When Sophie Smith woke up, she found Asher Land propping his head, staring at her intently.
"How long have you been watching me?" She wondered if she had done anything embarrassing in her sleep. If he caught her doing something silly, where would she put her face?
"What, you won’t let me watch?"
His lips slightly curled into a smile, that smile was like the early September sun, warm and bright, exceedingly handsome. Her drowsiness instantly cleared quite a bit.
Circling around, she ultimately returned by his side again.
Sophie Smith, oh Sophie Smith, as he wishes, until he tires of you, you won’t be able to leave him. She scolded herself inwardly.
But what annoyed her even more was that she had already gotten used to having him in her days. This habit made her guilt continuously surge. She told herself she wouldn’t forgive herself, yet she was deeply dependent on him.
Seeing her dazed, he thought she was bothered by something, so he quickly changed his words.
"You sleep quite peacefully, no snoring, no sleep talking, no teeth grinding, much more docile than usual."
Sophie Smith glared at him angrily.
Around ten-thirty in the morning, she received a phone call from Christopher Smith. Honestly, she hesitated whether to answer it or not, because many times that family gave her a lot of burden.
Seeing that the phone kept ringing without her answering it, Asher Land took her phone, showing it was her father’s call.
"Why don’t you want to answer?"
Sophie Smith said nothing.
In truth, Asher Land had some understanding. Having been to Southern County with her a few times, her emotions there said it all.
Just as the call was about to hang up, Sophie Smith picked up the phone.
"Dad, what’s the matter?"
"Little Sophie, hurry back to Southern County, something’s happened at home!"
Christopher Smith was anxiously speaking on the other side. After hearing his words, Sophie Smith was completely stunned. Even after the call was hung up, she was oblivious.
"What did your dad say to you?"
Seeing her so absent-minded, something must have happened.
She bit her lip hard, unable to believe something had happened.
Christopher Smith said the money she sent home not long ago had already been squandered by Charlotte Harrison. She didn’t use the money to pay debts, nor did she take it to buy a house, but instead gambled it away. In a short time, she lost those millions and even owes a large sum to the casino. Now people have come to collect the debt, and James Smith has already been taken away by them. If the money isn’t repaid in the next two days, the casino has threatened that James Smith will be in grave danger.
"I..." As soon as she spoke, her voice trembled severely.
"What’s happening?" Asher Land’s tone grew notably serious. He held her shoulders, his gaze sharp, "Remember, there’s nothing you can’t say to me."
"My stepmother owes the casino a large sum of money, the people from the casino have kidnapped my brother. If the money isn’t repaid by tomorrow or the day after, my brother, my brother’s life will be in danger. No, I must return to Southern County immediately..."
She was truly panicked. She stood up from the bed, her feet unsteady, and fell heavily to the ground.
"Be careful." Asher Land quickly helped her up from the ground, his tone slightly reproachful, "You don’t have to be in such a rush."
"How can I not be in a rush? My brother is in danger now! He’s only a thirteen-year-old child, why must he bear the mistakes made by adults?"