"Someone like you? I slap you whenever I feel like it!" Lara looked at her with utter contempt. "What did you think I was going to say to you? You have no idea how outrageous and humiliating your behavior was. And you were probably pretty proud of yourself, thinking you stole the show that night. Pfft—you have no clue that it was nothing but a ridiculous daydream!"
"Even if I embarrassed myself, that's my own business. Whether it was a daydream or not, I know perfectly well, and it has nothing to do with you." Sophie covered her burning face and continued, "I'll remember this slap. I will never back down. Next time you hit someone for no reason, I'll return it double." With that, she turned and walked away.
"Sophie Davies!" Lara shouted after her. "Don't even dream of marrying Ned! Be smart and let go while you still can—"
Sophie glanced back at her once, said nothing, and left the school without another word.
With three fresh scratches across her face, she arrived at the hospital. The moment her mother saw her, she grew extremely worried. "Sophie, were you beaten up? Why did someone hit you?"
Sophie forced a relaxed smile and said, "Mom, don't worry about me. I was in a rush to come see you after class and didn't watch where I was going at the school gate. The snow made the road so slippery that I fell flat on my face. Really bad luck! Thankfully I only scratched my face and didn't twist my ankle. I'm fine— it'll heal with a little medicine."
Her mother looked suspiciously at the wounds on her face, then said tenderly, "You have to be more careful. Don't let it leave scars, or it'll ruin your pretty face."
"I know, Mom." Sophie quickly changed the subject. "The American specialist is arriving at the hospital tonight. Tomorrow they should be able to start your examinations and finalize the official treatment plan. I'm sure we'll be able to schedule the surgery very soon. When the time comes, Mom, you mustn't be too nervous, okay?" She said it playfully, with a cute wink.
Her mother managed a weak smile. "You've really had it tough these past few days. You have to go to school, work at C&C, and then come to the hospital to take care of me. Mom's heart aches for you!" Her voice broke, choked with tears.
Hearing her mother's words, Sophie felt a surge of bitterness rise in her throat. How she wished she could throw herself into her mother's arms and sob, pouring out all the pain of the past few days—but she couldn't. "It's nothing, Mom. I'm doing great. I'm not tired at all." While peeling an apple for her mother, she turned away and desperately fought back her own tears. "Back when we were in Manchester, you took care of me the same way! When we had no money, you took any part-time job you could find, working every spare minute, yet you still made so much time to look after me."
"Mom, don't worry! You're definitely going to get better. We'll fight this together, okay?" Sophie turned back, forcing a bright smile to cheer her mother up.
"Okay, my darling girl. For you, I have to pull myself together and beat this illness!" Thinking of all the memories they shared, her mother found new courage.
In the warmth of each other's words, the mother and daughter spent a beautiful midday together until Sophie had to leave for her shift at C&C in the afternoon.
As soon as she arrived, she saw Lara already sitting at her desk, looking like she'd been waiting for ages.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk—was the bus that slow? What took you so long? I've been waiting a whole hour." The moment Lara opened her mouth, her sarcasm rang out. The colleagues nearby, who had been puzzled about why the little princess was even there, instantly understood.
Hebe hurried over to Sophie and shot her a warning look. "Be careful. She's not here with good intentions."
Sophie gave Hebe a quick "OK" gesture, walked to her workstation, and faced Lara. "What, you followed me all the way to C&C? So what sermon are you planning to give me now?"
Just as Lara was about to explode, Sophie's phone rang. She glanced at the screen—Ned was calling. She deliberately flashed the caller ID in front of Lara's face for a second. Lara's eyes widened in fury; she slammed the water glass on the desk so hard it nearly shattered.
Sophie ignored her completely and answered the call. "Hello?"
"Where are you?" Ned asked.
"At C&C."
"Have you had lunch?"
"I just came from the hospital. I ate with Mom."
At the word "hospital," Lara's eyes flickered—she'd caught it instantly.
"Come to the restaurant and eat a little more with me," Ned said, clearly in a good mood.
"I'm not coming over. Lara's here at C&C right now, sitting at my desk—"
"Don't worry about her. Come here now." He hung up without another word.
Sophie froze for a second, glanced at the shattered glass on the floor, and quietly asked Hebe to take care of it. Then she turned and headed toward the restaurant.
"Hey! Hey! I'm still here! You can't just walk away, you horrible woman!" Lara shrieked, stomping after her in a rage when Sophie left without a word.
She followed Sophie all the way to the third-floor restaurant at C&C. The moment they stepped in, Lara spotted Ned. Before Sophie could take another step, Lara dashed forward.
"Ned! What are you doing here? Eating lunch this late—it's bad for your stomach!"
Ned wasn't the least bit surprised to see her. She had always been like this since they were children—clinging to him, circling him. He'd always avoided her because it was easier than dealing with the trouble, but he hadn't realized his mother had long ago decided they were a couple. Now she was openly pushing the matter, trying to force him to acknowledge it and eventually marry Lara as a matter of course.
The thought made even the ever-composed Ned frown. Suddenly the Angus steak in front of him lost all appeal.
"Ned, you came to the restaurant without telling me? That steak looks so good—I want one too," Lara said knowingly, sliding into the seat beside him and looping her arm through his, practically ready to rest her head on his shoulder.
Sophie stood ten paces away, watching him in silence, her face unreadable.
Ned calmly disentangled Lara's arm, set down his knife and fork, dabbed his mouth elegantly with the napkin, stood up, and walked straight toward Sophie.
Lara sat frozen in her chair, staring at Ned, her eyes instantly red with tears.
Without turning around, Ned said coolly, "You can have this table. Order whatever you want—the restaurant can put it on my tab."
Then, as naturally as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, he took Sophie's hand. "Let's eat somewhere else."
He didn't look back as they left the restaurant together.
"Ned! How can you treat me like this?!" Lara screamed.
Sophie stopped walking. Ned, still holding her hand, had no choice but to stop too.
"I was supposed to be your date at your birthday banquet! So why did you invite her? Do you have any idea how much that hurt me?!" Lara's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face. "You made me look like a complete fool in front of everyone!"
Sophie lifted her gaze and looked silently at Ned.
He met her eyes, his expression cold and unyielding.