in this country again.â
Vera narrowed her eyes. Obviously, she didnât believe it. âCan you really do what you say?â
âI can.â Sophia nodded.
Thus, Vera had to get up. âOkay. After attending the wedding, you should leave immediately.
Otherwise, I will not let you go.â
Seeing Vera leave, Sophia could not help but breathe a sigh of relief, and at the same time, she was extremely bitter.
Tomorrow, she couldnât even go to the banquet because she wasnât qualified. At the same time, she thought that it might be better not to go, as she really couldnât watch him marry another woman.
After Vera left, Sophia completely forgot to eat lunch, constantly feeling depressed. It was Arthurâs wedding the next day, and it was as if a boulder was pressing on her chest, making her breathless.
Thinking of not being able to go to the banquet and seeing him in the groomâs suit, she couldnât help but feel a little disappointed.
At this moment, someone knocked on her door. Therefore, she walked over weakly and opened the door, but when she saw the man standing outside, her heart broke instantly.
Suddenly, she slammed the door shut because her tears fell so unexpectedly. She covered her lips tightly to prevent herself from crying.
Outside the door, Arthur just came over to remind her to have lunch, but surprisingly, the woman inside shut the door in his face as soon as she saw him.
Arthur couldnât help but frown. He curled his fingers and immediately knocked again. âSophia, open the door.â
âI donât want to eat!â Sophia shouted through the door.
He was originally a little unhappy, but suddenly he thought of something, and his voice softened a little.
âIs something wrong?â
âItâs okay. You can go! I want to sleep.â
âAre you feeling unwell?â
âNo, I didnât sleep well last night.â
Arthur looked at the door and suddenly wanted to push it open, wanting to see what had happened to the girl inside. Why did she close the door in such a hurry when she saw me?
He turned around and met a servant. He stopped the servant and questioned, âDid anyone visit Miss Goodwin in the morning?â
The servant thought for a moment and said, âOh! Yes, Mrs. Jennings came to visit Miss Goodwin in the morning.â
Arthur was slightly taken aback. Why did Emilyâs mother suddenly come to see Sophia?
Although he wanted to get to the bottom of things, he had errands to run. Thus, he said to the servant, âKeep an eye on Miss Goodwinâs room. If anyone goes in to look for her again, or if she goes out, report to me.â
âOkay, Young Master Weiss.â The servant hurriedly agreed. Why does it seem to me like he cares more about this Miss Goodwin than his fiancee? This is oddâ¦
In the guest room, Anastasia was sitting on the sofa, listening to the two handsome men discussing tomorrowâs wedding. She also just knew that Arthur had been manipulated.
No wonder he forgot Sophia as soon as he returned to the family. Moreover, the Jennings Family was too audacious to use this kind of controlling method on the future master of the Weiss Family. The future of the Weiss Family would also be in the hands of the Jennings Family.
At this moment, Anastasiaâs cell phone rang, after which she picked it up. âSophia is looking for me. Iâll go over there, so you guys carry on.â
âAnastasia, donât tell Miss Goodwin about this for the time being because we still need to keep it a secret,â Elliot reminded her.
âOkay, I know.â She nodded.
He felt that his words were a little inappropriate, so he got up and said, âYou know what? Iâll bring you there.â
Anastasia didnât feel that way. Instead, she was as worried about the fate of the Weiss Family as they were, and she hoped that Arthur could regain his memory and have a bright future with Sophia.
As soon as they left the room, Elliot took her hand and wrapped her shoulders with his arm. âWhat I said just now was inappropriate, and I take it back. Please donât take it to heart.â
She shook her head. âChill, I know.â
He kissed her hair lovingly. Then, he sent Anastasia in the direction of Sophia, and in the garden downstairs, she saw Sophia waiting for her there, so she asked Elliot to go back.
âAnastasia!â Sophia came over happily and held her arm intimately.
âSophia, whatâs wrong with your eyes? Have you cried again?â Anastasia noticed that Sophiaâs eyes were red.
Sophia lowered her head, a little embarrassed. âI tried very hard to control myself, but I still canât control it.â
Tomorrow was Arthurâs wedding day. No one could bear to watch their loved one marry someone else, so Anastasia wondered if it was right to bring her here. However, she knew that Arthurâs wedding would not be successful, and Sophia was still very likely to continue her relationship with Arthur.
âSophia, do you believe in fate? Sometimes fate favors kind and loving people. I believe that fate has its own arrangements for you, and it wonât make you feel so miserable all the time,â Anastasia comforted her.
Sophia smiled bitterly. âAnastasia, are you trying to say that I can meet someone better?â
âTrust me, girl. Your destiny will turn for the better.â Anastasia reached out and gathered Sophiaâs messy hair. Then, she added, âHow does Young Master Weiss treat you?â
Sophia thought of her leaving him outside the door today and ignoring him. Presumably, he would be angry with her too!
âHeâs been nice to me.â
Sophia was also keeping a secret. She didnât tell Anastasia that she couldnât go to the wedding tomorrow. In fact, as long as she told Anastasia, the latter would find a way to take her there.
The two chatted about some other topics as they strolled around the garden, and unknowingly they also established a kind of sister-like relationship.
Anastasia had experienced Hayleyâs betrayal, which made her more cautious about making friends.
Now, besides Felicia, Grace was the person she trusted. Now, there was Sophia, whom she cared for like a sister.
Since their partners were best friends, they naturally also would become best friends.
A little later, Anastasia went back, and Sophia also went back to her room. She didnât eat anything at noon, so she was hungry right now.
Arthurâs figure appeared in the hall, and the first thing he asked the servant was, âHas she eaten?â
âMiss Goodwin went out for a while, but she hasnât eaten.â The servant was also helpless about it.
âPrepare dinner!â After Arthur finished speaking, he thought of something and frowned. âTell my grandma that I wonât go over to eat.â
âOkay, Young Master Weiss.â The servant left.
Arthur walked to Sophiaâs door, reached out, and knocked on the door. Sophia thought it was a servant again, so she stretched out her hand to open the door. When the man was revealed outside the door, it surprised her. However, the manâs long legs had already taken a step, and he had entered the room, not allowing her to close the door.
âI-Is there something you need?â Sophia asked in a panic.
âAre you immortal? You donât need to eat?â Arthur stared at her angrily.
Sophia blinked and said hoarsely, âI-Iâm not hungry.â
However, just after she finished speaking, her stomach seemed to let out a few protesting noises. In an instant, Sophia blushed and wanted to dig a hole to hide in the ground.
The corner of Arthurâs mouth twitched, and the smile growing on the corner of his mouth was the most intense expression he had shown in so many days.
He was smiling.
Sophia raised her head and glanced at him, only to find that he was smiling handsomely, which made her bow her head in embarrassment.
âJoin me for dinner, will you?â After Arthur finished speaking, he stretched out her hand to lead her out.
Seeing that, Sophia withdrew her hand in a panic. âI will go by myself.â
If she was seen by the servant, she would definitely be reported to Vera again. Therefore, she thought that Vera had come to see her because there was a spy among the servants.
However, Arthurâs grip was too tight, and she couldnât break free, so she had to go to the dining room this way. Under the crystal lights, candles were lit, and the red roses in the vase were freshly cut in the garden in the afternoon, which made the air full of their intoxicating aroma.
Sophiaâs thoughts were a little jammed. Why does this dinner look like a candlelight dinner that only lovers would have?
The servants fixed up a hearty candlelight dinner and had served up the feast in advance.
As Arthur chewed gracefully, he latched his gaze on the young woman sitting across from her as though to make sure she ate everything on her plate.
Famished, Sophia couldnât care less anymore and ate away.
Martha had already informed Arthur to join her for dinner earlier in the afternoon. It would be his wedding day the next day, so she wanted to have a serious word with him. But whoâd have thought her beloved grandson rejected her? The news got her down in the dumps. Moreover, Arthur had gotten distant from her, making her reflect that she had been too strict on him normally.
âIs he having dinner with Emily?â Martha asked a servant.
For fear of upsetting Martha, the servants kept Sophiaâs presence unknown to Martha all this while. But now, seeing how upset Martha was, she couldnât help lowering her head and reported, âYoung Master Weiss is having dinner with another lady, Old Madam Weiss.â
âWhat?â The news shocked Martha for a moment. âHeâs having dinner with another woman? Which family is she from?â
What is Arthur trying to do? Tomorrowâs his wedding; does he plan on humiliating himself before the wedding?!
âSheâs a guest,â the servant answered.
âWhat guest? Is it a friend? Whatâs her name?â Martha asked directly.
âItâs a guest from afar named Sophia Goodwin. She has also now been moved to the room next to Young Masterâs. I guess sheâs an important guest to Young Master,â said the servant.
The revelation shook Martha for a solid few seconds, and she slammed the spoon in her hand. âWhat?!
Sheâs here? How did she get here? Have the butler come over.â
Sophia had come to attend the wedding. It was only then Martha realized she hadnât taken notice of the guest list when she had been so busy getting the other wedding details ready.
The butler arrived in two shakes, and Martha questioned him gravely. âGo and check if thereâs a guest named Sophia Goodwin on the list.â
âThere is, maâam. She came with Mr. and Mrs. Presgrave as Mrs. Presgraveâs assistant.â
Martha sighed in response. What is she doing here? Is she still trying to salvage something when Arthurâs about to get married?
Well, sheâs persistent, no doubt about that. Itâs evident she truly loves Arthur, but itâs hard to let them be together when their social status and family background are so drastically different.
âBring her here later. I want to have a word with her,â Martha ordered a servant.
âYes, maâam.â
âHave her come alone. Donât inform Arthur,â Martha added.
If Arthur still has feelings for Sophia, why would he agree to this marriage so easily?
By the end of the dinner, Arthur left after receiving a call. Sophia, on the other hand, didnât return to her room but instead sat in the garden and spaced out while staring at the starry sky.
The sky here was so clear that she could see a speckle of the galaxy. It was a sight to behold.
How Sophia wished time could just stop here forever. She wouldnât be greedy and ask for much, only that she could have a meal with him and see him once a day. That would suffice for her.
But very quickly, she pulled a wry smile. She was already getting greedy, wasnât she?!
What luck did she have to stay by his side forever?! She, too, lately sensed something very different about Arthur. She remembered their first encounter; how he was so angry that he could murder her the next second.
She could also sense the fluctuation in his emotions as days went by. His aloofness and nobility were intense, and the haughtiness exuded from deep within him was irresistible as well.
But the current himâas aloof as he still wasâwas emotionless like he cared about nothing at all. Just what in the world had gotten into him?
While reeling, a servant approached her and said, âMiss Goodwin, please follow me.â
âIs someone looking for me?â
âYouâll know when you get there. Please.â The servant gestured a âpleaseâ.
At that, Sophia got up and followed after her, traversing a grand hallway. The manor was so massive that one could get lost in it. Thus, it could take some time for a person to get from one place to another.
Sophia grew increasingly uneasy the further she walked, for she had a hunch who she would be meeting, and a pang of guilt and self-reproach arose within her.
She had already promised Martha back home that she would stay away from Arthur, but now, she had chased him all the way here and even snuck her name into the guest list. Just the thought of it made Sophia ashamed of meeting Arthurâs grandmother.
Sure enough, she found Martha sitting on the couch when they arrived at a quaint hall. The older lady was dressed in a fitting dark silver dress, looking noble and majestic.
âGood evening, Old Madam Weiss,â Sophia greeted Martha.
Martha sized the young woman up in response, not in anger but amiably, pointing toward the seat across from hers. âHave a seat.â
Arthur had wronged this young woman, after all, and she didnât need to ask to know what would happen between them had probably already happened. But now, Arthur was marrying another woman;
this was unfair to her.
âI didnât expect you to have come, Miss Goodwin.â
âIâm sorry, Old Madam Weiss. Please forgive me for inviting myself. I swear I wonât cause any trouble during Arthurâs wedding,â Sophia promised eagerly as she looked up.
To that, Martha waved her hand. âNo need to apologize. Everyoneâs a guest here. All are welcome.â
Sophia couldnât help being taken aback, and she had now witnessed for herself the older womanâs noble demeanor. Marthaâs tolerance and kindness made Sophia grow increasingly self-reproaching and unable to face her.
âTomorrow will be Arthurâs big day. If you feel uncomfortable, I can make arrangements for you to tour around the area.â Martha had considered her feelings instead.
But Sophia shook her head. âThank you for the arrangement, Old Madam Weiss, but I wonât be attending the wedding tomorrow. Iâll be returning home with my boss after the wedding is over.â
Martha suddenly felt bad for Sophia. She hadnât forced Arthur upon this wedding, but Arthur chose his own bride.
So why exactly had he let go of Sophia and chose Emily instead? This was a question that still puzzled her to this day.
âHave you two fought before Arthur came back?â asked Martha, curious.
Sophia shook her head in reply. âNo, we didnât.â Then, after some deliberation, she asked, âIf you donât mind me asking, Old Madam Weiss, had something happened to Young Master Weiss lately that led him to suffer from amnesia?â
âAmnesia? Nothing happened to Artie. Why would you ask so?â asked Old Madam Weiss, bewildered.
âBecause⦠he seemed to have completely forgotten about me.â As dejected as Sophia was, she dared not let it show.
Martha, on the other hand, couldnât help reeling. âWhat did you say? Arthur has forgotten about you?â
âYes, after his departure. I realize he has completely forgotten about me on our first reunion here.â
Sophia was now purely worried if Arthur had suffered any injuries that led him to have amnesia.
At that, Martha recollected Arthurâs behavior since coming home. He was now indeed behaving very differently from the first day he returned. However, she still couldnât figure out what had led her dear grandson to behave so indifferently to everything.
âArtie is behaving differently, but nothing happened to him either,â Martha affirmed.
Sophia was relieved upon hearing so. This was good news, for a severe trauma had to happen to cause someone to lose their memories. As it appeared, he was fine, just that he had completely forgotten about her and her only.
Finally, Martha understood why Arthur would choose Emily as his wife. It was because he had suddenly forgotten about Sophia. But how did it come to this?
âOld Madam Weiss, itâs getting late. You should rest early. Tomorrowâs a big day,â the senior servant said.
Martha checked the time to find it was already 10.00PM. At that, she nodded, then turned to Sophia.
âYou should get some rest as well, Miss Goodwin. Youâre more than welcome if you want to join us for the wedding.â
âThank you, Old Madam Weiss.â After seeing Martha off, Sophia allowed the servant to take her to her room.
Meanwhile, a back sedan drove into the manor. As the door opened, Arthur stepped out of the vehicle.
His back suit, complimented with subtle embroidery that showed off his nobility, made him domineering like he was a lord in the dark.