Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around! novel Chapter 146

Jenny stopped crying, despair in her eyes. After a long while, she finally said in a trembling voice, "So that's what you thought of me all this time? That I'm a wimp who can't do anything but cry?"

"Isn't that the universally-acknowledged truth?" James retorted. "If I hadn't expanded White Industries to what it is today, do you think the 20% shares you have would be worth so much? You don't deserve to own those shares at all!"

Jenny was stunned to hear that, and for a long time, she could not say anything.

Sterling had no love lost for his parents after what happened to Sophia, so he was only annoyed to see them fighting and not much else. He lay in his bed, watching them coolly. As for Nicole, she was just their daughter-in-law, so she should not really butt in right now. In an instant, the whole room fell into pin-drop silence.

Suddenly, there was a cold laugh.

Sophia adjusted her posture and said sarcastically, "You said all that crap, Mr. White, but you never got to the point at all. Look into your conscience and ask yourself. If my maternal grandparents hadn't died in a car accident, would you have inherited the company? You, a poor kid who had to ask his wife to pay for his college tuition? What right do you have to become a company CEO?"

"You… Shut your mouth!" James hated it when anyone pointed out how poor he used to be. He put his hand on his chest and jabbed a finger at Sophia, panting, "You…"

Click.

Just then, the door was opened from the outside, and Charles walked into the room. He first glanced at Sophia. When he saw that she looked fine, he pulled his gaze back and interrupted James, his expression slightly dark. "Mr. and Mrs. White, kindly leave the room."

The moment Charles looked her way, Sophia avoided his gaze. Even after he turned away from her, she did not look at him, her eyelids lowered and her gaze fixed goodness knew where.

James said, "Charles, you…"

He had barely started when Charles interrupted him again coldly.

"Leave. Right now."

"If you insist, fine." James still did not look very pleased, but he had regained his usual grace. "One thing, though. I want to talk to you about that plot of land in G City."

Charles frowned imperceptibly, his gaze falling on Sophia once more. Her head was lowered and she did not look at him, so all he could see was her side profile. She looked even thinner now.

He felt a slight tug in his chest, and his Adam's apple bobbed. With a quiet "okay", he opened the door and went out.

James had been looking for Charles all this time recently, but every time his assistant Lewis would only tell him that "Mr. Harris is in a meeting and can't meet you", or "Mr. Harris's schedule is full today and he just can't make the time, sorry". After the eighth or ninth time James failed to meet Charles, he knew that Charles was avoiding him.

Now, hearing Charles agree to meet him, James grew visibly elated and hurriedly ran up to match Charles's footsteps.

Jenny instinctively ran after him, but she had only taken one step before she retreated again, lowering her head and wiping her tears.

"Soph, you were coughing just now, right? Are you okay? If you're not, get Nicole to call the doctors!" Now that the room had finally fallen silent, Sterling asked Sophia again worriedly.

Jenny wiped her tears and raised her head in terror. "Soph, was it because I argued with your father that you…"

"No." Sophia frowned and interrupted her coldly before turning to Nicole and Sterling. Her expression softened. "I'm fine, Ster, Nicole. Don't worry about me."

Jenny saw how close Sophia still was with Sterling and Nicole, yet she was given such a cold shoulder. When she added to the cruel words James had spat at her earlier, Jenny felt an overwhelming wave of sadness that made her feet stumble.

"Mom—" Nichole quickly went to help her up before she fell.

She pointed at herself, demanding, “I’m the daughter you gave birth to after a long pregnancy. Why don’t you believe me? Why do you believe Leah Jones instead?”

Jenny took two steps back, looking at Sophia’s practically monstrous expression in a daze. “I…”

“Is it because I was too rowdy as a kid? Unlike quiet, obedient Leah? Huh?” Sophia closed in on Jenny. Tears beaded in her eyes, but she forced them back down. “Since you think I’m such a dastardly villain, since I’m no match for Leah Jones in any way, then forget you ever had a daughter like me!”

Her throat was tight. Sophia took a deep, rattling breath. “It’s not as though I’ve been holding onto the family without letting go. So why do you insist on showing up in front of me like this? Do you like it when you get to make fun of me? Does it get you off?”

Jenny’s lips trembled slightly. As soon as she opened her mouth, her tears started pouring. “I…”

“Get out!” Sophia put her hand to her mouth and coughed once before pointing at the door and roaring with all her might.

Jenny just stood there motionlessly, but her tears never stopped streaming. She looked at Sophia in distress, sorrow, and shock. Several times she opened her mouth, but she never managed to say a single word.

Nicole stood next to them, wanting to play peacemaker but not sure what she should say. As for Sterling, he just looked up at the ceiling without moving. No one knew what he was thinking.

“Ha!” Sophia snorted coldly. “Fine. Since you refuse to leave, Mrs. White, I’ll leave!”

She got out of bed. Without even putting on her shoes, she staggered out of the door, her right leg dragging behind slightly.

Sterling only turned around when he heard the door opening. He gave Jenny a cold look and then frowned, trying to get out of bed.

“You’re half-disabled, idiot. Don’t move! I’ll go check on her.” Nicole forced him back down into bed and then told Jenny, “I’ll go after Sophia.” With that, she hastily gave chase.