Chapter 63

#63 “Well, That’s Quite the Family Drama.”

Michael had arrived at the location for his date with Sophia and immediately spotted her in the midst of the bustling crowd. He couldn’t help but raise his hands in astonishment before making his way toward her.

Sophia couldn’t contain her laughter as she observed Michael’s reaction. He closed the distance between them with a warm smile, and she returned it in kind.

“If I’m being honest, I never would have guessed that our date would be at a country fair festival,” he remarked, wrapping her in a friendly hug.

Sophia reciprocated the hug. “What can I tell you? I’m full of surprises,” she replied with a playful glint in her eye.

Together, they made their way toward the entrance of the festival, the lively sounds of people and the laughter of children providing a cheerful backdrop to their conversation.

“So, how did you decide on this place?” Michael inquired. “I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth, and as soon as I saw the ad for the fair, I couldn’t resist,” Sophia explained, a touch of nostalgia in her voice.

Her thoughts briefly took a turn, wondering if Alexander had ever believed she was only interested in him for his wealth, perhaps due to her humble upbringing in the countryside. She chided herself for letting thoughts of her ex-husband intrude on her date with another man.

guess there’s still a lot to learn about you, Ms. Johnson,” Michael replied. Michael couldn’t help but be surprised when he laid eyes on Sophia’s outfit for the day. She looked stunning as always, but he was accustomed to seeing her in elegant dresses and skirts. Now she was wearing jeans and a white T-

shirt.

“Where should we start?” he asked, gesturing to the various attractions at the festival.

“I’m up for anything,” she replied with a smile. “How about the Ferris wheel?” Michael suggested, opting for the more romantic attractions in his bid to win over Sophia.

“Sure,” she agreed.

They made their way to the Ferris wheel and purchased their tickets. As they waited in line, Michael struck up a conversation.

“Do you visit places like this often?” he inquired. Sophia chuckled. “Not really. I rarely have the time to come to events like this.”

“So, you’re not a lawyer by day and a pumpkin festival champion by night?” he teased.

Sophia laughed. “No, but my grandmother and I did win an award for the best pie in town when I was a kid.”

“I’d love to try it someday,” he replied with a grin. When it was their turn to board the Ferris wheel, they settled into a booth together. Sophia initially tried to sit on the opposite side to ensure they could see each other while they talked, but Michael pulled her to sit next to him.

He even offered her his jacket, though it was a warm summer evening. Sophia couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside. I don’t need it.”

“Sometimes it gets windy,” he explained with a smile. Sophia politely declined the jacket, finding his attempt at chivalry in the heat quite amusing.

As the Ferris wheel carried them to the top, Michael pointed out various buildings in the city. Sophia was familiar with them, but she nodded and played along.

“The view is quite enchanting and romantic,” he remarked.

“It’s lovely,” Sophia replied with a smile, trying not to burst into laughter.

Michael’s behavior was becoming increasingly over-the-top, and Sophia couldn’t quite grasp the reason for this sudden change. While they were on a date, there was no need to sugarcoat the situation.

Once they disembarked from the ride, Michael bought cotton candy for Sophia, who wasn’t particularly fond of it but accepted it out of politeness.

“Shall we try the shooting range?” Michael suggested.

Sophia agreed, and they headed to the shooting range booth where you could win prizes. Michael paid for a round and expertly hit the target several times, earning a stuffed teddy bear.

“My turn,” Sophia said, paying for her own round before he could offer. Sophia took the rifle in hand and aimed carefully.

“It’s not about hitting the target; it’s about having fun,” Michael assured her. Sophia gave him a playful smirk, then took aim and hit the target dead center five times in a row without missing.

“My grandfather used to take me hunting,” she explained when she noticed Michael’s surprised expression. ‘And yes, having fun is important, but winning is even cooler.”

Sophia won one of the largest prizes, a giant teddy bear, and she handed it over to Michael.

“Here, I’m returning the favor,” she said with a grin.

Michael, eager to create a bonding moment, suggested they go on a horror rollercoaster ride. He secretly hoped that Sophia would get startled during the ride, giving him the perfect excuse to comfort her with a hug.

However, as soon as they boarded the rollercoaster, Michael’s plan began to crumble. The ride turned out to be far scarier than he had anticipated, and instead of being the comforting presence, he found himself on the brink of wanting to escape.

The rollercoaster plunged them into darkness, with unexpected surprises popping out at them, including fake spiders, which happened to be one of Michael’s biggest fears.

“God, I never thought I’d be on the brink of a heart attack at such a young age,” he quipped nervously as they descended from one of the coaster’s steep drops.

Sophia couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Michael’s futile attempts to maintain his composure when he was clearly horrified.

“Looks like the tables have turned,” she teased, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Despite his unease, Michael tried to save face. “Well, I hope you weren’t too scared,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her.

Sophia, although appreciative of the gesture, pulled back slightly, her smile slightly awkward but warm.

“I’m fine,” she replied.

As they continued their day at the festival, Sophia couldn’t help but notice that there was no real chemistry between her and Michael. She found his behavior overly cheesy and forced, and it made her slightly uncomfortable.

On the other hand, Michael was beginning to realize that their encounter wasn’t leading to the romantic connection he had hoped for. He felt that Sophia wasn’t responding to his attempts to create a magical atmosphere between them. As a result, he gradually abandoned his extravagant gestures and returned to more normal interactions.

As they strolled through the festival grounds, Michael suggested they grab some beers and find a quieter spot to chat. Sophia agreed, and soon they found themselves seated at a rustic wooden table, sipping on chilled beers.

Amidst the casual conversation about various topics, Sophia’s curiosity finally got the best of her. She looked at Michael with genuine interest and asked, “You know, Michael, I’ve been wondering. What does Alexander have against you?”

Michael’s demeanor shifted, and he took a deep breath before deciding to share a part of his past. “It’s a long story,” he began, “but it all goes back to our parents.”

Sophia leaned in, her eyes focused on him. “I’m listening,” she encouraged. Michael began to recount the dramatic tale. “You see, my father and my mother was happily married. But, somehow, Caroline, Alexander’s mother, and my father had an affair. After this, Caroline became pregnant.”

Sophia’s eyes widened in astonishment, and she couldn’t help but interject, “Wow, that’s quite a plot twist.”

Michael nodded a hint of bitterness in his voice. “Indeed. When Alexander’s grandfather found out about the affair and the pregnancy, he not only drove my father away but also pushed our family to the brink of bankruptcy and destroyed our lives.”

Sophia listened with empathy, understanding the gravity of the situation. “That’s incredibly harsh,” she remarked softly.

Michael’s resentment towards the Stone family was evident as he continued, “So, you see, I hold a grudge against the Stones.”

Sophia found the story as dramatic as a soap opera and couldn’t help but admit, “Well, that’s quite the family drama. I can see why there’s tension.”

Just as Sophia was about to offer some words of comfort or sympathy, Michael’s phone buzzed urgently. He glanced at the caller ID and sighed. ” I’m sorry, Sophia, I have to take this. It’s an urgent work call.”

Sophia nodded understandingly as Michael answered the call. She watched as his expression shifted from one of relaxation to one of concern. After a brief conversation, Michael hung up and turned back to Sophia.

“I’m really sorry about this, Sophia,” he apologized. “Something important just came up at work, and I need to deal with it immediately. Can we rain-check on the rest of our date?”

Sophia smiled graciously. “Of course, Michael. Duty calls. We can reschedule. Michael looked relieved but still disappointed as he bid her farewell. ” Thank you for understanding, Sophia. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

With that, he hurried off, leaving Sophia alone at the festival.