"I'm fine. Thank you for earlier." Sophie tried to appear nonchalant—the more others insulted her, the more she had to hold on."There's no need for you to be so polite with me. Besides, I'm a man. I can't just watch you get hit by eggs." Austin said, his frown softening as he adjusted his tight suit and smiled gently in response to Sophie's gratitude.Sophie was about to continue expressing her thanks, but Jeanna beat her to it. "It seems that the Carlsons actually have reliable men.""Jean!" Sophie stopped her."I'm just stating a fact. What's wrong with that?" Jeanna refuted.A hint of embarrassment flashed across Sophie's face. She had originally wanted to clarify her relationship with Austin to the public at Jeff's birthday party. Unfortunately, she did not expect something like that to happen, and Austin had been implicated again."By the way, is Grandpa okay?" Sophie asked."Grandpa's fine. He's just very worried about you." Thinking of Jeff's admonition, Austin lied. Jef
Sophie stared at the clues in front of her, feeling a throbbing headache forming at her temples. The surveillance footage provided scant leads.-It was already the third day since Tristan's surgery, yet there were no signs of him regaining consciousness.Cedric stared at the boy lying on the hospital bed, his lip pursed tightly."Tristan, please wake up, okay?" Vivienne sat right next to the bed, holding the tiny hand with tears streaming down her cheeks. But no matter how much she called out to him, Tristan seemed to be lost in a deep slumber, motionless."Doctor, what's Tristan's situation now?" Cedric asked."Mr. Carlson, theoretically speaking, the patient should regain consciousness within three days after surgery. But based on the current situation, it's better to prepare yourself mentally to wait for a bit longer," the doctor explained."No! Dr. Lawson, please save my son. I can't lose him. He's so young! He can't become a vegetable!" Vivienne pleaded, dropping to her kn
"We've been watching the surveillance footage for 3 days now, and we have still not found any clues at all. Could it be a ghost?" Jeanna speculated jokingly."Jean, don't talk nonsense," Linda replied, also feeling frustrated.However, despite their urgent efforts, they had not found any leads."I'm as anxious as you are. The stock prices of Luxford Group and Paramount Inc. have been plummeting for days now. This incident's effects are much bigger than we anticipated," Jeanna added.Sophie's frown tightened after hearing this. Jean was right. This crisis was much more severe than the last scandal between her and Austin. Even though she had instructed her media team to try to divert the attention and reduce the intensity, their efforts seemed futile."Ms. Luxford, don't worry. There will be a solution. Jean and I will go pick up Cherry from school first." Linda handed Sophie a glass of warm milk and motioned Jeanna to stop talking with a gaze.Although Sophie seemed to be in good
Sophie placed the empty can on the table and bowed her head, her eyelashes concealing her emotions as her voice trembled softly.Cedric's outstretched hand remained suspended in the air before clenching into a fist. The pain radiating from his eyes seemed darker than the depths of the sea, yet he could only withdraw his hand in silence."I've been haunted by so much hatred these past five years." Sophie seemed to be truly sleep-talking. In the dream, she was talking to herself, needing no response. She lifted her head, her eyes fixed on the constantly churning waves.She had chosen to return to take revenge on those who had hurt her, but why did the feeling of revenge not bring her the joy she had expected?She suddenly chuckled out loud and stood up unsteadily. "I must be drunk."She was intoxicated to the point where she unwittingly deluded herself and allowed long-suppressed emotions to resurface after five years. So intoxicated that she couldn't differentiate between love and
Sophie was aware of the dangers of drunk driving, but she still chose to drive back to her apartment.Mrs. Carrie opened the door for her and immediately smelled the alcohol on her. She was wearing a thick coat, which added to Mrs. Carrie's confusion."Ma'am, shall I prepare some hangover soup for you?" Mrs. Carrie asked."No need. I'm not drunk." Sophie shook her head. What intoxicated her was not the alcohol, but her inner demon. No matter how much she drank, it would not help."What about this coat?" Mrs. Carrie looked at the coat she was taking off, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to recall who had worn it before.Sophie turned her head, and her gaze landed on the dark brown coat. Something seemed to flicker in her eyes. 'This coat… I bought this for him back then.'"Throw it away," Sophie instructed."Okay," Mrs. Carrie replied but could not help but steal a few more glances at the garment.Suddenly, the confusion in her eyes seemed to be cleared. 'Isn’t this Mr.
Sophie, watching Cherry hurry away, shook her head with an affectionate smile. But the smile soon faded as she pressed a finger to her lips, recalling the kiss from the previous night. 'Cedric, the once longed-for dream of splendor has already been shattered beyond repair.'She glanced at her watch, deciding it was time to pick up Cherry from school.-"Mommy, why are you here to pick me up?" Cherry’s face lit up with joy when she saw Sophie waiting for her outside the school."I missed you, sweetheart," Sophie said, wrapping Cherry in her arms. She felt a pang of guilt as she continued. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you better."She understood all too well that children's words, more direct and brutal than those of adults, could leave deeper scars."Apologizing for such a small thing? Remember, we can handle as much praise as criticism. And nothing that can't be fixed with a slice of cherry cake," Cherry said cheerfully, hugging Sophie and planting a firm kiss on her cheek.Sop
"Mommy, a bug just flew into my eye," Cherry explained, presenting the most innocent of lies.Sophie's eyes reddened. She entered the room and wrapped Cherry in a warm embrace. "Well, let's cry a bit then. The tears will wash the little bug away.""I guess it worked. Look, the bug must be gone now," Cherry opened her eyes wide to show her reddened eyes. Sophie hid her own heartache and played along.Curled up in her mother's arms, Cherry tried not to cry, aware that her mother was likely feeling worse than her."It’s okay to cry when you're hurt, Cherry," Sophie reassured her, kissing her forehead. Sophie understood the weight of public scorn, especially for a child as young as Cherry."It’s not that, Mommy. I wasn’t crying because I was hurt," Cherry quickly explained."Why then?" Sophie asked, concern evident in her voice."It's because of… Tristan. He pretended not to see me before, and I was really mad, but now I feel so bad for him. Mommy, will he become a vegetative person
Sophie pointed at Tristan in the surveillance footage, moving unusually slowly. "Children usually rush to the restroom. His cautious movement is strange. He seems very tense, like someone who can't see clearly."Jeanna, absorbed in the video, gasped suddenly. "That explains why he entered the women's restroom!""Or perhaps someone intentionally led him there," the observant Linda added, her gaze fixed on the last housekeeper to interact with Tristan, hinting at a deeper intrigue.Sophie and Linda exchanged knowing looks as they contemplated the same theory. If Tristan's accidental entry into the wrong restroom was because of poor vision, then the timing of the incident seemed too coincidental. Evidently, someone had intentionally directed him there."We need to investigate that housekeeper," Jeanna proposed enthusiastically, sensing they were close to unraveling the truth."Certainly. We should also look into Tristan's vision problems. Jeanna, Linda, could you check the hospital f
Tristan looked up in surprise. As if struck by a sudden thought, he glanced at Cherry, who was writhing in pain, and timidly asked, "Can I go to the hospital to help?""You need to stay home and help Cherry get a leave from school tomorrow. Be good and stay here. Trust Daddy. Cherry will be fine." Cedric's words seemed to soothe Tristan's anxiety.Avoiding Cedric’s gaze, Tristan obediently nodded. 'Cherry will surely be fine.'-The Bentley sped along the road and soon arrived at the hospital.Cedric held Cherry the entire time, while Sophie handled the paperwork. Their seamless cooperation made them seem like a perfectly ordinary married couple."Mr. Carlson, Mrs. Carlson, the child has gastritis and needs to be hospitalized for treatment," the emergency physician explained after examining Cherry, jotting down the diagnosis in the medical record.Sophie's face turned pale. 'Gastritis? How could it be so severe?'"Can she recover?" Cedric asked with a frown, his sudden intimida
In Imperium, hardly anyone else would dare yell at Cedric like this. Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously, his shoulders radiating a cold aura. However, traces of helplessness and doting affection softened his expression. Despite his reluctance, he eventually turned aside cooperatively.Sophie couldn't help but smile. 'It's no wonder some people believe that daughters are their fathers' lovers from a previous life. If it were anyone else, Cedric would have likely thrown them out the window by now.'She lifted Cherry's clothes to reveal her round belly and gently massaged it in circles with her fingers. Taking the opportunity, she also gave Cherry a gentle reminder, "How many times has Mommy told you not to eat so much? But you never listen. Now you know how it feels when you overeat, huh?""Mommy, could you not rub salt in my wounds?" Cherry's face was scrunched up in pain. Her pitiful and aggrieved expression instantly silenced Sophie, who decided to save the scolding for when Cherry
Cedric kissed Sophie’s rosy cheeks, preparing to take things to the next level, when a knock on the door interrupted them at a crucial moment.His expression darkened immediately. No man liked being interrupted at such a time, and it had happened repeatedly."Who is it?" Sophie grabbed the blanket beside her to cover her exposed chest, her hoarse voice betraying her recent passion."Ms. Luxford... It's me." Tristan's low voice came from the other side of the door.'Tristan?' Sophie looked at the man beside her, surprised. She had assumed it was Cherry again, but unexpectedly...Gathering her scattered clothes from the floor, Sophie dressed quickly. Ensuring there was nothing inappropriate between her and Cedric, she got out of bed and walked toward the door.Tristan stood there, head down, fingers fidgeting, indicating urgency. As soon as the door opened, he looked up anxiously and said, "Ms. Luxford, could you go check on Cherry? She seems unwell.""Cherry is unwell?" The flush
"This birthday brings me a lot of happiness."Sophie grasped the deeper implications of his words. The blush on her cheeks faded slightly, and the initial flutter of excitement mingled with a touch of sadness. No one could predict what Jeff's condition would be like by her next birthday.Cedric shifted the topic, pouring the already decanted red wine into a tall glass and handing it to her. "Just one glass. This is for your private birthday celebration. Happy birthday."The intoxicating aroma of the wine was irresistible. She stopped resisting and held her glass up to gently clink against his, producing a clear, melodious sound that resonated beautifully in the quiet room.The rich wine slid down her throat, soothing her tense nerves. Her tightly held shoulders relaxed, and her racing heart found a semblance of peace. She had once believed she would never fall for Cedric again, but looking back, she realized that all her hatred had been rooted in love.He had transformed love into
Cedric seemed to know exactly what Sophie was nervous about. He raised his eyebrows suggestively, causing her to blush and quickly look away.What had happened between them lingered in the air, irrevocable.Jeff squinted, watching their subtle gestures with satisfaction. Smiling contentedly, he struggled to his feet with the help of his cane. These two had already reached a natural conclusion, and there was no need for him to exaggerate his illness any longer."Mommy, I still have homework to do. I'm heading to my room," Cherry announced, her bright eyes glancing at Tristan. She couldn't beat him at Taekwondo, but she was determined to outshine him in the midterm exams!"I’m going upstairs too," Tristan added, surprised by her sudden focus. He hesitated for a moment before quickly following her up the stairs.Melissa had long lost her patience. Without a word, she dragged Matthew upstairs, letting out a disdainful snort as they left.What had been a lively living room now left So
"Okay."Understanding Cherry’s impatience, Sophie smiled and gently pulled away from Cedric’s embrace. She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a wish.She hoped for her family's safety, health, and happiness. She wished that her parents and sister were living comfortably in another world. And she wished that she and Cedric would have a happy ending, free from past mistakes.After silently making her wishes, she blew out the flickering candles in one breath.The room filled with the faint scent of melted wax."We can eat the cake now!" Cherry beamed with joy, eagerly carrying the cake to the dining table.Her impatience made Jeff laugh heartily, his eyes crinkling with delight as he stroked his beard. "Alright, let’s start eating before this little girl drools all over the table."Sophie took her seat, glancing at Cedric, who still held her hand tightly. Her smile widened as she playfully scolded him, "Why didn’t you tell me on the way here?""If I told you, ho
Although Sophie's mind was brimming with questions, she couldn’t help but smile at Cedric's words. She looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of his palm. Whether it was a perfect match or a union made in heaven, it all required two hearts in love. With love, even amidst turbulence, they would find the courage to move forward together.Before long, the Bentley smoothly pulled into the Carlson residence.Jeff immediately smiled and waved upon their arrival. "Soph, come over here."Sophie approached, noticing that Mrs. Carrie had prepared a table full of dishes. She couldn’t help but feel puzzled. "Grandpa, what has made you so happy? Why did you ask Mrs. Carrie to make so much delicious food?""Silly girl, did you forget what day it is today?"Jeff's loving yet mischievous smile left her momentarily bewildered. Then her eyes widened in surprise. With everything going on with Linda, she had completely forgotten her own birthday!"Happy birthday." Cedric had quie
Fearing that staying any longer would only worsen the situation, Linda quickly opened the door and walked out.Fenix stood there, confusion gradually replacing the determination in his eyes."What’s wrong with marrying me?" he asked Sophie, genuinely puzzled.'I’m the CEO of Cheshire Group. I’m not unattractive, and marrying me would make her legally protected as Mrs. Cheshire. Why am I being rejected?'Sophie coughed awkwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of Fenix. Sean had navigated the world of romance with ease, but Fenix seemed as naive in matters of the heart as a child."Am I really that bad?"Seeing that Fenix was still fixated on why he was rejected, Sophie shook her head. "Feelings are different from business. It’s not about racing against time or weighing benefits. You can’t apply business tactics to relationships. Spending a lifetime together requires a foundation of love.""Foundation of love? You and Cedric grew up together. You had a good foundation, but it was
Sophie's suspicion was right. Fenix was not one to easily abandon his target. After Linda ignored countless calls, he took the initiative to find her."Mr. Cheshire, Linda really isn't in the office right now," the secretary tried to block him, but it was futile against a determined man, especially one exuding an intimidating chill."Then I’ll find Sophie.""But Ms. Luxford, she—" Before the secretary could finish, Fenix's long legs had already taken him to Sophie's office door.He knocked twice before pushing it open. The secretary looked like she was about to cry. "Ms. Luxford, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop Mr. Cheshire.""It’s fine. Go make Mr. Cheshire a cup of coffee," Sophie said.Seeing Fenix barge in, she raised an eyebrow, smiled, and glanced at Linda, who was hiding in her office. "Have a seat and let's talk.""No need. I have to catch a flight soon." Fenix cut straight to the point, his determined eyes fixed on Linda as he said firmly, "I need an answer from you.""Mr.