Chapter 9
Changing only for her (Sophie and Tristan)
Chapter 9 Do Not Doubt His Words
Seeing that they had all left, Felix instantly made a call.
âHey, have Zales Corporation vanish from Jipsdale in three hours.â
Only then did Selena realize the gravity of the matter.
âWho exactly are you both?â
Her knees went weak, and she couldnât quite remain steady on her feet anymore.
âWell, heâs Tristan Lombard, whom you mentioned earlier! You wanted his niece to apologize to you?
How audacious of you!â
âTristan Lombard? Heâs really Tristan Lombard?â Selena collapsed onto the couch. Gah! Why on earth
did I say such things just now?
âMr. Quillen, the Lombard family doesnât want Ysabelleâs identity to leak out. As such, youâre not
allowed to breathe a single word about the incident today.â
The Lombard family merely wanted to give Ysabelle a simple life.
âSure, sure!â Rhett no longer dared to say anything contrary by then.
After all, it was Tristan Lombard. A single flick of his finger could have the whole of Jipsdale quaking in
fear.
âAs for you, Mrs. Zales, itâs best that you leave Jipsdale quickly. Donât doubt Mr. Tristanâs words.â
Having said that, Felix strode off.
Despite my remark, Sophie was the main reason Mr. Tristan came personally today. In the past, even if
Ysabelle encountered some sort of problem, he only sent us over. Does he really fancy her that much?
Meanwhile, Ysabelle was over the moon that Tristan came to school personally to help her.
âThank you, Uncle Tristan! Donât tell my father about this. Otherwise, heâll kill me.â
âYeah, I got it.â
âUncle Tristan, this is my classmate and best friend, Sophie. She only got into trouble with Yvonne
today because she avenged me.â Ysabelle adored Sophie.
âHave you eaten?â Itâs noon now, and they probably hadnât had lunch.
âNope. Are you planning to treat me to lunch, Uncle Tristan? Okay, then! I want to eat the cuisine at
Pegasus Pavilion!â
âOkay.â Tristan nodded in agreement.
âReally? Youâre too nice to me, Uncle Tristan!â Ysabelle hugged his arm in elation.
However, at the manâs icy gaze, she immediately dropped her hold on him. Oh God, how could I have
forgotten that he detests others touching him?
âIâve still got something to do, Ysabelle.â Sophie didnât plan on eating with them.
Upon hearing that, Ysabelle grabbed her hand at once, clutching it tightly.
âI must thank you for this incident today, Sophie. Thus, I insist on treating you to this meal. If you donât
go, it means that you donât regard me as your friend.â Her tone was firm, but the expression on her face
was incredibly coy. âPlease? Pretty please? Itâs just lunch. My uncle isnât going to eat you,â she
continued coaxing.
Cough! Cough! Cough! Felix couldnât help coughing. Perhaps Mr. Tristan really wants to eat her up!
âWhatâs wrong with you, Mr. Northley? Go to the hospital and get yourself checked up if youâre not
feeling well.â
âNo, no, Iâm fine.â Felix swiftly waved a dismissive hand before saying, âIâll make a reservation at
Pegasus Pavilion right now.â
Sophie was most afraid of girls like Ysabelle, who was cute and kittenish, for she couldnât bring herself
to turn the latter down.
âOkay.â She nodded since it was just a meal anyway.
âIâll go and drive the car over. You guys can wait for me here.â Felix promptly trotted off to get the car.
When the car arrived, Tristan personally opened the car door for Ysabelle.
âGo in.â
âUncle Tristan, I can sit in the back with Sophie!â In truth, Ysabelle still wanted to cling to Sophie longer.
Alas, a look from the man had her slipping into the passenger seat at lightning speed.
After closing the car door, Tristan opened the car door to the back seat for Sophie.
âAfter you.â
It was clear as day that his attitude toward her was far better than his own niece.
Sophie got into the car and moved inward. Tristan climbed in as well. The two of them sat side by side.
When Felix saw that, the urge to laugh seized him. Heâs being too obvious, isnât he? But is he really
serious about a girl whoâs only eighteen years old? Why did I never realize that heâs such a beast, liking
them young?
âWhat do you like to eat, Sophie?â Ysabelle turned and gazed at Sophie earnestly.
âIâm not picky.â
In the face of her smiling countenance, Sophie truly couldnât bring herself to be harsh and unrelenting.
Verily, she resembled a friend of hers very closely.
Throughout the drive, Ysabelle asked her questions every so often. In fact, she was the one doing all
the speaking.
Surprisingly, Sophie, who always wore a chilly expression with others, answered all her questions,
albeit briefly.
By the time they arrived at Pegasus Pavilion, the manager was already waiting outside.
The instant he spotted Felixâs car, he instantly stepped forward and welcomed them.
âMr. Tristan, Mr. Northley, Ms. Ysabelle. Everything is ready.â
Tristan alighted from the car first. He waited until Sophie had also gotten out before closing the car
door.
The manager had already helped Ysabelle open the car door. After getting out, she quickly went over
to Sophie.
âLetâs go in, Sophie! Weâre going to the washroom first, Uncle Tristan!â After saying that, she strode in,
dragging Sophie with her.
Felix then alighted from the car and went over to Tristan.
âSophie is remarkably patient with Ysabelle! From the look of things, sheâs very fond of her.â After all,
she has never given us any quarter!
âYeah.â Naturally, Tristan discerned that as well.
âJudging from the situation, youâve got to depend on Ysabelle if you want to draw close to her.â
Ignoring him, Tristan headed straight to the private room.
A few minutes passed before Ysabelle brought Sophie into the private room.
âLet me do the introductions, Sophie! This is my uncle, Tristan Lombard. In the future, you can follow
me and address him as Uncle Tristan.â
Hearing that, Felix, who was drinking water, almost choked.
âMr. Lombard.â Sophie didnât address Tristan as Uncle Tristan. She had no blood ties with him, so she
didnât want to profess something false.
âYou really donât have to stand on formality, Soph. Whateverâs mine is yours, so my uncle is also your
uncle.â
âYsabelle.â Tristan didnât give her the opportunity to continue spouting nonsense when that address
carried a generational gap.
Following his glare, Ysabelle could only zip her mouth.
The manager came over to take their orders personally, giving them a menu each.
In no time, Ysabelle named several dishes.
Then, she turned and asked Sophie, âWhat would you like to eat, Soph? You donât have to be shy with
my uncle.â
Hence, Sophie ordered two dishes at random.
âIâm not being shy.â
Seeing that they had ordered enough food to go around, Tristan and Felix handed their menus back to
the manager without ordering anything.
âPlease wait for a while, Mr. Tristan.â
âWhatâs your phone number, Soph? Iâll add you to my contacts on WhatsApp.â Ysabelle wanted Sophâs
phone number right after they had finished ordering.
Sophie didnât decline, taking out her phone and tapping open WhatsApp, allowing her to scan her QR
code.
âWhere are you staying right now, Soph? Can I go and visit you?â
âIâm staying in a hotel right now and will look for a place in a few days.â Sophie didnât plan to continue
staying at the Tanner residence.
âLook for a place? I can help! What kind of place are you planning to look for?â Felix queried earnestly.
He could tell Tristanâs thoughts with a single glance without the latter having to voice them out.
âThatâs right! Let Mr. Northley find a place for you, Soph!â Itâll be very troublesome for her to do it by
herself.
âYou donât have to go to the trouble. I can manage by myself.â
âItâs no trouble at all. Itâs my honor to help a beauty!â Felix didnât allow her any chance to decline.
Soon, the manager came in with some servers and served the food.
Sophie sat between Tristan and Ysabelle. Once the food was served, both of them took food for her.
It was Ysabelleâs first time seeing her uncle taking food for someone else. Even she had never had
such a privilege. As such, she eyed him strangely.