When Sterling called back a while later, Sophia was just about to answer the call when the bodyguard beside her stopped her. “Put it on speaker.”
After speaking, he let go of her hand.
Sophia took a deep breath as she recollected her emotions before answering the call, switching it to speaker mode.
“Soph, why aren’t you at home? Where did you go? What happened to the two nannies who were guarding Jenna and Lennie? Did you do something?”
Sophia placed her phone on her knee and rubbed her cold hands together. “How am I supposed to answer you when you ask so many questions at a time?”
“Okay, where did you go? Please don’t tell me you went to see Sylvia, that wicked old witch!” Sterling sounded extremely anxious over the phone.
Sophia cast a look at the bodyguard beside her. Noticing that they did not react at all, it was quite unlikely that they were employed by Sylvia, which meant that they were sent by the mysterious big shot behind the scenes.
“... I’m not stupid, why would I go see Sylvia so late at night? Wouldn’t I be serving myself up on a silver platter?” Sophia refuted.
“Where did you go then?”
“No matter how powerful Sylvia is, she’s no match against the Cox and Harris family. I came to see Aunt Harris and asked her to force Sylvia to call back those two nannies. Anyway, I’m almost back now, that’s all for now.”
Worried that she would let a slip of the tongue and raise his suspicions, she quickly ended the call.
Not long after, the car arrived at the entrance of the White family manor.
Sophia got out of the car, and with the bodyguards by her side, she entered the house.
She used to feel secured and safe with them around, but now, she felt as if she had been stripped naked before them and she had lost all sense of privacy.
“You’re finally back, I was so worried!” Sterling came forward and checked her all over. After making sure that she was safe and unharmed, he finally felt relieved.
Noticing that Nicole was nowhere to be seen, Sophia hesitated slightly before asking, “Where’s Nicole?”
“She’s in the bedroom. She said both of you only felt guilty toward one another so it’s best if you don’t see each other for now. Maybe you should give it some time or things will just be awkward if you bump into each other now.”
Sterling’s expression turned gloomy when he brought this up. He pulled out a cigarette along with a lighter, but he glanced at Sophia and quickly put it away.
Sophia’s gaze paused at the half-empty box of cigarettes. “When did you start smoking?”
“The past two days, it makes me feel better.” Although Sterling managed to have some shut-eye after the bodyguards knocked him unconscious, the blood veins in his eyes were still there and his eye bags were particularly prominent as well.
The two siblings sat in the living room quietly. Everything looked normal just like before, but the loss of Nicole’s arm settled in the air between the two. Ultimately, everything had changed.
No matter what, Nicole had suffered an undeserved catastrophe because of Sophia.
“Ster, I’m sorry,” Sophia said as she lowered her gaze.
A look of frustration flashed across Sterling’s face. “Didn’t I already tell you that you have nothing to do with this? Why are you bringing it up again?”
He paused for a moment before his head jerked toward her. “Soph, is that wicked old witch afraid of Aunt Harris?”
Sophia’s mind was a mess right then, and so she simply nodded her head without thinking.
“Soph!” Sterling jumped up and rushed toward her. “You have a good relationship with Aunt Harris and she has already liked you all along. Can you tell her what happened and have her get someone to chop off that wicked old witch’s right arm? Please, can you do that?”
“!”
Sophia had not expected him to consider this thought. She quickly averted his gaze and replied, “The Jones family has been pestering the Harris family non-stop recently so Aunt Harris is already busy enough. I don’t want to trouble her with anything else right after asking her for a favor.”
“Once Sophia turns against Charles, the bodyguards would leave for half an hour. This is the most time I could get for you,” Sylvia said.
Leah sat on the sofa and poured herself a cup of tea. “I know quite well why you’re doing this. It’s a mutually beneficial situation so you don’t have to act as if I’m a charity case.”
If it was not for the fact that she refused to go home and be toyed around by her family, she would certainly not have come to this woman!
“I just love your petty shrewdness. Though, I must ask, how did you end up in this situation when you’re so smart yourself?” Sylvia covered her mouth and chuckled.
Sophia raised her brow and stood up. “It’s fine if you don’t want to cooperate with me, you can just find someone else. Goodbye now.”
Then, she turned around to leave without hesitation, and it seemed too real for her to be pretending.
Sylvia stood up and called out after her, “I was just telling Sophia how your temper isn’t as bad as hers! Come on, I’m sorry I misspoke just now. Have a seat and we can talk about this, alright?”
“If you want to genuinely talk, stop using that ambiguous tone.” With that, Leah sat back down on the sofa.
Jax ordered the maids to switch out a new plate of fruits and snacks, and placed them on the coffee table before her.
“To be honest, with your capabilities, I’m sure you’ll be able to find your own place in the business industry after the Jones family find you a match. Even if you don’t return to the Jones family, I’m sure many young men out there have their eyes on you. Like Justin, I think he’s quite an outstanding choice, so why did you choose to work with me?” Sylvia asked.
Leah looked up and met Sylvia’s gaze. “We’re just working together on the same side, must you ask so many questions?”
“Don’t be angry, I mean well. After all, you’re risking your entire future by doing this, it just doesn’t seem to be worth it. If you have any other plans aside from this that eventually risks the plan being exposed, I’m afraid I can’t bear the consequences,” Sylvia said slowly.
Leah took a piece of pastry from the plate. “That’s because I don’t have a future anymore. Is that a good enough reason?”
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