Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around! novel Chapter 380

Sterling proceeded to pick up the important things like her driver’s license and keys, then the four of them left together.

Before they got into their cars, Sterling suddenly said, “Oh yeah, Soph, Honey, I have something interesting to tell you!”

“Well, Charles was getting anxious waiting in the room just now so the two of us decided to go to the stairwell for a smoke, and guess what we saw!”

A loud bump sounded from behind him. Turns out Nicole had bumped herself as she was climbing into the car.

“Honey, what’s the matter with you today? You’re acting especially clumsy today, are you hurt? Here, let me blow on it to make it feel better!” Sterling’s heart ached at the sight of Nicole accidentally hurting herself.

Sophia cast Nicole a glance as she slowly asked, “What did you see?”

“There were these two strong and burly men at the stairwell, and the second they saw us entering through the door, they quickly hid something behind their backs! However, it was a pointless move because the smell of chloroform in the air was too strong! They must have doused a napkin or handkerchief of some sort with chloroform, I actually think they might have been intending to kidnap someone! Once the person loses consciousness, they can easily carry the person away without creating a racket!”

He had seen this trick often in films and television shows!

Sophia immediately broke into a cold sweat as she turned her head stiffly to look at Nicole. However, her sister-in-law did not meet her gaze.

If she had followed Nicole to the stairwell back then, she would have been abducted by those two men, would she not?

What was her sister-in-law up to?!

“I was just suggesting to Nicole to go to the stairwell so we could talk just now, how fortunate that we didn’t then, that sounds dangerous.” The smile on Nicole’s face seemed forced and rigid.

“It really is dangerous!” Sterling, being as oblivious as usual, did not notice the tension in the air. “Soph, you’re a beautiful girl so it’s best to never go to such isolated places alone, you might make yourself an easy target! Do you hear me?”

Sophia licked her dry lips as she replied in an ambiguous manner, “Sometimes it’s not the matter of a place being isolated, you just never know whether someone has already targeted you before that. Don’t you agree, Nicole?”

“Everywhere a pretty lady goes is dangerous no matter how,” Nicole answered smartly before quickly steering the topic away. “The two kids are still at home, do you think they’re awake yet? We should get back soon,” she urged Sterling.

Sterling waved goodbye to Charles and drove away.

During the drive back, he suggested, “I’m in a good mood today, I don’t feel like going to work anymore. Honey, why don’t we go out and enjoy the rest of the day?”

His wife had always loved going out on dates but he had been so busy with work recently he had been unable to spend time with her.

“The kids are at home though,” Nicole turned to look out the window as she replied absent-mindedly.

“What’s the big deal? We have the maids and nanny at home, don’t we? Come on honey, why don’t we go to the aquarium? They recently just gotten the beluga whale that has been viral on the internet and it’s really cute, I’m sure you’ll love it!”

Sterling spoke enthusiastically.

However, Nicole seemed disinterested. “Sterling, I think it’s best if you go back to work. We’re still on the last part of our plan and we haven’t officially addressed the negative news on the White family, I’m worried that we would become like the Jones family and have our plans fall apart at the very end!”

Thinking that what she said made sense, Sterling dropped her home and headed back to the office.

As soon as he left the house, Nicole anxiously went upstairs and made a phone call.

“I did everything you asked me to but Soph insists on avenging my mother-in-law and she’s adamant about staying by Mr. Harris’ side to wait for the opportunity to take revenge. I tried persuading her but she won’t budge, what should we do now?”

-

At the supermarket.

“Miss, I’m sorry but your card has been declined. May I know if you would like to try a different card or payment method?” The supermarket cashier asked.

Leah took back her card and stuffed it into her wallet, then pulled the brim of her cap lower as she replied, “Apply Pay please.”

She remembered that the debit account linked to her Apply Pay account still had tens of thousands of dollars.

Growing up, she had only been showered with words of praises, but ever since Sophia was released from prison, everything in her life was just downhill!

Leah bit her lip and forced down the tears that brimmed her eyes. She quickly picked up her cap and sunglasses before dashing out of the store.

Many of the on-lookers followed her as they took videos of her while throwing insulting and criticizing remarks, whereas some even went so far as to throw random things at her.

When she finally lost sight of all those people, her legs were completely sore.

She was not pretending to be a cripple, she truly had a permanent limp now. Although she was able to walk just like any other ordinary person, the limp was what set her apart from being normal.

Leah sat in the dark stairway as she called her father. All along, he was the one who understood her best.

“Dad, I…” She started talking the moment the call was connected but was interrupted by her father on the other end of the phone.

“Leah, I understand why you did what you did but that doesn’t mean I can forgive you. Do you know how much your mistake has cost the Jones family? Your false information and poor judgment have set Jones Group behind by at least four or five years now!”

Leah softened her tone. “Dad, I know I was wrong and I promise to never do anything stupid to Charles and Sophia anymore, but you have to believe me that I can make up for this.”

“You said that when you wanted us to buy the White family’s shares!” Mr. Jones gritted his teeth in frustration. “I’m very busy now cleaning up after your mess, don’t call me anymore!”

“Dad, I…” Beep beep beep…

Leah tried calling him several times after that but she only reached his voicemail. Her father had blocked her.

She wiped away the tears in her eyes and called everyone in her address book one after another, but still, nobody picked up. Even when they did, they would hang up immediately, avoiding her like the plague.

The only person she had not tried was her brother.

Leah’s lashes trembled as she stared at the number, and with a shaking hand, she pressed the call button.