Chapter 259

Sterling’s voice sounded anxious over the phone. “Have you talked to Mother and Father? Will you come back home? You know, it’s not completely a bad thing to come back home. That b*stard Charles wouldn’t be able to bully you, and if Father tries anything I’ll——”

“I won’t be going back anytime soon. When you’re free someday, we can go out for a meal or something,” Sophia interrupted him gently.

To be honest, she understood where Ster and Mother were coming from. After all, she was still a part of the White Family. They wanted her to come back to the White Family and they could resume their lives as a happy family.

However, understanding their perspective did not mean that she would do it for their sake.

So many things have happened in the past few years. They were like a broken mirror now. Even if they glued the broken shards back together, the cracks would still be visible. It was impossible for them to go back to as before.

Sterling was quiet for a long moment before mumbling an incoherent acknowledgment. Then, he suddenly began talking rapidly like a machine gun as he ranted. “You have peace and quiet now after blocking William, don’t you? He has been calling me like crazy ever since the trial ended earlier today, asking me where you are and he mentioned that he wants to apologize to you!”

“How annoying! He called me more than a dozen times already! If I were gay, I would think that he’s interested in me! Though, of course, even if I were gay, I wouldn’t be interested in him. He’s too methodical and rigid, and he sets himself requirements fit for a saint! In the end, he’s just another fool!”

Sophia frowned. “Why don’t you block him then? I don’t want to see him and I have nothing to say to him.”

“I would if I could!” Sterling replied in an aggrieved tone, “Didn’t I tell you Father gave me a task recently? It’s a collaboration with the Jones Group and William is in charge of it. Father said if I can’t even handle such a trivial matter, I don’t have to go to work at the company anymore!”

Sophia licked her dry lips and listened to him rant for a little longer. She comforted him and gave him some motivational advice to cheer him up, asking him not to worry about this anymore.

Then, she ended the call and unblocked William’s number before sending him a text.

[An apology means nothing to me and I don’t need it. There’s no need to dwell on this anymore.]

The second the text was sent out, William called.

Her phone buzzed in her hand for a very long time before it stopped. Then, seconds later, it began to buzz again.

Sophia furrowed her brows and accepted the call. “This...”

“I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t matter how many times I apologize but I just want to let you know that I’m sorry,” William interrupted her, his voice sounding more hoarse than usual.

“I grew up with Leah and I thought I knew everything about her, but I didn’t think she would... would spend three years to plot a scheme and risk her life to frame you!” The words came out pained and troubled. “I’m sorry my bumptious *ss kept accusing you and bla... blaming you...”

Sophia had thought she would feel better after the truth came out, that she would finally be happy when everyone apologized to her. In reality, however, whether it was her mother’s apology or William’s, none of those made her feel any better.

They only weighed on her even more.

She felt as if her phone was getting heavier by the second and she desperately wanted to hang up.

“Can you please don’t hang up?” William’s words came out as a plea. “I promise you that after I apologize, I’ll never... never see you anymore...”

Sophia’s finger was about to press on the red button to hang up, but she quickly moved her finger away when she heard this. “I remember you said something similar at the bar once.”

“I promise you, I mean it this time. I accused you of a crime that you didn’t commit for such a long time and I said so many hurtful things, I just... I don’t know what to do now to make it up to you!” The guilt and agony in William’s voice were evident.

Sophia continued walking along the sidewalk and turned to look at the bubble tea shop. Through the window, she could see her parents still arguing, and it seemed more intense than usual.

Her face tensed up and she stopped in her tracks. She took two steps back before stopping again and continued walking down the same direction she was going in the first place.

What was the point of going back to the shop?

Would she tell them that she would go back home with them and they would stop quarreling?

That was impossible! Her father was only asking her to go home because he knew about her relationship with Charles. She refused to go back now so her father could use her like a tool!

So what good would she do by going back to the shop? Nothing. She would only exacerbate their argument even more.

“Why aren’t you talking?” William asked quietly, “I just want to hear you say something, is it that difficult?”

Sophia replied coldly, “What do you want me to say? I forgive you and that kind-hearted sister of yours? I don’t think you’ll ever hear that from me.”

“Leah deserves this so I won’t ask you to forgive her...” The exhaustion in William’s voice was clear and obvious.

Sophia sneered. “Forgiveness? She only got a two-million fine as compensation for my mental distress and she’s only detained for a dozen days so how do you want to help her plead for forgiveness?”

William stayed quiet.

“Is there anything else?” Sophia was getting impatient now and she did not bother to disguise the impatience and hatred interlaced in her voice. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up now. Don’t call me anymore, goodbye!”

“Wait a minute!” William said quickly.

“What is it?” Sophia switched the phone to her other hand.

William paused slightly before continuing slowly, “I wanted to ask you something. Charles misunderstood you back then and broke your legs, then sent you to jail...”

“If I hadn’t believed Leah’s words as blindly as I did and chose to believe you, would you... have gotten together with me?”

“No! We have known each other for so many years. If I had feelings for you, I would have gotten together with you long ago and not only wait for the car accident to happen and change my mind. Besides, there are no what-ifs!” Sophia responded.

She raised her tone when she said the last sentence.

“You didn’t even hesitate, am I really that hopeless!” William laughed at himself humorlessly. “What about Charles then? After everything that he did to you, how can you put all that behind you and get together with him?”

Sophia was running out of patience at this point. “Whether you’re asking this now or in the past, I don’t think I need to answer it.”

“All along, I never meant anything to you, is that it...” William said in a low tone.

Sophia almost wanted to say that he used to be a brotherly figure to her but she kept it to herself instead.

“I thought about it and I have decided to call off my engagement with Audrey,” William added.

“Okay, when you cancel your engagement, just remember to be honest about it so your sister and your mother wouldn’t blame it on me. Don’t ever call me again, goodbye!” Sophia replied.

With that, she ended a call and took a taxi to the hospital.

Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!

Chapter 258 What Do You Actually Think Of Me?

It was time for her check-up with Dr. Hemingway.

When Sophia arrived at the office, Dr. Hemingway was not there yet and only his intern was present.

“Hello,” the intern greeted her politely. “There was an emergency patient who came in just now, please wait for a moment.”

“Okay.” Sophia nodded.

The intern brought her to a seat in the corner. Sophia pulled out her phone and started scrolling through it to avoid the awkwardness but the intern kept staring at her.

“Is there something on my face?” Sophia finally asked and put away her phone.