Chapter 697


    As they talked on their way to the booth, Sam said, “After that, I bought this ce where she used to


    work at and expanded it to what it is today while keeping its original name, hoping that she would see it


    one day and drop by for a bit.”


    Sadly, that person will never show up. Sophia felt heavy-hearted but also grateful that, apart from


    Cooper, there was someone else in this world who remembered Annabel.


    To mask her low spirits, she joked, “That doesn’t seem very likely. She might not be able to afford this


    high-end restaurant!”


    Theyughed and eventually returned to their booth to eat.


    That meal was a burden to everyone. Stanley couldn’t help but feel like Sam had an ulterior


    motive. First, hees to ourpany and invests in us, then he even treats us to an expensive


    meal. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world!


    As expected, when everyone was close to finishing their food, Sam revealed his true intentions. “Sophia,


    it’s going to be New Year’s soon and I’m getting ready to go on a trip. I usually live alone so there isn’t


    anyone to look after Corrado while I’m away. I was wondering if you could help me look after him for a


    while.”


    Once he said that, everyone showed mixed reactions.


    Sarah’s eyes lit up. Another dog to y with!


    Sean frowned. He’s hiding something!


    Stanley’s eyebrows shot up. That was it!


    Back then, Stanley also treated Sophia to a meal before asking her to look after Judge for him. He took


    the opportunity to bring it up once she was done eating so she did not have a choice. After that, Judge


    began living under Sophia’s care at no cost. She could not get out of it even if she wanted to!


    Who knew Sam would use the same tactic?


    But Sam was such a big businessman; where wouldn’t he be allowed to have a dog? Was there even a


    lack of people to look after his dog?


    Did he invest millions and treat everyone to a meal just to trick Sophia into looking after his dog?


    Sophia also thought it was questionable, but since finding out about Sam’s friendship with Annabel, she


    somehow felt closer to him. “Sure, no problem!”


    After all, it was just a dog. She already had two of her own at home and did not mind looking after


    another one.


    Sam was delighted when she agreed. “It’s settled then. I will wire the costs to your bank ount!”


    Sophia immediately waved her hands. “Gosh, there’s no need to talk about money between us!”


    Annabel had suffered throughout her life. She quit school at a young age and started working to support


    her brother’s education. She was only eighteen when she returned home pregnant which would have


    only brought her disdain and nder from people. In the end, she gave birth to Sophia and died in


    despair.


    She had just turned neen when she died. Before even living a fifth of her life, she experienced all the


    despair and pain life had to give. Who would have thought that there was someone out there who still


    missed her? It was ratherforting, and it also let Sophia know that her mother was once cared for so


    dearly.


    On the other hand, Stanley was unhappy now.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    As her nephew, he had not heard those wordse out of her mouth before. Who is this Sam guy?


    When did they get so close?


    Sean, however, saw through the whole thing.


    Sarah did not understand what was happening between them and was only thinking about ying with


    the dog.


    …


    The weekend rolled around the following day. Sam brought Corrado to Sophia’s house along with its dog


    bed, small pillow, bone, toys, potty, and other belongings that filled up two whole trunks.


    The care requirements for Corrado were very different from those for Judge. Judge could sleep on the


    carpet and eat leftovers from Snowball. But for Corrado, Sophia even cleared out a whole room!


    It took half a day just to move all his daily necessities in and Sam had done it on his own. It was obvious


    how well he treated Corrado.


    While he was carrying Corrado’s food through the door with a head full of sweat, Sophia quickly came


    over with a towel and wiped his sweat for him. He let out a breath and said, “I’ve lived alone all these


    years with only Corrado by my side. He is family to me. I personally oversee all his matters.”


    Seeing Sam move the things in on his own, Sophia decided to help move some things as well. When it


    was noon, he also stayed at her ce for lunch.


    After lunch, Sam bid a reluctant farewell to Corrado and went on his way.


    Corrado was not very lively as he was a bit frightened in the new environment. He did not know anyone


    except for Sophia, and only stuck by her side when she came home every day.


    In the past, Sophia did not allow pets to sleep in her room, but she started doing so by putting Corrado’s


    dog bed right next to hers. She even made two outfits, one in neon pink and the other in neon green, for


    him to wear, so they would not identally step on him at night.


    On the other side of the globe, Michael was watching the surveince footage of Sam bringing Corrado


    to their house.


    It was the middle of winter but Sam was wearing a thin T-shirt as he went in and out of the house to


    move things. By the time he was done, sweat had soaked through his shirt and made it stick to his sturdy


    chest and abdomen, revealing his muscles and veins. asionally, he would lift the side of his shirt


    slightly to fan himself in front of Sophia.


    His messy hair had stuck to his sweat-covered head. Seeing Sophia tiptoe to wipe him off with a towel


    made Michael green with envy in an instant.


    That b*stard!


    However, there were some things that Michael had to deal with in Europe before he could leave. On top


    of that, he was also walking the red carpet at the Oscars. He waspletely tied up.


    Whatever. Besides, he only sent his dog over and left. There’s nothing he can do now. Michael wanted to


    finish up everything in Europe before the year ended so he could head home to celebrate the new year.


    Thus, he did not have the time to watch the surveince footage at home for a few days.


    When he finally finished work and was able to watch the footage, he was furious.


    Sam did leave after dropping his dog off that day, but the dog waspletely spoiled. Sarah woulde


    over whenever she wanted to pet the dog. Apart from coddling and cuddling the dog every day, Sophia


    also let it into their room to sleep.


    The more infuriating part was when Sam came over again just after a few days to visit the dog. He left


    some more things at their ce, had dinner, and left without taking the dog with him.


    The next day, he was at their ce once more. As usual, he checked up on the dog, ate dinner, and left


    on his own.


    It looks like leaving the dog there was the first step. Now, he’s using the dog as an excuse to meet up


    with Sophia all the time!


    While Michael was looking at the surveince footage that day, the sun was high up in the country he


    was in. He was dressed in a new outfit and getting his hair done by the stylist. In a few moments, he was


    going to attend the Academy Awards ceremony.


    It was already ten at night in Bayside City, but Sam had dropped by once again. Dressed in pajamas,


    both he and Sophia were cracking sunflower seeds in the living room and waiting to watch the live


    stream of the Oscars.


    Those were new pajamas that Michael had never worn before. I couldn’t even bear to wear them myself!


    What right does Sam have to wear them? What is he doing at my house in the middle of the night


    wearing matching pajamas and watching television with my wife?