Sophie Smith had not walked far when Edward Harrison caught up with her.
"Little Sophie!" he called loudly from behind her.
Sophie took a deep breath from the bottom of her heart, trying to steady her emotions and hide the turmoil within. She turned back with a smile, but the redness in the corners of her eyes betrayed her.
"What's wrong with you?" Edward noticed her swollen eyes, feeling slightly concerned. "I'm sorry, there were so many people just now, I didn't pay attention to you."
He assumed she was upset because he had neglected her earlier. In his heart, she was always a little girl in need of pampering.
"Why did you come out?"
"I was worried about you. I wouldn't be at ease if you went back alone. Come on, I'll take you home." Edward didn't wait for her to refuse, hailed a taxi by the roadside, and ushered her in before getting in himself.
With no other option, Sophie reluctantly gave her own address.
The atmosphere in the car was a bit silent. Although Edward wanted to start a conversation, Sophie showed no intention of speaking.
"Little Sophie, what's really wrong with you today? Can you tell me?"
She was upset only because he decided to be with Isabella Yates, but then she questioned herself—did she really have the right to be upset? Edward had never said he liked her. Even if he had, could she still be with him now? She was no longer the old Sophie Smith.
"I'm fine." She forced a smile at him. "You, you never mentioned deciding to be with Isabella before."
"Oh." Edward paused, recalling Isabella's desperate plea that night. His gaze darkened a bit, but in the end, he spoke blandly. "Isabella is quite adorable usually. During the time we worked on the play, I felt we clicked and had some things in common."
"Really?" Sophie felt disappointed. The reason seemed too far-fetched. She believed she surely shared more in common with Edward than Isabella did.
"Edward, I'll get off here." If she got any closer, she would be near her apartment, and she feared running into Asher Land. Although she didn't know if he would come back today.
"Oh, so you live here? What, you're not inviting me in for tea?"
"You still have so many friends waiting for you; I won't keep you. And if you're back late, what if your girlfriend gets mad?"
Edward didn't know how to respond, so he just shook his head helplessly.
"Alright then." Saying goodbye, he turned and left. Sophie suppressed her inner disappointment and walked back step by step.
She opened her apartment door; Asher Land wasn't there. It was no surprise since he was the president of the Golden Era Group, managing so many affairs every day. How could he have time to constantly visit her? However, this suited her just fine.
She opened the fridge and found it empty, except for a few bottles of liquor, presumably left by Asher Land.
After a moment of hesitation, she took out the liquor.
Sitting on the floor, she opened a bottle and downed a big gulp in one go.
"Cough, cough..." The alcohol was very strong, stinging her eyes with tears almost flowing out. Yet, for some reason, she defiantly continued to pour it down her throat.
Only this way could she numb herself, so that she wouldn't feel the pain so much.
Thinking of Edward made her heart ache terribly.
Her only companions were darkness, helplessness, and pain.
After finishing a bottle, she was already tipsy, leaning against the sofa, mumbling.
"Edward, after all these years, what have you really considered me to be? Don't you feel anything for me at all?" She secretly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her hand. This kind of indulgence was a first for her.