Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around! novel Chapter 83

Charles hummed a soft reply. His eyes scanned across her pale face, and her slightly peeling lips. He frowned imperceptibly.

"It's almost one in the afternoon. You must be hungry, right?" Sterling glared fiercely at Charles before walking over to Sophia with two takeaway bags. “They’re both your favorite, but they’re cold now. Take two bites to fill your stomach, and I'll order something warm for you."

Yvette smiled. "They say that Sterling loves his wife and his sister. You certainly deserve the credit."

"Thank you, Mr. White," She stole a glance at Charles out of the corner of her eyes. The word ‘Sterling’ hung at the tip of her tongue for the longest time, yet Sophia still ended up changing the way she addressed him. "But I don't like to eat these things anymore."

Sterling was stunned speechless upon hearing the words ‘Mr. White’ and tossed the two takeaway bags in his hand aside. He asked, "You don't like to eat these things anymore? Tell me what you like to eat and I will order them for you, then. If they don’t offer takeaway services, then I’ll go to their restaurant and buy it for you!"

"There’s no need for that. Thank you, Mr. White." Sophia looked up and signaled at Sterling with her eyes, motioning him to stop talking.

The small movements between the two as well as Sophia's fear of Charles fell into Yvette’s eyes. She tucked a loose strand behind her ear and sighed almost imperceptibly.

Sterling would have endured it if this was two years ago.

Despite that, he had been suppressing the anger and guilt in his heart for two whole years. Now, these emotions were getting the better of him. With Sophia stooping to compromise, his so-called reasoning was almost instantly subdued.

"Don't be afraid of him!" Sterling clenched his fists, the blue veins around his neck throbbing. His face was exceptionally grim. "I'm not a member of the Whites anymore either, so don’t you f*cking dare intimidate and threaten me with White Industries’ benefits!"

He shielded her behind him, his gaze piercing straight into Charles. "Don't be afraid, Soph. I will not leave you behind from now on!"

The corners of her eyes stung, and tears gushed out almost instantaneously.

Sophia trembled and took a deep breath. Then, she tugged at the corner of Sterling’s clothes and shook her head at him vigorously. Her throat, however, felt as though it had been stuffed with a sponge as she could not utter a single word.

“How deeply affectionate both of you siblings are. I’m truly moved." Charles tugged at his lips, yet the smile did not reach his eyes.

Sophia struggled to get to the ground before walking toward Charles. Once in front of him, she knelt down. Her voice was exceptionally hoarse. "This is the first time I’m seeing Sterling after I was released from prison and you happened to see us together."

Charles looked at her from a condescending height. His eyes were dark and gloomy. "Do you enjoy kneeling that much?"

"Are you crazy?!" Sterling roared, eyes full of disbelief. He reached out to yank her up. "Get up!"

Yvette rarely changed her countenance and got up to pull Sophia up. "What are you doing, Soph? Stand up. We can all talk nicely!"

"Aunt Harris, Sterling, if you actually care about me, then let me kneel." Sophia shook her head at them, still kneeling on the ground.

Yvette loosened her grip. Her gaze fell on Charles. "Charles, ask Soph to get up."

"Since she likes to kneel so much, I’ll let her kneel," Charles said casually. He undid two buttons only to realize that he could finally breathe better.

Sterling's good-looking face was livid. He yanked Sophia's hand. "Get up! I said get the f*ck up! Are you deaf?!"

Sophia allowed him to yank her hand, but her knees remained planted firmly on the ground. She raised her hand to swear, a pleading look written all over her face, "Mr. Harris, I promise you that this will be the last time I meet Sterling. This will never happen again in the future."

She pursed her lips that were trembling slightly. "If I keep in touch with Sterling again, then I will..." She swallowed her saliva with much difficulty. "I’ll get struck by lightning when I go out and hit by a car. I’ll have no hope of dying a natural death!"

Charles looked down at her. His lips moved but did not make a sound.

Silence.

There was pin-drop silence in the ward.

The blood flowed along his forehead and into his eyes, stinging them. A mixture of tears and blood flowed out. "My sister is only 20 years old. She has a whole life ahead of her. She can’t work in Dream Club her entire life!"

Sophia's throat tightened. There seemed to be something wrong with her vocal cords as she could not say a word.

Sterling…

"Please!" Sterling kowtowed heavily on the ground and stayed there for a very long time.

The ward was exceptionally quiet. Only the sound of Charles’ fingers tapping on the table was left. The tapping sound continued one after another, seizing them with fear.

"Sterling, Soph, get up, both of you. Charles won’t have the nerves to do anything while I’m here." After a while, Yvette spoke and went over to help both siblings up.

Sophia was afraid to get up. Charles was a dutiful son, but he did not listen to everything Aunt Harris said either.

Sterling did not budge. His head was still stuck to the ground. Blood trailed along his forehead to the ground. The faint smell of blood mixed with the disinfectant in the ward formed a strange smell that stifled the atmosphere even more.

"Charles." Yvette glanced at Charles. "Help me to get both of them up."

Charles glanced at the siblings, and his gaze finally stopped on Sophia. His eyes flashed as he hummed a faint response before standing up to help Sophia up.

His hands were warm, the sort of warmth that would make people comfortable, yet Sophia felt that her wrist that he was holding onto felt surprisingly scalded. It burned her so badly that she felt tormented.

She did not know if she was supposed to get up because he still had not said whether he would forgive Sterling this time.

"You’re not going to get up?" Charles let go of her wrist and said mildly, "Do you want me to carry you?"