Clara struggled in Zacharyâs arms for a while before she was finally able to break free.
She stole several glances at Charles, then leaned into Zachary's ear and said, "Zachary, I want to spend some time with Sophia alone. Think of a way to take Big Iceberg away!"
Zachary pretended not to hear her at first but later found it almost impossible to keep ignoring her, so he had no choice but to say to Charles, "Iâd like to discuss something with you. Should we go to the cafe for a while?"
"I have nothing to discuss with you." Charles looked askance at him and refused crisply.
"..." Zachary pushed his gold-rimmed glasses and laughed. "Can you at least show me some respect in front of my apprentice!"
Charles raised his eyebrows slightly. He looked at him, then at Clara, and finally set his eyes on Sophia. He paused for a moment and frowned slightly.
He stood up and said, "Let's go."
"Why are you so easy to talk to this time?" Zachary was a little surprised when he suddenly agreed.
Charles was already walking outside initially. When he heard what he said, he stopped and turned to look at Zachary. "Why don't you beg me for a while more, then?"
"I was wrong, I was wrong!" Zachary apologized swiftly. "Be the bigger person and don't argue with the likes of me. Weâll leave this instant!"
Charles hummed a response, then turned his head back to glance at Sophia. His eyes flickered before he retracted his gaze and left with Zachary.
"Phewâ" Clara closed the door in a haste and took a deep breath. Patting her chest, she said, "Iâm glad that my boss isnât a big iceberg, otherwise Iâll definitely live a few decades less!"
Sophia looked up at her and tugged at her lips without making a sound.
She did not answer, so Clara was able to continue without any interruptions. "Sophia, why is your complexion so awful? Are you still feeling unwell?
Do you want me to get you a doctor?"
"I'm fine." Sophia rubbed the area between her eyebrows and asked, "What brings you here, Ms. Robertson?"
"You need to stop calling me Ms. Robertson. It makes us distant. Just call me Clara!" Clara said with her face scrunched up into a ball.
Sophia pursed her lips. "..."
They did not seem to be very close to each other, though.
"I heard that you were hospitalized, so I came because I was worried about you!" Clara blinked and took out a bunch of grapes from the fruit basket.
She did not wash them but simply gave them two wipes using her hand and started popping them into her mouth.
Sophia looked at her and wanted to say, âItâs best that you wash them first before eating them because there may be pesticide residues on itâ.
However, when she opened her mouth, no words came out of it.
"You keep staring at me. Do you want to have some?" Clara spat out a few grape skins, gathered the remaining grapes, and moved them to Sophia.
âHere, have some!â
Sophia said, "No, thank you."
"Donât be so polite. This is supposed to be yours anyway!" Clara stuffed the remaining half bunch of grapes into Sophia's palm with much zeal. "Eat.
Theyâre really delicious!"
Under her anticipating gaze, Sophia slowly brought one to her mouth. However, she still found it hard to pass the hurdle in her heart. "... I suddenly remember that the doctor asked me not to eat any cold food."
"Too bad for you, then!" Clara took the grapes back and popped one into her mouth, narrowing her eyes blissfully. "It's super sweet!"
Sophia was not in a very good mood initially. After seeing Clara's simple-minded and jovial demeanor as well as her smile that came from her heart, the dark clouds that spanned her heart scattered a little.
"Oh, right!" Clara spat the grape skins and grape seeds into the trash can before leaning closer to Sophia with excitement written all over her face.
She said in a gossipy tone, "You know Master Lewis? The renowned calligrapher?"
Sophia nodded, thinking that she would hear all about Master Lewis and Tiffanyâs romance again.
"Whoa, heâs getting married to a 22-year-old woman!!!" Clara flushed with excitement.
Sophia had learned about Master Lewis and Tiffanyâs romance a long time ago, though she was still a little surprised when she heard that the two were getting married.
Master Lewis might be in his dotage, but would the Jones and Lewis families agree to it?
Claraâs words that came next resolved her confusion. "I'm telling you, this old man is pretty dope. His grandsons, sons, and whatnot opposed the marriage between him and Tiffany. Guess what he did?"
"What did he do?" Sophia went along with her and asked.
Clara let out two âtsk, tskâ sounds and threw the grape branches in her hand into the trash can. She then pulled out a paper towel to wipe her hands.
"He threatened to kill himself! A love like that is both inspiring and tragic, isnât it?â
The scene of Master Lewis committing suicide for love popped into Sophiaâs mind. There was a strange look on her face.
Then, she chuckled thinking how Leah, William, and the rest would lose face, get pointed at, and turn into a laughing stock because of Master Lewis'
affairs. This was simply invigorating.
Would this count as Godâs retribution to the Jonesâ family?
"What are you laughing at?" Clara asked curiously. She did not recall herself telling a joke, though!
Sophia smiled. Her complexion improved tremendously. "I have encountered something good."
"That certainly is worth being happy about," Clara nodded and replied. Suddenly, she giggled in a creepy manner and asked Sophia, "It must be very interesting to attend the wedding of a 70-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman who works in a place of pleasure. Would you like to go?"
When she reached the end of her sentence, she even raised her brows in a mischievous way.
"Do you have a way to get me in?" Sophia looked at her and asked.
Clara raised her chin and snorted. "Itâs no big deal!"
"Okay." Sophia curled her lips. She was smiling with her eyes. "Iâd like to join in the fun too."
At the same time, she wanted to take a good look at the Jones familyâs faces on that day. Maybe she should bring a video camera along to record down their miserable faces so that she could appreciate it several times a day.
*
Cafe.
The coffeeâs aroma permeated the whole place, coupled with slow and soft music, making it pleasing for just about anyone.
Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!
ï¤Chapter 155 Something That Had Etched In Her Bones Charles and Zachary had been in the coffee shop for a while now. However, the latter had been the one talking the whole time, whereas the former would echo his opinions from time to time.
"Something on your mind?" Zachary asked, putting down the cup and pushing his gold-rimmed glasses.
Charles lowered his head and stirred the coffee but did not drink it. Just as Zachary thought that he would not be getting any answers, he suddenly responded with a low hum.
"Somethingâs really on your mind?!" Zachary pushed the cup away and placed his hands on the table. His lenses were glinting. "Tell me about it!"
Charles stopped stirring his coffee. A crisp sound rang out when the spoon touched the cup.
He tapped his fingers on the table twice. After opening his mouth several times, he asked unnaturally, "In your opinion... how does it feel like to like someone?"
Zachary looked him straight in the eye. His eyes widened gradually while his mouth fell open. He was beyond surprised by the question.
"... Just treat it as though Iâve never asked this question." Charles was tapping the table faster now. His complexion looked normal, but his ears were a little red. Having said that, he stood up and was prepared to leave.
"Hey, don't be shy Charles!" Zachary stifled a laugh and got up to pull him. In the end, he still failed to hold back and burst out laughing. "I was just surprised that you would ask me a question thatâs so..."
Under Charles' hostile gaze, the word âhilariousâ that had reached the tip of his tongue was swallowed back in and replaced with another sentence. â...
such a philosophical question!"