Chapter 29

Sophia clenched her fists together, not looking back. “Mr. Jones, you already have a girlfriend. Aren’t you afraid that your girlfriend might misunderstand if you stay here with me?”

The strength on her shoulder loosened slightly. Without sparing William a second glance, she left the stairwell immediately.

It was just her bad luck that she met Audrey again.

Sophia paused and then proceeded to walk straight ahead. However, when she went to the left, so did Audrey. When she went to the right, so did Audrey. This woman was intent on blocking her way and preventing her from passing.

“Why did Will look for you?” Audrey asked demandingly, her teeth gnashing together.

Sophia did not answer and instead replied with a question. “They say I broke Leah’s leg. Do you really think Mr. Jones will get together with his sister’s enemy?”

Audrey hesitated, yet she was still worried. “If you’re not guilty, tell me truthfully why Will was looking for you.”

“What do you want to ask? Just ask me directly.” William walked out of the stairwell. There was an ugly expression on his face.

The anger and jealousy on Audrey’s face immediately vanished and was replaced by panic. She jogged over to William’s side. While hanging on to his arm, she said softly, “Will, I...”

Sophia had no interest in getting involved with this couple. Without Audrey blocking her way, she went straight into the party hall.

However, everyone at the party was in fancy attire and makeup, holding glasses of wine as they talked and laughed with each other. She looked out of place no matter where she went with her short, uneven hair and janitor uniform. She had no idea where to go all of a sudden.

She looked dazedly at Charles who was standing beside Leah and talking to Mr. and Madam Jones. She did not know what they were talking about, but there was a faint smile on his handsome face.

Her father, on the other hand, was talking to some men clad in suits. He merely turned his head to give her a fleeting look before shifting his gaze away as if he had seen something dirty.

This was the first time that it had become clear to her that she was truly alone.

“Miss, Mr. Harris wants you to go over there.” A waiter walked over and spoke to her.

Sophia nodded tiredly as she dragged her sore legs to where Charles was.

“Sophia, your clothes are all wet. You’ll get a chill wearing them the entire night,” Leah said gently. “I think it’s better that you change into my dress.”

“She broke your leg, and you’re still so nice to her. You’re being so silly!” Madam Jones said resentfully. “Will you still happily help them count the money when they sell you out?”

Lowering her head, Sophia bit her lip. Anger rushed through her chest, but there was nothing else she could do except endure it.

Charles laughed as he said cryptically, “Aunt Lewis, you don’t know your daughter very well.”

Leah Jones, silly? Hah, what a joke.

“?” Madam Jones looked at him puzzledly, not understanding what he meant by that. In her wheelchair, Leah had an ugly expression on her face.

Charles did not seem like he was going to explain what he meant. Placing his empty glass on the waiter’s tray, he picked up a fresh glass of champagne before striding away on his long legs.

Sophia followed in his lead. She had a weak stomach, and she had not eaten. Her stomach hurt a little bit.

“William Jones was looking for you?” Charles did not stop walking as he asked indifferently.

Sophia paused for a moment before she realized that he was talking to her. She grunted in response.

“You’re working really hard to get back into this circle.” Charles stopped and gazed down at her. “You broke Leah’s legs. Do you think you’ll still have a chance with William? Hmm?”

His dark eyes stared into hers, his expression no different from before. Yet, she inexplicably felt that he was unhappy. She had no idea what she did to make him feel that way.

She licked her dry lips, casting her eyes downward to avoid his gaze. “I’m not trying to do anything.”

Charles laughed lightly. There seemed to be sarcasm in his laugh.

Sophia opened her mouth in an attempt to explain, yet did not say anything in the end. He never believed what she said, so there was no point in explaining.

“Mr. Harris, long time no see.” Someone walked up to him with a glass of wine. That person had a flattering smile on their face.

Charles nodded in response, lifting his legs in an attempt to leave. When his gaze fell on Sophia, he stopped and asked, “Are you Mr. Larson from Champion Pearls?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” The visitor did not expect Charles to remember his name and was flattered. “I’m Grant Larson from Champion Pearls. We had a collaboration with your company last year...”

He rattled off a bunch of things and ended by politely clinking glasses with Charles.

“I can’t hold my liquor, so I’ll get someone to drink for me. I trust that Mr. Larson will not mind?” Charles’ tone was polite, but he did not wait for a response before handing his glass to Sophia who was standing behind him.

When Grant saw the uniform on Sophia, the smile on his face stiffened for a moment before he said hurriedly, “Not at all, not at all. It is a great honor.”

He picked up his glass and said smilingly, “I’ll drink first!”

Sophia lowered her gaze to the glass of champagne in her hand. There was an ugly look on her face.

Being persuaded to drink at a party was inevitable, but with Charles’ identity, if he did not feel like drinking, no one could say anything otherwise.

He was simply screwing with her by doing so.

“Why aren’t you drinking?” Charles turned his head to look at her. “Are you looking down on Mr. Larson? Or are you looking down on me?”

When he heard that, Grant’s gaze fell on Sophia. His brows were furrowing, and there was an ugly look on his face.

“I won’t dare to,” Sophia said quietly. Raising her glass, she took a small sip.

Charles swept a glance at the champagne that looked like it had barely been touched. His voice was cold as he spoke, “Just one sip? That shows little respect for Mr. Larson.”

“How will I dare?” Sophia smiled bitterly. Forcing down the tears that were threatening to flow out of her eyes, she raised her head and gulped down the champagne in one go.

The champagne flowed down her throat and into her body, lighting her stomach with pain. It was as if it was being burned in a thousand degrees, and there were millions of needles poking into it. Yet, it did not even compare to the pain she felt in her heart.

She had issues with her stomach before she even got imprisoned. He knew that she should avoid taking alcohol.

Upon seeing how Mr. Larson had successfully struck up a conversation, more people gathered round. Everyone dug their heels in, wanting to suck up to Charles who was a walking piece of gold.

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

Chapter 28 She Doesn’t Even Care Sophia quickly lost count of the glasses of wine she had drunk. She only knew that there was a hot, numbing ache in her stomach. However, she did not even have the chance to refuse.

“Get out if you want to vomit.” Charles turned his head to look at her, and upon seeing the cold sweat on her head, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He replied to her naturally.

Sophia’s stomach was churning so much that acid was traveling upward through her esophagus, but she swallowed down these bouts of nausea.

Upon hearing that, she nodded, covered her mouth, and stumbled into the washroom.

“Blaargh!” She clutched at her collar and threw up as soon as she entered the cubicle.

Her lunch had long since been digested. After a while, she had only managed to throw up some acid.

There was the sound of a toilet being flushed. Someone came out of the cubicle and turned on the faucet to wash their hands.

“Did you see Sophia at the party today?”

“Of course I did. How could I not when she’s dressed the way she is? Why does she still have the nerve to come to an event like this? Isn’t she ashamed?”

“It’s not enough that she has humiliated herself, but she’s humiliating me as well. I used to go shopping and karaoke with her. So many people insist that I’m friends with her. They’re asking me why I didn’t go and say hello to her!”

“Leah is just too kind. How nice it would have been if she had charged Sophia with attempted murder back then and let her spend the rest of her life in prison.”

Snap.

Sophia opened the door of the cubicle and walked out, looking silently at the two women reapplying their makeup in front of the sink.

Just like Leah, they were once her “good friends’.