Jonathan suppressed his anger and summoned the butler. "The guests in the garden haven't dispersed yet. Take the servants and attend to them properly—don't neglect anyone."
"Yes, sir. I'll go at once." The butler, a veteran of old British aristocracy, held considerable authority; with him out there, the situation would surely be kept under control.
Once all the servants had left, Jonathan's gaze settled on Sophie.
Noticing the pointed look in Uncle Jonathan's eyes, Sophie slowly lowered her own, beginning to regret her impulsiveness today.
Though Uncle Jonathan had always been kind to her, it was precisely because he had been so good to her that she didn't know how to face his questioning stare.
After the group entered the study, Jonathan said to the three of them, "All of you, come sit down."
Seeing her son enter holding Sophie's hand, Victoria grew even angrier. "Why did you bring her into our home? And into your father's study, no less—are you really trying to kill me with rage?" She roared at her son, not sparing Sophie a single glance.
"Look at yourself! So aggressive—where has your ladylike grace gone? Think about your position: the noble lady of the Harrington family, acting like this—what a disgrace!" Jonathan sternly rebuked his wife.
"So what if I'm the noble lady of the Harrington family? My son brought home a woman I can't stand the sight of—am I not even allowed to say a word about it?" Victoria retorted defiantly.
"You—"
"Uncle Jonathan," Sophie quickly stood and bowed as she saw the two of them arguing over her. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come here. I'll leave right now."
"Wait!" Jonathan stopped her. "I have questions for you. Don't be in such a hurry to go."
"You—you really do know this woman! Last time I asked you, you denied it completely. You two, father and son—" Victoria abandoned all pretense of her usual poise. "You both want to keep her here? If she wants to leave, let her! She should have left ages ago! I was in a perfectly good mood tonight—if it weren't for her, I wouldn't feel this awful! Tell her to get out!" She truly despised this girl.
The thought of her noble son holding Sophie's hand in the garden made Victoria's heart nearly stop.
"Shut your mouth! Would it kill you to say one word less?" Jonathan growled under his breath.
"Did I say anything wrong? Is what I said incorrect? Why are you scolding me?" Victoria's voice grew louder.
"Shut your mouth—" Intimidated by her husband's ferocity and seeing Sophie's innocent expression, Victoria seethed with anger and resentment. It was all because of this girl that her elegant, aristocratic image had been utterly shattered!
"Was it you who invited Miss Sophie Davies to our home today?" Jonathan asked his son solemnly.
"Yes, I invited Sophie to my birthday banquet," Ned replied.
Jonathan's expression flickered slightly. He turned to Sophie: "And you, Miss Sophie Davies? Did you come as Ned's assistant, or…?"
Sophie didn't answer immediately. She knew Uncle Jonathan had given her a perfect excuse to temporarily escape Victoria's wrath, but seeing the earnest look in Ned's eyes, she hesitated.
"You're Ned's assistant? You—you've been hiding how much from me? If she's just an assistant, why were you holding hands? Speak! Are you mute? Can't you answer?" Victoria felt she was going insane. Just how many secrets were this father and son keeping from her? She was panting with rage.
Sophie's slender shoulders trembled slightly. She stared at the soft, white, expensive carpet on the floor, her mind a blank.
"When Ned invited me, I felt I should accept," she said slowly. "So, I came today."
"What kind of answer is that? A girl like you has no manners at all!" Victoria snapped.
"I don't want to lie to you. It's not because I'm Ned's assistant that I came. It's… for too many other reasons. Even I can't explain them clearly…"
"Can't explain?" Victoria laughed scornfully. "Then let me explain for you. Isn't it just Cinderella trying to climb up to the noble prince, and Ned is the prin—ce you have your eye on?"
Sophie shook her head repeatedly, gazing at Ned. He stared back at her deeply, his face solemn and calm, yet he did not speak up to defend her.
"Don't mind what my wife said. Just take your time and explain clearly. No need to hide anything," Jonathan said, his voice softening.
"Hmph!" Victoria rolled her eyes disdainfully and turned her face away.
"I—Uncle Jonathan, I'm sorry! I probably shouldn't have come today, but it was my own choice. I promised Ned I'd attend his birthday banquet." She knew Victoria despised her, but before coming, she had already mentally prepared to be ridiculed by everyone, so she didn't blame Victoria for her hostility.
"Hmph, nothing but lies. One moment she says there are too many reasons to explain, the next she claims she just accepted an invitation." Victoria shook her head with a scornful laugh.
"Mmm, I understand what you mean," Jonathan said, narrowing his eyes and nodding, his expression very serious.
"What do you understand about her? Only a ghost could make sense of it—what kind of riddle are you all playing at?" Victoria's face darkened horribly.
"Shut your mouth!"
"You two, leave for now. Let me have some quiet!"
"Why do you keep telling me to shut up? I haven't said anything wrong. This woman says a couple of sentences, and your attitude changes completely. Do you even realize how serious this is?" Victoria stood up from her seat, unable to hold back any longer.
"I told you not to speak anymore!" Jonathan rubbed his temples. "It's not that serious. It's Ned's birthday, and he invited a friend to the party at our home. The friend just happens to be a woman—don't make a mountain out of a molehill."
"A friend? Ha, just a friend?" Victoria glared at Sophie with disgust. "If she were just a friend, I wouldn't have lost my temper. But earlier in the garden, she and Ned were holding hands intimately—everyone saw it. Do friends hold hands like that? Do you think I'm a fool?"
Sophie stared back at Victoria in a daze, feeling short of breath and utterly mortified.
"She's not my friend," Ned said clearly. He turned his head to gaze at Sophie, repeating in a low voice, "She's not my friend."