On campus, everyone was talking about Lara taking a leave of absence from school.
"Rumor has it she's seriously ill—something pretty bad," someone said. Naturally, classmates came to ask Sophie about it, since everyone knew the two of them were best friends.
"Sophie, do you know what's going on? What illness does Lara have that's serious enough for her to drop out?"
"Just a while ago she seemed totally fine! She even joined the university's etiquette club and got elected as vice president. The president was a senior in third year, and we all attended together—it was great, we learned a lot about practical social etiquette!"
"Come on, you must know some inside scoop, right? Spill the tea..." There were always plenty of gossip-hungry people in their circle.
Sophie felt really awkward. Not only did she have no idea about Lara's recent situation, but she also didn't want to reveal the conflict between them to everyone.
"We haven't been in touch for a long time. Recently my mom had major surgery, so I've been really busy and haven't had dinner with her in ages. I honestly don't know what's going on with her lately. Sorry I can't help." She could only brush them off like that.
"Oh, I see… Well, wishing your mom a speedy recovery!"
Having failed to dig up any juicy gossip, the classmates offered their well-wishes for her and her mother before dispersing.
Sophie was secretly baffled.
If Lara was so lovesick over Ned that she fell seriously ill and had to take a leave of absence… wasn't that a bit too fragile?
Just last week, hadn't Lara arrogantly called to declare her "ownership" of Ned and threaten that if Sophie didn't back off, she would be utterly destroyed—body and soul?
Sophie shook her head and pushed the matter aside.
Yet Lara really was sick, and taking a leave of absence was indeed true.
Because Ned had sent her a direct text message:
I will never marry you. Stop deluding yourself. Even if my partner isn't Sophie, it could be literally anyone else—it will absolutely, under no circumstances, ever be you!
She stared at the text message and instantly burst into tears, clutching her phone and reading it over and over again. Everything in the room that could be smashed was destroyed in her fit of rage. She was utterly heartbroken!
She even began to harm herself. Right now, there were three deep gashes on her wrists. Fortunately, Isabella discovered it in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
She had loved Ned for so many years, ever since they were children, loving him humbly, cautiously, and with the utmost care.
She had silently guarded this love for years. She had finally earned Aunt Victoria's approval and received her promise for the future, only to have Ned completely reject her.
All her love was trampled, despised, and mocked. She couldn't bear it…
She couldn't bear Ned's refusal to love her…
Why? Sophie Davies had no background, no refinement, and was nothing more than an ill-mannered wild girl. She was nothing at all—what was so great about a girl like that?
Why did Ned love her and not me? Why wouldn't he love me?
Lara sank deeper into her emotions, crying hysterically day after day, starting to lose her grip on sanity…
Her mental state was collapsing…
The psychiatrist had already started her on antidepressants and warned her parents to keep a close eye on her every move to prevent another incident of self-harm.
In the end, Isabella had no choice but to contact her husband, a professor at the London School of Economics, and have him handle the paperwork for Lara's leave of absence.
......
The business car pulled up at the entrance of the LSE campus. Isabella sat patiently in the back seat, waiting for the school day to end.
At half past three in the afternoon, her husband's car slowly emerged from the campus gates. Spotting Isabella's car parked nearby, he immediately signaled the driver to stop, got out, and walked straight over to his wife.
"What brings you to the school today? Is something wrong?"
"I came to find Sophie Davies. I want to have a talk with her," Isabella said calmly.
"Are you sure she has classes all afternoon today? Did you ask Lara?" Charles asked.
"I did. Our daughter said Sophie Davies has a full afternoon of classes today," Isabella replied.
Charles dismissed his driver and told him to take the car back first. Then he got into his wife's car and sat with her to wait. He looked very composed, his eyes fixed on the school gate ahead, waiting for Sophie to appear.
"To be honest, although I'm extremely worried about Lara, I'm still glad you took the initiative to stay and meet this girl with me. It shows you really care about your daughter," Isabella said.
"Lara is my daughter too. Of course I care."
"But you've never been this proactive before!" Charles didn't respond.
"You must know that this time, with Lara falling ill and suffering such a huge setback, it's all because of Edward James Harrington. What do you think about that?" Isabella pressed.
"I never knew you wanted our daughter to marry him, so for now, I don't have any particular thoughts."
"Don't you want our daughter to marry into the Harrington family?"
Charles glanced at his wife.
"Why aren't you answering me?" Isabella wouldn't let it go.
"Sophie Davies is coming out. That girl who just walked through the gate—she's the one," Charles said suddenly. In truth, he had already looked up her file in the registrar's office and discreetly inquired about her.
Although she had entered on a full scholarship, her grades afterward were mediocre. She rarely interacted with professors, never joined any student clubs, and preferred hanging around wealthy circles. She frequented the most expensive café on campus and occasionally wore luxury-brand clothing…
In short, a vain girl who looked down on ordinary classmates and even had some ambiguous relationship with Archibald.
"Ah, that's her! At Ned's birthday banquet last time, I thought she was strikingly beautiful—she has this indescribable, unique aura. I remember her very clearly!" Isabella quickly opened the door and stepped out.
Charles followed his wife out of the car and walked toward Sophie.