âTheyâre letting Leah off too lightly, arenât they?â Claraâs doll-like face was scrunched up in annoyance. âEveryone called you a murderer and you were put in jail for two years! How can they just ask her to pay you a little money and itâs all settled? Youâre a rich girl yourself, two million can barely cover your spending for half a year!â
Sophia remained silent as her head hung low and her fists tightly clenched.
Although Leah was the one who set her up, Charles was the reason she lost a leg and was thrown into prison, yet she still had to stay by Charlesâs side and pretend to be his girlfriend!
Ha!
How ridiculous!
Clara took no notice of her mood and continued complaining to herself. âAnyway, I always feel upset whenever the judge announces the verdict!â
âI handled a minor case just a few months ago. The kid was only twelve years old and had beaten his classmate to death! Since he was still a minor, thereâs no death sentence so heâs sent to juvenile and heâll be free in a few yearsâ time...â
Sophia bit her lip as she had a bitter taste in her mouth. She felt as if something was stuffed down her throat and she could not speak.
âCharles, Leah was the one who framed Sophia but you were the one who broke Sophiaâs legs and sent her to jail. From my experience with women, Sophia must be pissed right now so...â Zachary heaved a heavy sigh. âGood luck!â
Charles turned to look at Sophia. His eyes flashed as he unbuttoned the top button on his shirt collar. The pressure on his chest had not yet lifted.
From the moment they entered the courtroom until now, she had not cast him a single glance, nor had she acknowledged him.
âThank you for your hard work,â Charles said.
Zachary put down his glasses and looked at Charles with a raised brow. âWow, youâre finally talking like a real man! Donât worry, itâs nothing. This is just another small case for me!â
âI did tell you everything that happened and handed you all the evidence. If you werenât able to settle this case for me, youâre truly an idiot,â Charles said.
Zachary was speechless.
This guy was truly a jerk.
âWell, you should think about how to sweet-talk Sophia!â Zachary snorted before dragging Clara away. âWe still have matters to attend to, Iâll leave you two to figure it out then!â
With that, Zachary started his car and left.
Charles stepped toward Sophia, and just as he stretched out his hand to help her, she reached her hand up and smoothened her hair. It was hard to tell whether it was intentional so that she could avoid his touch.
âI want to stay here a little longer, you can go first,â Sophia said with her back to him.
Charlesâs Adamâs apple swallowed as he hesitated, his eyes deep and quiet. âLet me send you back to Bamboo Virtues Village and Iâll head back to the office.â
âGo back to your office straight then.â Sophia turned to look at him, her eyes cold and indifferent. âI want some time for myself.â
Charles frowned lightly before deciding to compromise. â...We should leave this place first.â
He paused for a second before adding, âThere are too many reporters here.â
Sophia bit her lip again and nodded her head slowly.
Just as the two of them were about to leave, Jennyâs voice came from behind. âSoph, wait for me!â
âLetâs go.â The last person Sophia wanted to see right then was her mother, so when she heard her motherâs voice, she immediately turned to leave, moving quicker than before.
Charles followed closely beside her.
âSoph, wait for me! I need to talk to you!â Jennyâs voice was near crying.
Sophia slowed down a bit and hesitated for a while, but in the end, she continued walking toward the main entrance of the courthouse.
Unfortunately, reporters surrounded the main entrance, all of them were crouched down by the side waiting. When they saw Sophia approaching the door, they immediately swarmed forward.
âMs. White, why did you only tell the truth only after two years if you were framed?â
âYou mentioned in court just now that Ms. Jones wanted you to renounce your engagement, is that true? Are you saying that Ms. Jones is the one who intervened in your marriage?â
âSophia, you have been framed and sent to prison for two years. How do you feel about the judgeâs decision?â
Sophia was aggravated by their questions and wanted to shove them away but the reporters were like a human wall that was blocking her way, their microphones and cameras poking her in the face did not give her a single chance to escape.
âMy girlfriend is in a bad mood now, I hope that all of you can be more understanding.â Charles made his way through the crowd and stood firmly before Sophia.
Still, the reporters remained standing in front of them and none of them moved.
âOr do you want me to remember all your names?â Charles looked at them with slight amusement.
The reporters exchanged glances and a few of them stepped back. Then, all of them slowly backed away.
âSoph!â Jennie had finally caught up to them and was standing right outside the crowd. âI didnât know... Leah...â She choked out the words as she sobbed.
âWe should find somewhere else to talk.â Sophie was just about to turn and leave, but when she saw the reporters around her who were frantically taking photos, she changed her mind.
She did not want her family affairs to become dinnertime gossip.
A smile lit up on Jennyâs face. She quickly wiped away her tears and went up to Sophie. âAlright, just tell me where... where do you want to go?â
*
At the hospital.
There was a faint smell of disinfectant in the ward. Although it was usually unnoticeable, the slight smell of it now was enough to aggravate William.
He looked down at a pale-faced Leah who was laying in bed like a Barbie doll and pulled his hair out of anger.
He was desperately waiting for her to wake up now so he could ask her about the truth. What in the world happened and why did she do it!
Leah had always been a kind and thoughtful girl, she was the considerate girl who would never even speak up even when she was bullied... Try as he might, he still could not imagine Leah as the vicious girl who spent three years planning a setup to frame Sophia!
William thought of the way Sophia looked at him and everything she had once told him, and he felt something heavy pressing against his chest. He felt like a fish in a dried-up lake struggling to breathe.
Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!
ï¤Chapter 254 Someone Switched The Car He had never been able to let go of his feelings for Sophia, but he could not bring himself to accept a malicious woman who had harmed his sister.
For the past two years, he had lived with pain and guilt as he struggled with his conscience.
Yet, at the end of the day, he was engaged to a woman whom he did not love. Day and night, he struggled with his personal principles in agony, and all these were caused by his sister whom he had always been so proud of!
Why?
Why did Leah have to treat him this way?!
Creak.
Right then, the door opened.
Madam Jones barged into the room anxiously with Mr. Jones trailing behind him. Although the wariness in his face was evident, it was not obvious as Madam Jonesâs.
âWhat happened?â Madam Jones shouted as soon as she entered the room. âWhy did Leah suddenly faint in court today? Did that shameless b*tch do something again and hurt her?â
William clenched his fists tightly. âHow can you talk so carelessly and call someone a b*tch? Where are your manners?â
âIâm just asking why did your sister faint, why are you so angry with me?â Madam Jones was utterly confused.
There was a raging fire in Williamâs chest. Though it had been burning day and night in his heart for the past two years, he had always suppressed it.
However, the juryâs decision today was like oil on the fire for him, and right now, the fire was burning so great that he was about to burn to ashes!
âLeah is still unconscious, we should talk outside,â Mr. Jones took a quick look at Leah and spoke to the other two.