Chapter 74
A deal with the devil
Chapter 74 Samuel tried to suppress the strange feeling ising in his chest ciently cuffling Sophiaâs hair, he said indulgently, âYou just got out of the hospital. Donât run so fast.
Sophia nodded shyly. âOkay, Iâll listen to you, Samarkâ
Bally couldnât resist teasing, âShe couldnât wait to see you, Samuel. She didnât even notice her own brother.â
Sophiaâs face flushed red, both embarrassed and annoyed âBilly!â
Billy chuckled, pinching her cheek lightly. âAlight, alright. Iâm just teasing you. Letâs head inside,â
With one hand held by Samuel and the other clutching Billyâs arm, Sophia was the picture of a pampered princess. The maids looked on with envy and admiration, wishing they could be treated like Sophia Now that the toote familyâs matriarch, Eleanor Graham, had arrived, it was only a matter of time before Sophia married into the family and became their young mistress. To the maids, it seemed as though Sophiaâs formine was straight out of a fairytaleâ
almost too good to be tra Inside the living room, Samuel spotted Eleanor.
The moment Samuel returned to the country, he had called Eleanor in front of Sophia to request her presence for their wedding arrangements. And now, here she was.
Eleanor, thin and sternâfaced, regarded Samuel with cool detachment as he approached her with Sophia in tow.
Samuel greeted her curtly, his tone flat âGrandmother.â
leanor had always held a grudge against Samuel because of her beloved son, Aaron, and the strained circumstances surrounding his demise. Despite this, she was forced to rely on Samuel, as he was not the head of the Moore family.
Elance cared little about whem Samuel married, as long as she fulfilled her familial dury. After a glance at Sophia, however, her lips curted into a disdainful smirk trading gold for pennies, I see. What impeccable taste you have.â
Billyâs face immediately darkened. Eleanorâs words were a direct insult, mocking Samuel for rejecting Shirley, a celebrated socialite, in favor of Sophia, whose family background, alegance, and beauty paled in comparis Saying such cruel words in front of Sophia was nothing short of vicious.
Samuel and Billy both turned toward Sophia with concern. Her face had gone pale, her lips trembled, and her eyes filled with unshed tears. She looked as though she might collapse at any moment.
Samuel pulled Sop Sophia into his arms protectively, his eyes sharp with icy anger as they fixed on Eleanor. âCandmother, Sophia is my woman. Iâd appreciate it if youâd show her some respect.
Eleanor shrugged indifferently, her eyes critical as they swept over Sophia âThis woman looks fragile and illâfated, hardly fit for anything dignified. But if youâve set your mind on her, who am 1 to object? Iâll personally visit the church to select a date for your weddingâ
suelâs tone turned frigid. âThank you, Grandmother. My house only offers humble fare, so I wonât trouble you to stay for dinner. â
It was already dark ourside, and Eleanor hadnât eaten yet. Acking her to leave at this time was downright heartless, but Samuel seemed unfazed.
Eleanor se abruptly, letting out a sharp short. âIâm used to plain, simple meals. Even if your house served the finest delicacies, I wouldnât careâI doubt my stomach could handle it.â With that, she stormed out As soon as Eleanor lett, Sophia pulled away from Samuel, tears screaming down her face as the locked herself in her room. Billy rushed to the door to console her, while Samuel frowned deeply, an inexplicable irritation gnawing at him.
Meanwhile, at the Weiss residence, a seafood least was being served.
Shirley busily peeled slump for little Damian, who gleefully devoured them. Damianâs face lit up with every bite, clearly delighted.
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Across the table, Benjamin ate with the poised elegance of a refined gentleman, every movement exuding an als of mobility Rachel observed the pair quietly, her smile growing wider as she noted how wellâsuited they seemed. Unable to contain her delight, she suggested, âBen, you must be tired. Why not stay night here?â
Shiley paused midâmotion, the shrimp still in her hands, and turned to look at Benjamin.
Benjaminâs gaze lingered on Rachel for a moment before he set his cutlery down and replied, âAlaight â
He then turned to Arthur. âGo back and bring me a change of clothesâ
Shirley was stunned. Benjamin agreeing to stay the night? That wasnât like him at all. He never struck her as someone so easygoing Something about him had been off all day