"Am I really that good-looking?" Asher Land looked at Sophie Smith, who was staring at him intently, and waved his hand. "Sophie, stop looking like a lovesick fool."
Sophie realized her loss of composure and quickly averted her gaze.
"Let’s hurry up, I don’t want to delay any longer. I need to return to Southern County right now." She quickly changed the subject.
"You really are impatient." Asher stretched out his long arms and embraced her. "Let’s go."
Sophie struggled involuntarily. Since when had their relationship become so intimate? This wasn’t a good omen.
Yet, even in the elevator, Asher didn’t let go of her, and she could only let him be.
On the way to Southern County, Asher increased the speed of the car significantly, reducing the usual three-hour journey by forty minutes.
"Where is your home? I’ll take you there."
"No need." Sophie declined. "Just drop me off at the Golden Era Building. My home is close to Golden Era; I can walk back myself."
"Do you really resent me entering your family so much?" His voice was noticeably annoyed. "Or do you think having me, Asher Land, makes you embarrassed?"
Sophie was speechless. Yes, she did resent it, resented it deeply. Being with him made her start to despise herself. In her heart, she stubbornly believed Asher was responsible for her mother’s death. And what about her? She was so cowardly, she chose to be with him to avoid bearing the five million penalty for breach of contract, fearing he’d make the unsightly video public.
At times, she even began to learn to please him.
The sense of guilt rose desperately. At this moment, she felt sorry for her mother in heaven.
"Alright, alright, go then." Asher said impatiently. "Always looking so wronged."
Seeing her eyes redden, he too felt a little annoyed. This woman, always so prone to crying, and he didn’t know how he had mistreated her. He thought he was being very gentle, very gentle indeed.
So gentle that he didn’t even seem like himself, Asher Land.
The car stopped in front of the Golden Era Building. Sophie picked up her bag and disappeared from his sight.
Inside the car, Asher glanced up at the towering skyscraper among the clouds and smiled.
Every time he saw this building, he felt much more at ease because he had fulfilled his mother’s lifelong wish.
Sophie hurried home. After knocking twice, someone opened the door.
But the person who opened the door was Charlotte Harrison, which somewhat surprised her.
"Aunt Harrison, is Little James doing better?"
Charlotte didn’t respond, let out a cold snort, and walked over to the sofa to sit down.
"Little Sophie, come in quickly." Christopher Smith came out to welcome her, looking kindly. James was also very happy to see her back, calling her ’Sister’ with every sentence. Honestly, except for Charlotte’s harsh attitude towards her, she was satisfied with this family.
Sophie placed the nutritional supplements and fruits she had bought on the table. Just as she was about to sit down, she heard Charlotte’s sarcastic voice in her ear.
"Just this little? Sophie, what you’re doing isn’t right."
Sophie didn’t know what she had done wrong again. "Aunt Harrison, what do you mean?"
"What do I mean? Stop pretending!" Charlotte stood up, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked fierce. "Aren’t you the lead actress in a major movie? How could you have no money? You’re just so stingy with your family, bringing these paltry things to fob us off!"
The lead actress in a major movie? How did she know?