Sophie opened her eyes wide in terror. She saw Uncle Jonathan glaring at her—the uncle who had always been so kind to her now wore such a grave expression. Her words stuck in her throat; no matter what, she couldn't get them out. She knew Ned wanted a promise from her, but her intuition told her it absolutely wasn't the right time.
"You're not friends? Then what kind of relationship do you want with her? You two haven't already... Oh, my God!" Victoria suddenly felt a splitting headache and collapsed back into her chair.
Sophie lowered her eyelids, bent deeply at the waist in a bow, and said, "I'm truly very sorry. I really shouldn't have come here tonight." She avoided Ned's gaze, speaking only faintly like that, then turned to leave—
"She came here tonight for me." Unable to wait for Sophie's response, Ned grabbed her hand and calmly stated the truth outright. "Father, Mother, I'm pursuing her!" He answered directly and without hesitation.
Even Sophie hadn't expected Ned to be so straightforward.
"W-What did you just say? What nonsense are you spouting? Pursue her? How could you possibly pursue a woman like that?" Victoria simply couldn't accept it. "Mind your status! What is she anyway? A penniless nobody with no background, a vain woman who loves luxury—how could you possibly pursue someone like her?!"
"Status? Status doesn't mean everything. The one I love is 'her'—this woman—not her status." Ned stroked Sophie's hair, comforting her.
"What did you say? You're actually saying you love her?!" Victoria couldn't believe it and instead burst into laughter. "Ned, you're joking, right? If you're just wanting to fool around while you're young, then give Mommy a timeline. Within that time, Mommy absolutely won't interfere. But once the time is up, you must marry and have children according to our requirements..."
"It's not a joke. I'm not joking." Ned stared coldly at his mother. "From childhood to now, you've been able to decide many things for me, but when it comes to love, I will make my own decision."
Then he turned to his father: "This is what I wanted to say. As for your questions, I think it's clearer if I answer them myself." Jonathan said nothing, just glaring at his son, momentarily unable to react.
"Father, regarding this matter of love—no matter whether you accept it or not—I will persist to the end." He told his parents resolutely and solemnly, "If I am to marry, I will immediately seek your permission first."
"What? How can you say such a thing? How could you want a woman like this—and even think of marrying her! Her status is simply not worthy of you!" Victoria glared viciously at Sophie, so angry she spoke without restraint: "Ned, are you out of your mind? In love with her? You're wrong—you could never love her. You're just temporarily bewitched by her."
She took several deep breaths, pointing at Sophie. "No matter what tricks you used to seduce my son, I am his mother, and I absolutely will not allow a woman like you to step through the Harrington family door."
"Mom—" Ned pulled Victoria's hand down.
"Don't say any more—please stop!" Sophie interrupted Ned, grabbing his hand to stop him. "Don't say anything else... I have to go!" Tears welled in her eyes as she stared fixedly at him.
Her vulnerability was completely exposed before Ned, and a sudden panic gripped his heart.
Sophie shook her head at him, biting her lower lip, forcing back the tears swirling in her eyes. "I shouldn't have come tonight. It was my mistake—I never should have come here. Please don't say any more, I beg you." Her voice was filled with fragility.
"Tch, what an act!" Victoria rolled her eyes, sneering disdainfully.
Jonathan finally found his voice: "You go see her out first." His tone was heavy.
"She has legs—she can leave on her own. Does she need my son to escort her? She doesn't even have a car—what did she come here for?" Victoria retorted.
"It's fine. I can go back by myself." Sophie looked deeply at Ned one last time, then turned and walked away.
Ned followed behind her, wanting to see her off. Victoria grabbed her son's arm, yanking him back forcefully and blocking the study door. "Don't even think about running after her."
Ned stood still, pulled his phone from his suit pants pocket, and said, "She's gone out. You help me take her home." He instructed Archibald.
As long as she could stop her son, Victoria didn't care about him making the call.
Only Jonathan, sitting on the single sofa by the desk with his hands clasped, looked grave and lost in his own thoughts.
At the villa garden gate, Archibald finally found Sophie.
"Let me take you home," he said, looking at her with concern.
Sophie felt exhausted, too tired to muster the energy to refuse. "Thank you!" She forced a smile, followed behind Archibald, got into the passenger seat of the sports car, and weakly expressed her gratitude.
Archibald pursed his lips. "No need to thank me. What's this? Taking Ned's women home—I'm used to it by now."
Sophie's mind was blank; she stared expressionlessly at the windshield ahead.
"I was joking," he said with a laugh as he started the car and pulled onto the road. "You look terrible. Nothing happened, right?" As if realizing something, he dropped the smile, his expression turning serious.
Sophie shook her head, turned away, and gazed out the window.
The two drove in silence until the car reached the apartment. All evening, Sophie received no call from Ned.
…
The next day, with no classes, Sophie gathered her emotions and arrived early at C&C.
"Come to my office," she was told over the intercom from the general manager's office as soon as she got in.
"But I need to organize the files. Yesterday's work isn't—"
"Now. Immediately. Come to my office." He hung up.
Sophie had no choice. She walked to the general manager's office door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
"Come in."
She opened the door and saw Ned standing with his back to her, hands in his pockets, facing the floor-to-ceiling window.
Sophie slowly approached. "Come here," his low voice commanded.
When she reached him, he gripped her arm tightly. "Why did you run away last night? Why didn't you face it with me?" He asked directly.
She lowered her eyes and remained silent.
"Speak," he ordered, calm but domineering.
"Those are your parents. How am I supposed to face them? What do you want me to say? What could I even say?" Staring at the expensive marble floor, she finally answered faintly after a long pause.
"Tell them you want to be with me. Even if they don't agree, you'll insist on being with me."