âNo way. The last time that happened, Sophia fled the country.â Drake was distressed on behalf of his daughter.
âIt's one billion! Where are we going to get that money? Whatever it is, | wouldn't let you head back to prison. If you do, | donât want to live anymore.â
Sophia almost dropped the fruits in her hands. What? Dad owes the bank a billion? And as long as | agree to marry Christopher, his family would help Dad pay off his debt?
However, she was very grateful for Christopher. After she had fled to avoid their marriage the last time, he still wanted her. Now that his family was offering to help, what more could she ask for?
At this moment, she pushed open the door and interrupted the arguing couple. âDad, Mom, Iâve heard everything, so you can stop arguing now. I'll do it. Iâll marry Christopher.â
Sophialâ
The couple looked back at their daughterâs determined face as they were stunned.
âAs long as | can pay Dadâs debts; as long as Dad doesn't go to jail, Iâm willing to do anything,â Sophia exclaimed with reddened eyes.
She had been unfilial as she didnât know that her family was facing such a big crisis.
âSophia, thereâs no rush-â Drake was about to assure her when he was interrupted.
âDad, itâs okay. Iâm willing to marry Christopher. Iâm okay,â Sophia insisted as she sniffed.
After saying that, she put the fruits down on the table before turning to leave the ward. Outside, she found Christopherâs number and dialed it.
Agruff male voice sounded. âHello, who is this?â
âI'm Sophia Goodwin.â
âSophia? Is this really you? My dream girl has finally decided to reach out to me!â The voice on the other end was ecstatic.
âI'm prepared to marry you, but can you really help my father with his debts?â
âAs long as you marry me, your father will be like my own father. | will help him pay off his debt immediately,â Christopher promised.
âOkay, then! Then, letâs find a time to meet!â
âThatâs up to you. | am abroad now. I'll come back on Friday, and I'll pick you up when we've set a date.â
âGreat!â
After she hung up the phone, she sighed as Arthurâs face flashed across her mind.
At this moment, in a resort abroad, Christopher was basking his 200-pound body in the sun; the towel wrapped around him could barely cover his waist.
âYoung Master York, are you really going to marry Sophia Goodwin and pay off Drakeâs debt?â
âSophia is the woman Iâve always wanted. Of course, | wonât be so naive. Iâll pay the initial down payment first. After she marries me, she'll be my wife. By then, sheâll have to listen to me. Then, itâd be up to me to decide whether | really finish paying off her fatherâs debt or not,â Christopher explained with a smile, making a shrewd calculation.
Anew group of criminals had just been sent to the womenâs prison in Averna. A woman who was wiping the greasy table top raised her head and looked up at the people who were swarming in for lunch. Then, she stopped wiping and looked carefully before she quickly turned her back, afraid that someone would recognize her.
The woman was Hayley. She was in a gray scrub and had her hair trimmed to her ears. She had been here for almost a month now and had nearly severed all contact from the outside world. However, she did not expect to meet her acquaintance here.
Among the people that came in earlier, she knew one of them: Erica Tillman. She had the same haircut as Hayley and wore the same clothes, so it was obvious that Erica was sent to serve in prison.
Currently, Erica looked haggard and pale. Back then, she was treated like a princess. Now, she was forced to eat things she had never eaten before. The food served here wasnât even served to her servants back at home, but she had no choice.
It was as if she was getting her karma served to her. Although she had gone through her initial remorse till her current awakening, it was too late.
She would have to spend the second half of her life here as she was serving over ten years of imprisonment. Erica was quietly eating her rock-solid steamed buns and some rancid noodles when she heard a sharp voice yelling, âHayley, what are you doing? Get back to work.â
Right then, Erica froze in her place. She raised her head and looked in the direction of the voice and saw a familiar figure.
Although the woman had deliberately turned her back toward her, Erica could still recognize her at a glance.