Chapter 127


    She was most probably extremely helpful when others needed it; in fact, at thest critical moment, there


    were rumors going on that she had been ‘expelled’. Hence, when it was time for peer evaluation,


    everyone subconsciously spoke highly of her while leaving a favorable review.


    I feel so guilty. Did I obtain my perfect score too easily?


    However, Joel informed me about this, and so it shouldn’t have been a mistake. Did I really get first


    ce?! I’m so excited!


    Sophia was so ted that she leaped around in joy in her room. However, she noticed a huge problem


    soon enough. The person who won first ce gets to have a meal with Joel!


    Oh, damn it! I was just saying today that I have to keep a safe distance from theirplicated and


    chaotic socialwork. How did I end up getting dragged into it again? The rich’s socialwork is so


    complicated. It’s better to stay far away from it for the sake of my life.


    Sophia replied meekly, ‘I’m not feeling well tonight. Can I not show up?’


    Joel replied to her, ‘No.’


    Fine, it seems there’s no room for discussion!


    I’m innocent, though! I never wanted to be associated with their socialwork at all! I’ll end up offending


    next door’s Stanley and provoking Michael if I were to have a meal with Joel. It will cause a terrible


    domino’s effect. Arghhh! I just want to be one of the audience observing this from the sidelines!


    Nevertheless, even if the prospect of my future is filled with cruelty and ruthlessness, I must charge


    forward!


    Sophia put down her skating board while adjusting her clothing. She was prepared to wait for Joel to pick


    her up.


    However, she had barely waited for a few minutes when she heard Stanley knocking against the door


    while wailing loudly, “Sophia, you heartless thing,e out right now! I was kind enough to help you, but


    you won the first ce out of nowhere! You snatched away my uncle and my idol! You had bettere


    out now! Let’s fight now! If you have the audacity to rob me of the first ce, why don’t youe out


    right now? Open the door, Sophia!”


    Sophia was shocked to her core. Stanley caught wind of the news in such a short time.


    He sounds as if he is ready to strangle me to death! Their socialwork is soplicated. I haven’t


    even had the meal, and Stanley is already causing a ruckus. He will most probably murder me if I have


    that meal with Joel!


    Sophia paced her room in a panic while trying toe up with a solution.


    Oh, my goodness. Oh, my God. I’m in deep trouble. I’m now in too deep, and I’ll most probably drown


    sooner orter!


    At 9.00PM, Joel came in person to pick Sophia up. When Stanley learned that Joel had arrived, he came


    zooming out to cling onto Joel’s leg. “Uncle, why is it not me? I did so well!!”


    Joel smacked his face away. “Let go of me!”


    Stanley was still howling when Joel snapped at him coldly, “Do you want to get beaten up the second


    time?”


    Stanley immediately returned to his room with his tail between his legs while looking sorry for himself.


    Joel finally knocked against her door. “Miss Edwards.”


    Sophia opened the door tentatively while scanning the surroundings. She asked suspiciously after


    confirming that Stanley wasn’t around, “Has Stanley left?”


    Joel nodded. “Yes, he’s left.”


    He was quite helpless when dealing with Stanley because thetter had always acted clingy. He clung


    onto Joel since he was a baby, and it went on into adulthood.


    He is so disgusting! Served him right to be beaten up!


    Sophia followed Joel and left apprehensively after confirming that Stanley had left.


    Along the way, she covered her face intermittently since she was afraid that people might recognize her.


    She asked worriedly, “General, where are we having our meal?”


    “The small cafeteria,” Joel answered her.


    She followed him and got into a military vehicle. After a half-an-hour drive within the campsite, they


    finally got out of the car to walk into a building. There was a restaurant inside that was unfamiliar to


    Sophia.


    It looked more like a restaurant than a cafeteria.


    The lighting and ambience were perfect. The gorgeous lighting was brilliant, and there was soft music


    ying slowly in the background.


    Joel walked in and found a ce to sit down. Sophia took her seat worriedly too.


    She observed the surroundings. The restaurant wasn’t huge, and the decorations were splendid, but


    there weren’t many people around. Sophia only saw a server when she entered the ce. In fact, they


    were the only customers there.


    This must be a high-end restaurant for military officers.


    Right now, we are the only two customers here.


    The server was wearing a military uniform too. The server handed them their menus, but Joel didn’t even


    pay attention to it. He merely passed the menu to Sophia. “Order whatever you want; it’s my treat


    tonight.”


    Sophia kept her head bowed while her eyes darted to observe her surroundings. Finally, she nced at


    the menu. It’s simr to civilian restaurants. There are western snacks and oriental dishes too.


    She ordered distractedly, “A macaroni and a grilled steak.”


    Joel ordered as well. “A sirloin steak.”


    The server took the menus away, leaving the two of them in therge and empty restaurant.


    The atmosphere felt rather awkward.


    Sophia kept her head down while staring unblinkingly at her fingernails.


    Joel was in his usual military attire. He took off his military uniform outerwear, revealing a green shirt and


    dark green necktie underneath. After that, he took his cap off and tugged against his necktie while


    staring intently at Sophia, as if he was intrigued.


    Why did Michael choose this young woman? However, she seems quite interesting now that I’m taking a


    closer look.


    Silence hung between the two of them for some time. Joel finally took the initiative to break the silence.


    “How long have you been together with Michael?”


    Sophia answered truthfully, “Over a year.”


    Joel continued, “I see that he treats you differently!”


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Sophia shed him a silly grin. “That’s true!”


    Simultaneously, rm bells went off in her head.


    What did Joel mean by that? Why do I sense jealousy from him?! In fact, his tone reminds me of a legal


    wife warning a mistress to scare her off! The rich and wealthy have such aplex social circle!


    Don’t do this to me! I’m innocent! I have never thought ofpeting with Joel over a man!


    Sophia added hastily, “Michael is always filming elsewhere. It’s normal for him to not return home for


    days in a stretch or even half a month at times. I barely see him. I don’t spend as much time with him as


    Harry does.”


    What I mean is that I’m innocent! I’ve barely seen Michael more than a couple of times since we got


    married! If you want to vent your frustrations, you should do that to Harry! They are joined at the hip


    during filming! He is the one who took Michael away, not me!


    A dull gleam shed across Joel’s eyes when he heard that. Then, he fell into a silent pause, as if he


    was deep in thought.


    Is she trying to say that Michael has neglected her, and that she is feeling empty and lonely? Is this her


    subtle way of hinting me?!


    Sophia sighed in relief when she noticed Joel’s thoughtful expression. Beat Harry up if you need to vent!


    I am the innocent one here!


    Joel continued with his questions. In fact, his second question was about Nathan. “You seem to have a


    good rtionship with Nate.”


    Sophia was feeling nervous, and all sorts of thoughts started shing through her mind. Why is he asking


    about Nate? Could he be collecting information from me regarding Michael’s n for his little boy? Is he


    doing that to get ready to go against his potential enemy in the future, Nate?


    My poor Nate!


    After weighing her options, Sophia answered him, “Nate is still young now. Besides, he is still a child, and


    so he needs a mother. Michael has most probably married me in the hopes of providing Nate aplete


    family. He wants him to have a happy childhood.”


    What she meant was, Nate is still a child! Can you animals not drag him into this?! I am innocent too! I’m


    just a nanny Michael brought home to look after the child!


    Joel paused while appearing deep in thought once again.


    Does Michael merely treat Sophia as a nanny? However, he seems to care about her a lot. In fact, he


    would always creep into the campsite secretly to meet up with her. She doesn’t look like a nanny to me.


    Could this be another hint too?