#188 “You’re Joking, Right?”


    The next morning, Sophia found herself torn between her desire to support Benjamin and her longing


    to spend time with Alexander. As they gathered around the breakfast table, Sophia couldn’t help but


    notice the subtle tension between Alexander and Benjamin, a tension that threatened to overshadow


    the morning’s meal.


    Determined to diffuse the palpable atmosphere, Sophia made a conscious effort to divide her attention


    between the two men. She found herself lingering near Benjamin, offering him a helping hand and


    ensuring that he had everything he needed for breakfast. At the same time, she exchanged yful


    banter with Alexander, teasing him with a wink or a yful nudge whenever the opportunity arose.


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    Despite his cheeky demeanor, Alexander couldn’t shake the sour mood that had settled over him like a


    dark cloud. He knew that it was important for Sophia to be there for Benjamin, but he couldn’t help


    feeling a twinge of jealousy at the way she doted on him.


    Sophia, sensing Alexander’s difort, resolved to ease his worries by taking matters into her own


    hands. As the breakfast dishes were cleared away, she busied herself around the house, rearranging


    furniture and organizing the space so that everything was within arm’s reach of Benjamin.


    Once she was satisfied with her efforts, Sophia gathered everyone’s attention, her eyes sparkling with


    excitement. ” Hey, guys,” she announced, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “I’ve got an announcement


    for you.”


    Alexander raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Sophia’s sudden burst of energy. ” What’s the


    announcement?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.


    Sophia grinned, her excitement palpable. “I want to take you to my grandfather’s ranch,” she revealed,


    her voice tinged with excitement. “It’s a beautiful ce, and I thought it would be the perfect getaway


    for us.”


    Alexander’s eyes widened in surprise, his mood instantly lifted by Sophia’s unexpected invitation. He


    had no idea that Sophia had a ranch, but the thought of spending time with her in such a picturesque


    setting filled him with joy.


    “Ah, what am I going to do?” Benjamin asked, attempting to stall Sophia’s departure.


    “I’ve arranged the whole house to make youfortable. If you need anything, just call me,” said


    Sophia, already grabbing her jacket to leave.


    Alexander was content with her response and nted a kiss on her cheek at the door. He grabbed his


    jacket but could hardly contain his excitement to leave.


    “Okay,” Benjamin reluctantly responded.


    He knew he couldn’t prevent Sophia from leaving, so as he watched her walk away, he began to devise


    a n in his mind to bring her back as soon as possible.


    Already in the car, Alexander grinned like a kid, and Sophiaughed at his expression.


    “I didn’t know you had a ranch,” Alexander remarked as they drove off.


    “It was my grandfather’s. After he passed away, I hired workers to maintain it. I know you don’t fancy


    such ces…”


    “Sophia, wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. And don’t forget, I haven’t had a silver spoon all


    my life-I can surprise you.”


    The sun beat down on the sprawling ranch as Sophia and Alexander arrived, the air alive with the


    sounds of nature and the scent of fresh hay. Eager to explore, they wasted no time in diving into the


    activities the farm had to offer.


    Sophia’s eyes widened with excitement as she took in the vast expanse of the ranch, the golden fields


    stretching out before her like a patchwork quilt of green and gold. “I love this ce so much!” she


    eximed, turning to Alexander with a grin.


    Alexander’s face lit up with a smile as he looked around, his eyes alight with the same sense of


    wonder. “I know, right? It’s like something out of a movie,” he replied.


    With eager hearts and a sense of adventure, they set off to explore the ranch, theirughter echoing


    through the fields as they ran through the tall grass, their hands intertwined as they skipped and


    danced their way through the meadows.


    As they wandered through the ranch, they stumbled upon a paddock filled with horses, their sleek


    coats gleaming in the sunlight. Sophia’s eyes sparkled with delight as she gazed at the majestic


    creatures.


    As Sophia and Alexander stood amidst the horses, Sophia’s eyes lit up as she gently began stroking


    the sleek coat of a majestic ck stallion. “I used to love riding when I was a kid,” she began, her voice


    filled with nostalgia. “I had a horse just like this one, pure ck as the night.”


    Alexander listened intently, his eyes fixed on Sophia as she shared her childhood memories. “My


    grandfather gave it to me when I was 10,” Sophia continued, her voice tinged with affection. “We used


    to spend hours in the woods together, just me and him. I would imagine all sorts of mythical creatures


    around us fae, trolls, werewolves.”


    Alexander was captivated by Sophia’s vivid imagination, his own eyes wide with wonder as he listened


    to her tales. “That sounds incredible,” he remarked, his voice filled with admiration. “I never knew you


    had such a wild imagination.”


    Sophiaughed, the sound light and melodic. “You have no idea,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with


    amusement,


    “Let’s go for a ride,” Alexander suggested with a mischievous grin, his eyes glinting with excitement.


    “We might even find one of the mythical creatures.”


    Sophia couldn’t help butugh at the suggestion, her expression incredulous. “You’re joking, right?” she


    replied, her tone teasing. “You can’t possibly ride a horse.”


    But to Sophia’s surprise, Alexander didn’t hesitate for a second. With a swift and practiced movement,


    he mounted one of the horses, his movements fluid and confident. And before Sophia could even react,


    he urged the horse into a gallop and disappeared into the distance.


    Sophia sat there with her mouth agape, utterly stunned by what she had just witnessed. She couldn’t


    believe that Alexander, whom she had underestimated when it came to horse riding, had effortlessly


    mounted the horse and ridden off with such skill and grace.


    But Sophia wasn’t one to be left behind. With a determined glint in her eye, she quickly mounted her


    own horse and set off in pursuit of Alexander, the thrill of the chase coursing through her veins.